Vol 01 - THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. IGNATIUS

THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. IGNATIUS
1. WHEN Trajan came to the Roman empire, Ignatius, the disciple of St. John the apostle, a man in all things like unto the apostles, governed the church of -Antioch with all care. Who, being scarcely able to escape the storms of persecution under Domitian, as a good governor, by the helm of prayer and fasting, by the constancy of his doctrine and spiritual labor, withstood the raging floods; fearing lest they should sink those who either wanted courage, or were not well grounded in the faith.
2. Wherefore this being at present somewhat abated, he rejoiced greatly at, the tranquility of his church; yet was troubled as to himself, that he had not attained to the pitch of a perfect disciple. For he thought that the confession which is made by martyrdom would bring him to a yet more intimate union with the Lord. Wherefore continuing a few years longer with the church, and as a divine lamp, illuminating the hearts of the faithful by the exposition of the Holy Scriptures, he attained to what he had desired.
3. For Trajan, in the nineteenth year of his empire, being lifted up with his victory over the Scythians and Dacians, and many other nations,-and thinking that the conquest of the Christians was yet wanting to his absolute and universal dominion,-obliged all such as lived religiously either to sacrifice or to die. Wherefore our brave soldier of CHRIST, being in fear for the church of Antioch, was voluntarily brought before Trajan, who was at that time there, on his way to Armenia, and the Parthians, against whom he was hastening.
4. Being come into the presence of the emperor Trajan, the emperor asked him, "What a wicked wretch art You, thus to transgress our commands, and to persuade others also to do likewise, to their destruction" Ignatius answered; " No one ought to call Theophorus wicked; forasmuch as all evil spirits are departed far from the servants of God. But if because I am a trouble to those wicked spirits, you tallest me wicked, I confess the charge; for having within me CHRIST, the heavenly King, I dissolve all the snares of the devils."
5. Trajan replied; "And who is Theophorus"--Ignatius. He who has CHRIST in his breast Trajan. And do not we seem to thee to have the gods within us, who fight for us against our enemies-Ignatius. Ye err, in that ye call the evil spirits of the heathens, gods. For there is but one GOD, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that are in them; and one JESUS CHRIST, his only-begotten Son, whose kingdom may I enjoy.
6. Trajan. His kingdom, you say, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate.-Ignatius. His who crucified my sin, with the inventor of it; and has put all the deceit and malice of the devil under the feet of those who carry him in their heart Trajan. Dost you then carry Him who was crucified within thee-Ignatius. I do for it is written, " I will dwell in them, and walk in them." Then Trajan pronounced this sentence against him; For as much as Ignatius has confessed that he carries within himself Him that was crucified, we command that he be carried bound to the great Rome, there to be thrown to the beasts, for the entertainment of the people.
7. When the holy martyr heard this, he cried out with joy, 111 thank thee, O Lord, that you have vouchsafed to honor me with a perfect love towards thee; and have made me to be put in iron bonds with thy apostle Paul." Having said this, he with joy put on his bonds; and having first prayed for the church, and commended it with tears unto the Lord, he was hurried away, like -a choice ram, the leader of a good flock, by the brutish soldiers, in order to his being carried to Rome, there to be devoured by the blood-thirsty beasts.
8. Wherefore with much readiness, out of his desire to suffer, he left Antioch, and came to Seleucia; from whence he was to, sail. And after a great deal of toil, being come to Smyrna, he left the ship with great gladness, and hastened to see the holy Polycarp, his fellow scholar, who was bishop there: for they had both of them been the disciples of St. John.
9. Being brought, to him, he entreated first the whole church (for the churches of Asia attended this holy man by their bishops, and priests, and deacons, if by any means they might receive some part of his spiritual gift,) but more particularly Polycarp, to contend with GOD in his behalf; that, being suddenly taken by the beasts from the world, he might appear before the face of CHRIST. And to return a recompence to the churches, he sent letters of thanks to them, which distilled spiritual grace, with prayer and exhortation.
10. And having strengthened such of the brethren at Rome as were against his martrydom by his epistle', setting sail from Smyrna, he came to Troas; from whence, being brought to Neapolis, he passed by Philippi, through Macedonia, and that part of Epirus which is next to Epidamnus. Having found a ship in one of the sea-ports, he sailed; and passing by several islands and cities, at length saw Puteoli: which being showed to the holy man, he hastened to go forth, being desirous to walk from thence, in the way that Paul the apostle had gone. But a violent wind arising, and driving on the ship, would not suffer him so to do: wherefore, commending the love of the brethren in that place, he sailed forward.
11. And the wind continuing favorable to us, in one day and a night we indeed were unwillingly hurried on, as sorrowing to think of being separated from the holy martyr: but to him it happened according to his wish, that he might go the sooner out of the world, and attain unto the Lord, whom he loved. Wherefore sailing into the Roman port, and those impure sports being almost at an end, the soldiers began to be offended at our slowness; but the bishop with great joy complied with their hastiness.
12. Being therefore soon forced away from the port, we met the brethren, who were full of fear and joy; for they rejoiced in that GOD had vouchsafed them the company of Theophorus; but were afraid when they considered that such an one was brought thither to die. Some of these he commanded to hold their peace, who were the most zealous for his safety, and said, That they would appease the people, that they should not desire the destruction of the just;" who presently knowing this by the Spirit, desired them that they would skew a true love to him; persuading them not to envy him who was,hastening unto the Lord. And so, all the brethren kneeling down, he prayed to the Son of GOD in behalf of the churches, that he would put a stop to the persecution, and continue the love of the brethren towards each other; which being done, he was with all haste led into the amphitheatre, and speedily thrown in, the end of the spectacles being at hand. Thus was he delivered to the cruel beasts, that so the desire of the holy martyr might be accomplished; namely, That he might not be burdensome to any of the brethren, by the gathering of- his relicks; for only the greater and harder of his bones remained, which were carried to Antioch.
13. Thus this valiant martyr of CHRIST trod under foot the devil, and perfected the course he had desired, in CHRIST JESUS our Lord; by whom, and with whom, all glory and power be to the Father, with the blessed Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen!