Vol 01 - ST. IGNATIUSS EPISTLE TO THE TRALLIANS

ST. IGNATIUS’S EPISTLE TO THE TRALLIANS
Ignatius, who is also called Thaeophorus, to the holy church which is at Tralles in Asia; beloved of GOD, the Father of JESUS CHRIST, elect, and worthy of GOD, having peace' through the flesh, and blood, and passion of JESUS CHRIST our hope, in the resurrection which is by him; which also I salute in the fullness of blessing, in the apostolical character, wishing all joy and happiness unto it.
1. I HAVE heard of your blameless and constant disposition through patience, which not only appears in, your outward conversation, but is naturally rooted and grounded in you; in like manner as Polybius your bishop has declared unto me, who came to me to Smyrna, by the will of GOD and JESUS CHRIST, and so rejoiced together with me in my bonds for JESUS CHRIST, that in effect I saw your whole church in him. Having therefore received the testimony of your good will towards me for GOD’s sake, by him, I knew that ye were the followers of God.
2. For whereas ye are subject to your bishop as to JESUS CHRIST, ye live not after the manner of men, but according to CHRIST, who died for us; that so believing in his death, ye might escape death. It is therefore necessary, that, without your bishop, you should do nothing: also be ye subject to your presbyters, as to the apostles of JESUS CHRIST, our hope; in whom if we walk, we shall be found in him. The deacons also, as being the ministers of the mysteries of JESUS CHRIST, must by all means please all. For they are not the ministers of meat and drink, but of the church of God. Wherefore they must avoid all offences, as they would do fire.
3. Concerning all which, I am persuaded that ye think after the very same manner: for I have received, and even now have with me, the pattern of your love in your bishop. Whose very look is instructive, and whose mildness powerful. But because I have a love towards you, I will not write sharply, lest, being a condemned man, I should seem to prescribe to you as an apostle.
4. I have great knowledge in God; but I refrain myself, lest I should perish in my boasting. For now I ought the more to fear, and not hearken to those that would puff me up. For they that speak to me in my praise chasten me. I indeed desire to suffer, but I cannot tell whether I am worthy so to do. And this desire, though to others it does not appear, yet to myself it is for that reason the more violent. I have therefore need of moderation, by which the prince of this world is destroyed..
5. Am I not able to write to you of heavenly things But I fear lest I should harm you, who are yet but babes in CHRIST; and lest perchance, being not able to receive them, ye should be choked with them. For even I myself, although I am in bonds, yet am not therefore able to understand heavenly things: in these I am yet a learner. For many things are wanting to us, that we come not short of God.
6. I exhort you therefore, yet not I, but the love of JESUS CHRIST, that ye use none but Christian nourishment; abstaining from pasture which is of another kind, I mean heresy. For they that are hereticks, confound together the doctrine of JESUS CHRIST with their own poison, whilst they seem worthy of belief; as men give a deadly potion mixed with sweet wine, of which he who is ignorant does with the treacherous pleasure sweetly drink in his own death.
7. Not that I know there is any thing of this nature among you; but I fore-arm you, as foreseeing the snares of the devil. Wherefore, putting on meekness, renew yourselves in faith and love. Let no man have any thing against his neighbor. Give no occasion to the gentiles, lest, by means of a few fooling men, the whole congregation of GOD be evil spoken of. For wo to that man through whose vanity his name is blasphemed by any.
8. Flee therefore these evil plants, which bring forth deadly fruit, of which if any one taste, he shall presently die. For these are not the plants of the Father; seeing if they were, they would appear to be the branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible; by which he invites you through his passion, who are members of him. For the head cannot be without its members, GOD having promised a union with himself.
9. 1: salute you from Smyrna, together with the delegates of the churches of GOD that are present with me, who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit. My bonds, which I carry about me for the sake of CHRIST, (beseeching him that I may attain unto GOD,) exhort you that you continue in concord among yourselves, and in prayer with one another. I beseech you that you hearken to me in love, that I may not by those things which I write, rise up in witness against you. Pray also for me, who stand in need of your prayers, that I may be worthy of the portion which I am, about to obtain, that I be not found a reprobate.
10. The love of those who are at Smyrna and Ephesus salute you. Remember in your prayers the church of Syria, from which I am not worthy to be called, being one of the-least of it. Fare ye well in JESUS CHRIST. Love every one his brother with an unfeigned heart. My soul be for yours, not only now, but when I shall have attained unto GOD; for I am yet under danger. But the Father is faithful in JESUS CHRIST to fulfill both mine and your petition; in whom may ye be found unblamable!