A prospect of the primitive Christianity, as it was left by Christ to his Apostles, by the Apostles to their disciples Saint Polycarp and Holy Ignatius, both contemporaries with and disciples to the Holy Evangelist and Apostle Saint John whose lives follow in this short treatise, together with their famous epistles written to several churches / translated according to the best copies out of the original Greek into English, by Thomas Elborowe ...

The Epistle of Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and holy Martyr, to the Philippians.

POLYCARP, and the Presbyters with him, to the Church of God within the Diocess of Philippi;

Mercy unto you, and Peace from God Al∣mighty, and from the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour be multiplied.

I congratulate you highly in our Lord Jesus Christ, in that ye have embraced those Patterns of true love, and accompanied (as became you) those who were involved in holy Bands, which are the Diadems of those, who are truly the elected of God, and of our Lord; and because the root of your faith, which was preached to you, continues firm even from the beginning until now, and brings forth fruit unto our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffred for our sins even to the death, whom God raised up, having loosed the bands of death, in whom, having not seen him, ye believe, and believing rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Into which joy many de∣sire

to enter, knowing that through grace ye are saved, not by works but by the will of God through Jesus Christ. Wherefore having your Loyns girt about, serve God with fear and truth, forsaking empty vain babble, and the errour of many, believing in him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and hath given to him glory, and a throne at his right hand. To whom all earthly and heavenly things are subject, and every thing that hath breath pays ser∣vice, who shall come to judge the quick and dead, and whose bloud God will strictly require at the hands of those, who do not believe in him. But he, who raised him from the dead, will raise up us also, if we do his will, and walk in his Commandements, and love the things which he loved; Ab∣staining from all unrighteousness, inconti∣nence, covetousness, detraction, fals-witness∣bearing, not rendering evil for evil, reproach for reproach, railing for railing, cursing for cursing, but remembring what the Lord said teaching in this wise, Judge not that ye be not judged, forgive, and it shall be for∣given you, be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy, in what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again; it is also said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, and they, who

are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of God. These things (Brethren) I write unto you con∣cerning Righteousness, not imposing any commands upon you as from my self, but because ye have moved me so to do. For neither I, nor any other like unto me, can attain to the wisdom of blessed and glo∣rious PAUL, who, being amongst you, and conversing face to face with men then living, taught you exactly and firmly the word of Truth; who also being absent wrote Epistles unto you, by which, if ye give heed unto them, ye may be built up in the faith, which was delivered unto you; which Faith is the mother of you all, being followed by Hope, and led on by Love, which directs you to God, and Christ, and our Neighbour. For if any man is possessed of these, he hath fulfilled the command of Righteousness. He, who is possessed of Love, is free from all sin▪ but Covetousness is the root of all evil▪ Knowing therefore that we brought nothing into the world, and that we shall carry nothing out, Let us arm our selves with the armour of Righte∣ousness, and teach our selves in the first place to walk in the Commandements of the Lord. And let us in the next place teach the

Women, that they walk according to that rule of faith, which was delivered unto them, and in love, and holiness, and that they love entirely their own husbands with all since∣rity, and all others equally with all conti∣nency, and that they instruct their children in the discipline and fear of God. And let us teach the Widows to be sober and wise, according to the faith of the Lord, and to make intercession for all without inter∣mission, keeping themselves from all de∣traction, accusation, fals-witness-bearing, covetousness, and all evil, knowing that they are as the Altars of God, who observes the faults of every one of us; for nothing is hid from him, neither of our reasonings, under∣standings, nor secrets of our hearts, and be∣cause we know that God cannot be mocked, we ought to walk worthy of his command, and of glory. Likewise let the Deacons be unblameable in the presence of his righte∣ousness, for they are the ministers of God in Christ, and not of men; Let them not be accusers, nor double-tongued, nor covetous, but continent in all things, compassionate, careful, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was made the minister of all, from whom, if we please him in this world, we shall receive a future reward; for he

hath ingaged for us to raise us from the dead, and, if we have our conversation wor∣thy of him, we shall also reign with him, as we believe. In like manner let the Young men be unblameable in all things, chiefly let them study chastity, and restrain themselves as with a bridle from all that is evil. For it is a good thing to be elevated in our desires above all the desireable things of this world, because all concupiscence of the world warreth against the Spirit, and neither for∣nicators, nor effeminate persons, nor abu∣sers of themselves with mankind shall inhe∣rit the Kingdom of God, nor they, who do absurd things. Therefore it is necessary that ye abstain from all such things, being sub∣ject to the Presbyters and Deacons, as to God and Christ. And let the Virgins walk with a blameless and chaste Conscience. Let the Presbyters be of tender bowels, com∣passionate towards all, converters of those who are in errour, visiters of all that are sick, careful of the Widow, the Orphans, and the indigent, always providing that which is good in the sight of God and men, not given to wrath, no respecters of persons, not unjust in judgement, keeping themselves far from all covetousness, not hastily be∣lieving any thing against any man, not rash

