Some suppose the reference to be to the soldiers, or perhaps to God Himself. Footnote 1381: Or, “as possessed of the judgment.” Footnote 1382: Literally, “an eternal work.” Footnote 1383: Literally, “name desired by me.” THE EPISTLES OF IGNATIUS AFTER THE SYRIAC VERSION. INTRODUCTORY NOTICE. Some account of the discovery of the Syriac version of the Ignatian Epistles has been already given (p. 141). We have simply to add here a brief description of the MSS. from which the Syriac text has been printed. That which is named α by Cureton, contains only the Epistle to Polycarp, and exhibits the text of that epistle which, after him, we have followed. He fixes its age somewhere in the first half of the sixth century, or before the year 550. The second MS., which Cureton refers to as β, is assigned by him to the seventh or eighth century. It contains the three Epistles of Ignatius, and furnishes the text here followed in the Epistles to the Ephesians and Romans. The third MS., which Cureton quotes as γ, has no date, but, as he tells us, “belonged to the collection acquired by Moses of Nisibis in A.D. 931, and was written apparently about three or four centuries earlier.” It contains the three epistles to Polycarp, the Ephesians, and the Romans. The text of all these MSS. is in several passages manifestly corrupt, and the translators appear at times to have mistaken the meaning of the Greek original. THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO POLYCARP.[1384] _Ignatius, who is [also called] Theophorus, to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, or rather, who has as his own bishop God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ: [wishes] abundance of happiness._ CHAP. I. Because thy mind is acceptable to me, inasmuch as it is established in God, as on a rock which is immoveable, I glorify God the more exceedingly that I have been counted worthy of [seeing] thy face, which I longed after in God. Now I beseech thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to add [speed] to thy course, and that thou ever pray for all men that they may be saved, and that thou demand[1385] things which are befitting, with all assiduity both of the flesh and spirit. Be studious of unity, than which nothing is more precious. Bear with all men, even as our Lord beareth with thee. Show patience[1386] with all men in love, as [indeed] thou doest. Be stedfast in prayer. Ask for more understanding than that which thou [already] hast. Be watchful, as possessing a spirit which sleepeth not. Speak with every man according to the will of God. Bear the infirmities of all men as a perfect athlete; for where the labour is great, the gain is also great. CHAP. II.