Chapter XII.--Praise of the Ephesians.
I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am a condemned man, ye have been the objects of mercy; I am subject to danger, ye are established in safety. Ye are the persons through [571] whom those pass that are cut off for the sake of God. Ye are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, the deservedly most happy, at whose feet [572] may I be found, when I shall attain to God; who in all his Epistles makes mention of you in Christ Jesus.
I know both who I am, and to whom I write. I am the very insignificant Ignatius, who have my lot with [573] those who are exposed to danger and condemnation. But ye have been the objects of mercy, and are established in Christ. I am one delivered over [to death], but the least of all those that have been cut off for the sake of Christ, "from the blood of righteous Abel" [574] to the blood of Ignatius. Ye are initiated into the mysteries of the Gospel with Paul, the holy, the martyred, inasmuch as he was "a chosen vessel;" [575] at whose feet may I be found, and at the feet of the rest of the saints, when I shall attain to Jesus Christ, who is always mindful of you in His prayers.
[571] Literally, "ye are the passage of."
[572] Literally, "footsteps."
[573] Literally, "am like to."
[574] Matt. xxiii. 35.
[575] Acts ix. 15.
Chapter XIII.--Exhortation to meet together frequently for the worship of God.
Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and the destruction at which he aims [576] is prevented by the unity of your faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in heaven and earth, [577] is brought to an end.
Take heed, then, often to come together to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye come frequently together in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, and his "fiery darts" [578] urging to sin fall back ineffectual. For your concord and harmonious faith prove his destruction, and the torment of his assistants. Nothing is better than that peace which is according to Christ, by which all war, both of aërial and terrestrial spirits, is brought to an end. "For we wrestle not against blood and flesh, but against principalities and powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places." [579]
[576] Literally, "his destruction."
[577] Literally, "of heavenly and earthly things."
[578] Eph. vi. 16.
[579] Eph. vi. 12.
Chapter XIV.--Exhortations to faith and love.
None of these things is hid from you, if ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ Jesus [580] which are the beginning and the end of life. For the beginning is faith, and the end is love. [581] Now these two, being inseparably connected together, [582] are of God, while all other things which are requisite for a holy life follow after them. No man [truly] making a profession of faith sinneth; [583] nor does he that possesses love hate any one. The tree is made manifest by its fruit; [584] so those that profess themselves to be Christians shall be recognised by their conduct. For there is not now a demand for mere profession, [585] but that a man be found continuing in the power of faith to the end.
Wherefore none of the devices of the devil shall be hidden from you, if, like Paul, ye perfectly possess that faith and love towards Christ [586] which are the beginning and the end of life. The beginning of life is faith, and the end is love. And these two being inseparably connected together, do perfect the man of God; while all other things which are requisite to a holy life follow after them. No man making a profession of faith ought to sin, nor one possessed of love to hate his brother. For He that said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," [587] said also, "and thy neighbour as thyself." [588] Those that profess themselves to be Christ's are known not only by what they say, but by what they practise. "For the tree is known by its fruit." [589]
[580] 1 Tim. i. 14.
[581] 1 Tim. i. 5.
[582] Literally, "being in unity."
[583] Comp. 1 John iii. 7.
[584] Matt. xii. 33.
[585] Literally, "there is not now the work of profession."
[586] 1 Tim. i. 14.
[587] Luke x. 27.
[588] Luke x. 27.
[589] Matt. xii. 33.