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to their wrath, humble in opposition to their boasting: to their blasphemies return[1] your prayers; in contrast to their error, be ye stedfast[2] in the faith; and for their cruelty, manifest your gentleness. While we take care not to imitate their conduct, let us be found their brethren in all true kindness; and let us seek to be followers of the Lord (who ever more unjustly treated, more destitute, more contemned?), that so no plant of the devil may be found in you, but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety in Jesus Christ, both with respect to the flesh and spirit.
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take forth the precious from the vile, ye shall be as my mouth."[3] Be ye humble in response to their wrath; oppose to their blasphemies your earnest prayers; while they go astray, stand ye stedfast in the faith. Conquer ye their harsh temper by gentleness, their passion by meekness. For "blessed are the meek;"[4] and Moses was meek above all men;[5] and David was exceeding meek.[6] Wherefore Paul exhorts as follows: "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle towards all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves."[7] Do not seek to avenge yourselves on those that injure you, for says [the Scripture], "If I have returned evil to those who returned evil to me."[8] Let us make them brethren by our kindness. For say ye to those that hate you. Ye are our brethren, that the name of the Lord may be glorified. And let us imitate the Lord, "who, when He was reviled, reviled not again;"[9] when He was crucified. He answered not; "when He suffered, He threatened not;"[10] but prayed for His enemies, "Father, forgive them; they know not what they
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Page:Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 1.djvu/172
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THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS.
