had first prayed for the church, and commended it with tears to the Lord, he was hurried away by the savage[1441] cruelty of the soldiers, like a distinguished ram, the leader of a goodly flock, that he might be carried to Rome, there to furnish food to the bloodthirsty beasts. CHAP. III.—_Ignatius sails to Smyrna._ Wherefore, with great alacrity and joy, through his desire to suffer, he came down from Antioch to Seleucia, from which place he set sail. And after a great deal of suffering he came to Smyrna, where he disembarked with great joy, and hastened to see the holy Polycarp, [formerly] his fellow-disciple, and [now] bishop of Smyrna. For they had both, in old times, been disciples of St John the apostle. Being then brought to him, and having communicated to him some spiritual gifts, and glorying in his bonds, he entreated of him to labour[1442] along with him for the fulfilment of his desire; earnestly indeed asking this of the whole church (for the cities and churches of Asia had welcomed[1443] the holy man through their bishops, and presbyters, and deacons, all hastening to meet him, if by any means they might receive from him some[1444] spiritual gift), but above all, the holy Polycarp, that, by means of the wild beasts, he soon disappearing from this world, might be manifested before the face of Christ. CHAP. IV.—_Ignatius writes to the churches._ And these things he thus spake, and thus testified, extending his love to Christ so far as one who was about to[1445] secure heaven through his good confession, and the earnestness of those who joined their prayers to his in regard to his [approaching] conflict; and to give a recompense to the churches, who came to meet him through their rulers, sending[1446] letters of thanksgiving to them, which dropped spiritual grace, along with prayer and exhortation. Wherefore, seeing all men so kindly affected towards him, and fearing lest the love of the brotherhood should hinder his zeal towards the Lord,[1447] while a fair door of suffering martyrdom was opened to him, he wrote to the church of the Romans the epistle which is here subjoined. (See the epistle as formerly given, pp. 205-220.) CHAP. V.—_Ignatius is brought to Rome._