all that are weak; not negligent of the widow and the orphan, and him that is poor, but ever providing what is honest in the sight of God and men; abstaining from all wrath, respect of persons, and unrighteous judgment; being far from covetousness, not hastily believing a report against any man, nor rigid in judgment; knowing that we are all faulty, and obnoxious to punishment. If, therefore, we stand in need to pray the Lord that he would forgive us, we ourselves ought also to forgive. For we are before the eyes of him who is Lord and God, and "all must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, and every one give an account of himself." Wherefore let us serve him with all fear and reverence, as he himself has commanded us, and as the Apostles have preached and taught us, and the prophets who foreshowed the coming of our Lord. Be zealous of that which is good, abstaining from offences and false brethren, and those who bear the name of the Lord in hypocrisy, who seduce and deceive vain men; for " every one that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is anti-christ;" and he who doth not acknowlege the martyrdom of the cross, is of the devil; and whoever shall pervert the oracles of the Lord to his private lusts, and shall say, that there is neither resurrection nor judgment to come, that man is the first-born of Satan. Leaving, therefore, the vanity of many, and their false doctrines, let us return to that doctrine that from the beginning was delivered to us: let us be watchful in prayers, persevering in fasting and supplications, beseeching the all-seeing God that he would not lead us into temptation; as the Lord has said, "the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak." Let us unweariedly and constantly adhere to Jesus Christ, who is our hope and the pledge of our righteousness, "who bare our sins in his own body on the tree, who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth," but endured all things for our sakes, that we might live through

him. Let us, then, imitate his patience, and if we suffer for his name, we glorify him; for such a pattern he set us in himself, and thus we have believed and entertained.

Stand

I exhort you, therefore, all, that ye be obedient to the word of righteousness, and that you exercise all manner of patience, as you have seen it set forth before your eyes, not only in the blessed Ignatius, and Zosimus, and Rufus; but in. others also among you, and in Paul himself, and the rest of the Apostles; being assured that all these have not run in vain, but in faith and righteousness; and are arrived at the place due and promised to them by the Lord, of whose sufferings they were made partakers. For they loved not this present world, but him who both died and was raised up again by God for us. fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord; being firm and immutable in the faith, lovers of the brethren, and kindly affectionate one towards another, united in the truth, carrying yourselves meekly to each other, despising no man. When it is in your power to do good, defer it not, for alms delivereth from death. Be all of you subject one to another, having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that both you yourselves may receive praise by your good works, and that God be not blasphemed through you. For wo unto him, by whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed. Wherefore teach all men sobriety, and be yourselves conversant in it.

I am exceedingly troubled for Valens, who was sometime ordained a presbyter among you, that he so little understands the place wherein he was set. I therefore warn you, that you abstain from covetousness, and that ye be chaste and true. Keep yourselves from every evil work. But he that in these things cannot govern himself, how shall he preach it to another? If a man refrain not from covetousness he will be defiled with idolatry, and shall be judged

among the heathen. Who is ignorant of the judgment of the Lord? "Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?" as Paul teaches. But I have neither found any such thing in you, nor heard any such thing of you, among whom the blessed Paul laboured, and who are in the beginning of his Epistle. For of you he boasts in all those churches, which only knew God at that time, whom as yet we had not known. I am, therefore, brethren, greatly troubled for him and for his wife; the Lord give them true repentance. Be ye also sober as to this matter, and account not such as enemies, but restore them as weak and erring members, that the whole body of you may be saved; for in so doing ye build up yourselves.

I trust that ye are well exercised in the holy Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you; a thing as yet not granted to me. As it is said in these places, "Be angry and sin not;" and "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.' Blessed is he that is mindful of these things, which I believe you are. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Christ Jesus the eternal High-priest and Son of God, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, that you may be without anger, in patience, forbearance, long-suffering, and chastity, and give you a portion and inheritance amongst his saints; and to us together with you, and to all under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in his Father, who raised him from the dead. Pray for all saints: pray also for kings, magistrates, and princes, and even for them that hate and persecute you, and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest in all, that you may be complete in him.

Ye wrote unto me, both ye and Ignatius, that if any one go into Syria, he might carry your letters along with him: which I will do so soon as I shall have a convenient opportunity, either myself, or by some other, whom I will send upon your errand.

According to your request, we have sent you those epistles of Ignatius which he wrote to us, and as many others of his as we had by us, which are annexed to this Epistle, by which ye may be greatly profited. For they contain in them faith and patience, and whatever else is necessary to build you up in our Lord. Send us what you certainly know both concerning Ignatius himself and his companions. These things have I written unto you by Crescens, whom I have hitherto commended to you, and do still recommend. For he has unblamably conversed among us, as also I believe amongst you. His sister also ye shall have recommended, when she shall come unto you. Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all. Amen.

R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL.

SMYRNA, though it has undergone a sad change, as to its religious state, since the days of St. Polycarp, is still a large and flourishing city of Asia Minor. It is beautifully situated on the sea-coast, with a front of nearly a mile in length towards the water; while the remains of the ancient buildings are to be seen on the heights above. The population is upwards of 100,000, about a fourth part of whom are Christians. The remainder are chiefly Mohammedans; so that, while there are four or five churches, (with several Jewish synagogues,) there are also more than twenty mosques, or temples dedicated to the worship of the false prophet. These, with their domes and minarets, form, indeed, the most conspicuous objects on approaching the city.

The christian traveller cannot but visit with the deepest interest the spot which was consecrated as the abode of the early christian Martyr whose life is here given; while he cherishes the hope, that Smyrna may yet arise from its degradation, and merit again the commendation once bestowed upon it in apostolic times. (See Rev. ii. 8-11.)