a lesson from their misdeeds; yet not herein am I made perfect.

And I pray

I long for the wild beasts that are prepared for me. that they may be found ready; yea, I will encourage them quickly to devour me, and not as they have spared others as being scared at them. If they do it not of their own will, I will put a force upon them. Bear with me. I know my true interest; I am just becoming a disciple. Let nothing, seen or unseen, envy me my attaining unto CHRIST. Fire and Cross, the assault of beasts, dissection, tearing to pieces, the scattering of my bones, the chopping of my limbs, the pounding of my whole frame, dire tortures of the devil, let them come upon me, so that I but attain unto CHRIST!

VI. The delights of the world profit me not; I had rather die in CHRIST JESUS, than reign over the ends of the earth. For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? I am seeking Him, who died for us; I am longing for Him, who rose for our sake. This is the gain which I have before me. Have pity on me, my Brethren. Do not prevent me from living. Do not wish for me to die, when I desire to belong to God. Enter not into the sympathies of this world. Suffer me to gain the pure light. For when I arrive thither, I shall be a man of God. Allow me to imitate the passion of my God. If any man hath Him in himself, let him perceive what are my wishes, and sympathize with me, knowing what it is that constraineth me.

VII. The Prince of this world desires to tear me away, and to corrupt the purpose that I have to God-ward. Let none of you, who are at my side, give him your help; adhere rather to my cause, that is, the cause of GOD. Talk ye not of JESUS CHRIST, while you desire the world. Let no envy dwell within you; not even if when I am with you, I ask it of you, do you comply with me. Comply rather with what I now write to you. I write to you living, yet longing to die. My Love is crucified. I have in me neither flame, nor its fuel; but there is the living water, that speaketh in me, and saith from within, "Come hither unto the FATHER." I have no taste for corruptible food, or for the pleasures of this world. I long for God's bread, heavenly bread, bread of life, which is flesh of JESUS CHRIST the Son of God, who was of the seed of David afterwards. And I long for God's draught, His blood, which is Love without corruption, and Life for

evermore.

VIII. I desire no longer to live after the manner of men; and no longer shall I live so, if you concede to me this favour. Favour me, therefore, that yourselves may find favour. I have written to you in few words. Believe me. Surely JESUS CHRIST shall make this manifest unto you, that I speak truly; He is that mouth that cannot lie, whereby the FATHER spoke truly. Pray for me, that I may attain. I have written to you, not according to the flesh, but according to the counsel of GOD. If I suffer, let it have been with your good-will; if I am a castaway, with your hatred.

IX. Remember in your prayers the Church that is in Syria, which hath GOD for its Shepherd instead of me. Its only Bishop now will be JESUS CHRIST, and your love. I feel unworthy to bear the name of my flock. For I am not worthy, being the last among them. I am "one born out of due time." But, I shall have mercy to be somebody, if I attain unto Him. My spirit saluteth you; as doth the love of the Churches, which received me in the name of JESUS CHRIST, not as a chance traveller; for even the Churches that belonged not to me, to my road according to the flesh, have forwarded me city by city.

X. I write this unto you from Smyrna, by the hands of the truly blessed Ephesians. Crocus, a well-beloved name to me, and many others, are with me. I suppose you to be not unaware of those persons who have preceded me from Syria to Rome, to the glory of GOD. Make it known to them, that I am now at hand. They are all worthy of God, and you; and you ought in every manner to refresh them. I write this to you on the day preceding the 9th of the Kalends of September. Be strong unto the end, in the patience of JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

[NEW EDITION.]

These Tracts are continued in Numbers, and sold at the price of 2d. for each sheet, or 7s. for 50 copies.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON,

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE.

1839.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.

No. IX.

THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.

The Martyrdom of Ignatius, the friend of St. Peter and St. John, and Bishop of Antioch, at Rome.

I. Not long after the accession of Trajan, Emperor of Rome, lgnatius, who had been the Disciple of St. John, the Apostle, and who himself had shewn forth in his conduct all the features of the Apostolic character, was actively engaged in the task of superintending the Church of Antioch. He had been recently directing its affairs, when it was struggling through those frequent days of storm and persecution, which occurred during the reign of Domitian; and like a skilful Pilot, with rudder and with cable, he had borne up against the swelling and insurgent billows, by prayer, by fasting, by assiduous teaching, in dependence on the HOLY SPIRIT, as one who was deeply concerned that not one soul should perish, among the weak and the simple, that were entrusted to his care. It was not, therefore, without satisfaction, that he witnessed the calm which the Church enjoyed, during the temporary cessation of persecution; though, at the same time, for himself he had much misgiving, that he as yet fell short of the perfect love of CHRIST, and had not arrived at the highest elevation, which is offered to a Disciple's hopes. He felt that, were he to make the confession of Martyrdom, he would attain a more close similitude to his Divine Master. For the few succeeding years he continued at the head of the Church, a burning and shining light; and truly the expositions which he gave of the Holy Scriptures spread a bright reflection upon the hearts of all around him. At length he attained the object of his hopes.

