Page:Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 1.djvu/210

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196
THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS.
unbegotten; and as to the Spirit, they do not admit that He exists. Some of them say that the Son is a mere man, and that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are but the same person, and that the creation is the work of God, not by Christ, but by some other strange power.


Chap. vii.The same continued.

Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons. And this will be the case with you if you are not puffed up, and continue in intimate union with[1] Jesus Christ our God, and the bishop, and the enactments of the apostles. He that is within the

Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons, that ye admit not of a snare for your own souls. And act so that your life shall be without offence to all men, lest ye become as "a snare upon a watchtower, and as a net which is spread out."[2] For "he that does not heal himself in his own works, is the brother of him that destroys himself."[3] If, therefore, ye also put away conceit, arrogance, disdain, and haughtiness, it will be your privilege to be inseparably united to God, for "He is nigh unto those that fear Him."[4] And says He, "Upon whom will I look, but upon him that is humble and quiet, and that trembles at my words?"[5] And do ye also reverence your bishop as Christ Himself, according as the blessed apostles have enjoined you. He that is within the altar is pure,

  1. Literally, "unseparated from."
  2. Hos. v. 1.
  3. Prov. xviii. 9 (LXX.).
  4. Ps. lxxxv. 9.
  5. Isa. lxvi. 2.