in passing judgement against any, knowing that all of us are the debters of sin; and, as we pray the Lord would forgive us, we ought also to forgive, for we are continually in the sight of the Lord God, and must all stand before the Tribunal of Christ, and every one of us give an account for himself. There∣fore let us serve him with fear and all reve∣rence, as he hath given in Commandement, and as the Apostles have evangelized to us, and the Prophets, who preached before∣hand the coming of our Lord. Be zealous of that which is good, and keep your selves from scandals, avoiding the company of false brethren, who carry the Name of the Lord in hypocrisie onely to seduce vain men into errour. For every one, who doth not confess, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is Antichrist; and he, who doth not con∣fess, the Martyrdom of the Cross, is of the devil; and he, who shall pervert the Oracles of the Lord to serve his own private lusts, and shall say that there is no Resurrection, nor judgement, is the first-born of Satan. Therefore let us decline the folly of many, and their false doctrines, and give heed to that word, which was delivered to us from the beginning. Let us attend unto Prayers with all sobrierie, and unto Fastings with

all perseverance; and in our supplications let us pray unto the Al-seeing God, that he would not lead us into temptation, as the Lord hath taught, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Let us endure without fainting, resting our selves upon our hope and pledge of righteousness, which is Jesus Christ; who did bear our sins in his own body upon the tree, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, but he patient∣ly endured all things for us, that we might live through him. Therefore let us be the followers of his patience; and if we suffer for his Name, we glorifie him; for he set us such an Example in himself, as we believe. Therefore I exhort you all to obey the word of Righteousness, and to exercise all Patience, as ye have seen it exemplified be∣fore your eyes, not onely in the blessed Ignatius, Zosimus, and Rufus, but in others among you, in Paul himself, and the rest of the Apostles. For ye may be confident, that all these have not run in vain, but in Faith and Righteousness, and having obtained the place due unto them, are now with the Lord, with whom also they suffered; for they loved not this present world, but him, who died for us, and was for us by God raised again from death to life. Stand fast there∣fore

in these things, and follow the Pattern of the Lord Be stedfast in the Faith, immu∣table, Lovers of the brotherhood, kind one to another, united in Truth, performing all meekness each to other, and despising none. When ye can do good, do not deferre it, for Alms delivereth from death. Be subject one to another, having your conversation un∣blameable among the Gentiles; that your selves may receive praise from your good works, and the Lord be not blasphemed by your means. But wo to that man, by whom the Name of the Lord is blasphemed. There∣fore teach all men sobriety, and be your selves conversant in it. I am very much troubled for Valens, who was made a Pres∣byter among you, because he is unmindful of his place, which was committed unto him. I therefore admonish you, that ye abstain from Covetousness, and that ye be chaste and true. Keep your selves from all evil. But how can he preach this to another, who cannot govern himself in these matters? If a man keep not himself from Covetousness, he will be defiled with Idolatry, and ac∣counted an heathen. But who knows not the judgement of the Lord? Do we not know, that the Saints shall judge the world, as Paul teacheth? But I have neither per∣ceived,

nor heard of any such thing among you, amongst whom blessed Paul laboured, who are also in the beginning of his Epistle. For he glories of you in all those Churches, which onely knew God at that time, for as yet we had not known him. Therefore, my Brethren, I am grieved for him, and for his wife, to whom the Lord give true Repen∣tance. And be ye sober as to this very thing, esteem not such as as enemies, but restore them as frail and erring members, that the whole body of you may be saved, for in so doing ye build up your selves. I trust that ye are well exercised in the holy Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you, which thing is not yet granted unto me. As it is written, Be angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Blessed is he, who shall believe, which thing I believe to be in you. Now the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ the eternal High∣priest, and Son of God, build you up in faith, and truth, and in all meekness, that ye may be without anger; and in all patience, longanimity, long-sufferance, and chastity; and give you a lot and part amongst his Saints, and to us together with you, and to all, who are under heaven, that shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in his Father,

who raised him from the dead. Pray for all Saints. Pray also for Kings and Potentates, and Princes, for those, who persecute you, and hate you, and for the enemies of the Cross, that your fruit may be manifested in all, and ye may be perfect in him. Ye and also Ignatius have written unto me, that, if any man go into Syria, he may carry also your Letters, which I will either do my self, if I have a fit opportunity, or he, whom I shall send upon your message also. Accord∣ing to your request we have sent unto you those Epistles of Ignatius, which he wrote unto us, and so many others of his as we had by us, which are subjoyned to this Epistle, and by which ye may be very much profited; for they, contain in them faith, and patience, and all that is necessary for the building of you up in our Lord. Signifie unto us what ye shall certainly know concerning Ignatius himself, and those who are with him. I have written unto you these things by Crescens, whom I formerly commended to you, and do now commend, for he was con∣versant amongst us unblameably, and I be∣lieve he was the same amongst you. Ye shall also have his sister commended, when she shall come unto you. Be safe in the Lord Je∣sus Christ in grace, with all yours.

Amen.