Page:Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 1.djvu/224

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210
THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS
ing me, I shall become God's; but if you show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for[1] from the east unto the west. It is good to set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him.

favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God, while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for[1] from the east unto the west, and to become a martyr[2] in behalf of His own precious[3] sufferings, so as to pass from the world to God, that I may rise again unto Him.


Chap. iii.Pray rather that I may attain to martyrdom.

Ye have never envied any one; ye have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions ye enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward

Ye have never envied any one; ye have taught others. Now I desire that those things may be confirmed [by your conduct], which in your instructions ye enjoin [on others]. Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but [truly] will, so that I may not merely be called a Christian, but

  1. 1.0 1.1 Literally, "to be found and sent for."
  2. The text is here in great confusion.
  3. Literally, "beautiful." Some read, "it is good to," etc.