II. It was in the ninth year of Trajan, when that monarch, elated with his recent victories over the Scythians, Dacians, and several

other nations, appears to have regarded the pious brotherhood of Christians, as forming the only exception to the universality of his conquests; and he accordingly issued his threats of persecution against any person, who should refuse to perform the customary worship to the heathen gods; so that all who professed the Christian religion were either reduced by their fears to acquiesce in this worship, or were exposed to the prospect of death if they refused it. Alive to the danger which had fallen on the Church of Antioch, this valiant soldier of CHRIST permitted himself to be brought before Trajan, who was residing at the time in that city, and was on the eve of an expedition against Armenia and the Parthians. When brought into the imperial presence, he was thus addressed by Trajan :-" Who art thou," he said, “and what evil spirit is exercising its malice upon thee, that thou hast thus adventured to transgress the commands which I have given, and even to exercise such persuasions upon others, as has brought them to a miserable end?" Ignatius answered, "I bear the title of Theophorus; evil spirits cannot influence the acts of those who bear that name; the Servants of GOD are protected from the reproach of Demons. But if, in supposing the malice of such beings towards me, you imply my hostility against them, I admit that you are not mistaken. For I am the subject of a Heavenly King, whose name is CHRIST, and by His help I bring to nought the counsels of the evil spirits." "What signifieth the title Theophorus?" enquired Trajan; " to whom belongs it?" "It belongs," replied Ignatius, "to all, who carry JESUS CHRIST in their bosoms." "Then," said Trajan, "do you think that we have not our gods in our minds, when we employ them to fight with us against our enemies?" Ignatius answered him; "You do wrong to designate as gods, the Demons whom the heathen worship. There is One GOD, who made the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them; and there is One JESUS CHRIST, the Son of GOD, the Only-begotten, of whose kingdom I am an expectant." "Do you mean," enquired Trajan, "that person, who was crucified in the time of Pontius Pilate?" "Him," replied Ignatius, "I mean, who nailed upon His Cross both the sins which I have committed, and the being that led me to commit them, and who has decreed that all spiritual craft and malice shall be put under the feet of them, who carry Him in their bosoms!" "Do you then," asked Trajan,

"carry a crucified man within you?" Ignatius answered, “I do ; for it is written, 'I will dwell within them, and I will walk among them.' Trajan then issued this sentence. "We command that Ignatius, who says that he carries about within him, one who has been crucified, be carried by soldiers in chains unto the great city of Rome, there to be devoured by wild beasts, for the public gratification." When the holy Martyr heard this announcement, he cried out with joy, "I thank Thee, O my Master, for that Thou hast permitted me to shew forth, in the penalty I am to suffer, the perfect love I have toward Thee, and hast associated me with Thine Apostle Paul, in these iron bonds." So saying, he gladly put on the chains, and after offering up a prayer for the Church, and commending it with tears to the LORD, he was withdrawn like some leader of a goodly flock, the foremost of its associates in grace and stature, being destined, under the conduct of a harsh and savage soldiery, to become a prey for the wild beasts at Rome.

III. Maintaining a tone of mind thus elevated, and happy in the prospect of the closing scene, he travelled from Antioch to Seleucia, and proceeded forward by sea; and on arriving after a troublesome voyage at Smyrna, he gladly took the opportunity of disembarking to visit the holy Polycarp, who at that time was Bishop of the Smyrnæans, and who was his own fellow-disciple, both having at a former period received instruction from St. John the Apostle. After having continued some time the guest of Polycarp, and having communicated with him in spiritual gifts, he declared the joy he found in his bonds, and invited him to give all diligence in assisting the main object of his desires; which was, that the wild beasts might make him an early prey; and so, retiring from the sight of this world, he might pass into the presence of CHRIST. To assist him in this object, he more particularly invited St. Polycarp. But he extended the request to the Church in general; for the Churches and cities of Asia had, through their Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, received the holy man ; and all were pressing forward to meet him, from their anxiety to partake in the spiritual gifts which he distributed.

IV. It was in terms like those which have been stated, that he gave evidence of the integrity of that love for his SAVIOUR, which was now leading him through a good confession to his heavenly inheritance; and he was assisted herein by the zealous prayer