but to the FATHER of JESUS CHRIST, the Bishop of all. Meet therefore it is, that, for the honour of Him who favors us, ye should obey without any hypocrisy, since it is not that a man deceives this Bishop that is seen, but he trifles rather with the Bishop who is not seen, and so the question is not with flesh, but with God who seeth the secrets.

IV. It is men's duty, therefore, not merely to bear the name of Christians, but to be such likewise; whereas some there are, who profess to acknowledge the Bishop, yet do all apart from him. To me such persons appear to be void of a good conscience, since they are not congregated in strict conformity to the commandment.

:

V. Now, as all things have their end, two alternatives are laid before us, death, and life: and every man must go to his own place. For there are, as it were, two coins, one of GoD and one the world's and each of these has its proper mark upon it; unbelievers the mark of this world, and they who in love believe, the mark of God the Father through JESUS CHRIST; through whom if we are not disposed voluntarily to die after the likeness of His passion, neither have we His life in us.

VI. Seeing now that, in the persons of the aforenamed, I have seen the whole people gathered together in faith, and have loved them, take good heed, I charge you, that you do all things in a godly concord:-the Bishop holding presidency over you, in the place of GOD; and the Presbyters in the place of the Council of Apostles; and the Deacons, my dearest, entrusted with the service of JESUS CHRIST, who was with the FATHER before the worlds, and appeared in the end. Assuming therefore all of you this godly unity of feeling, give heed one to another, and let no man regard his neighbour according to the flesh, but love ye one another continually, in JESUS CHRIST. Let there be in you nothing which can divide you; but be ye made one, with the Bishop, and the Superiors, for an example and lesson of incorruption.

VII. As therefore our LORD, being united with the FATher, did nothing without Him, neither by Himself, nor by His Apostles, so neither do you do any thing, apart from the Bishop and the Presbyters. Neither attempt ye any thing that appears good to your own judgment, but let there be in the same place, one prayer, one supplication, one Mind, one Hope, in love and joy reproachless. There is One JESUS CHRIST, who surpasseth all things; together therefore haste ye all, as to God's Temple, as to One Altar, as to

One JESUS CHRIST, who proceeded from One FATHER, and is in One, and to One returned.

VIII. Be not led astray by strange doctrines, nor by old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still, according to the law, live in Judaism, we make confession that we have not received Grace. For according to JESUS CHRIST the holy Prophets lived; wherefore also they were persecuted, being inspired with His grace, that unbelievers might be fully assured, that there is One GOD, who manifests Himself through JESUS CHRIST His Son, who is His Eternal Word, (not proceeding from silence,) who in all things well pleased Him who sent Him.

IX. If then they, who lived under the old state of things, have come to a newness of hope, not longer keeping Sabbath, but living a life according to the LORD's Day, wherein our life has arisen through Him, and His death, which some deny; (from which mystery we received our faith, and thence take patience, that we may be found Disciples of JESUS CHRIST Our only Master ;) how shall we be able to live apart from Him? Whom the Prophets also, being His Disciples, expected in spirit as their Master; and therefore He for whom they justly waited, did when He came raise them from the dead.

X. Let us not then be insensible to His goodness; for, if He should imitate the way in which we act, we have already perished. Wherefore, having become His disciples, let us learn to live according to Christianity; for whosoever is called by any other name but this, is not of GOD. Put aside therefore the evil leaven, which hath grown old and waxed sour, and be ye changed into the new leaven which is JESUS CHRIST. Be ye salted in Him, that none among you may be corrupted, inasmuch as by your savour shall ye be judged. It is inconsistent to name CHRIST JESUS, and to Judaize. For Christianity has not believed on Judaism, but Judaism on Christianity; that every tongue may believe and be gathered to GOD.

XI. These things, my beloved, it is my desire, not as knowing that any of you are so affected, but as setting myself below you, to guard you against, so that you fall not upon the hooks of vain doctrine, but be fully assured of the Birth, and Passion, and Resurrection, which took place in the time of the government of Pontius Pilate; which are things verily and surely done by JESUS CHRIST Our Hope-and from that Hope may none of you be turned away.

XII. May you be my joy in all things, if I be worthy; and bound though I am, I am not to be compared with any of you who are loosed. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have JESUS CHRIST within you; and I know that from my praise ye gather caution; as it is written, the just man accuseth himself.

XIII. Study therefore to be confirmed in the doctrine of the LORD and the Apostles, that in all you do, you may be well advanced in flesh and spirit, in faith and love, through the Son, and Father, and in SPIRIT, in the Beginning and in the End; under your most reverend Bishop, and your Presbytery, a well twined spiritual garland, and the Deacons according to God. Be ye subject to the Bishop, and one another, as JESUS CHRIST according to the Flesh to the FATHER, and the Apostles to CHRIST, and to the FATHER, and to the SPIRIT, that your union may be of the flesh and of the spirit.

XIV. Knowing that ye are full of God, I have exhorted you in few words. Remember me in your prayers, that I may attain to GOD. Remember also the Church which is in Syria, whereby I am not worthy to be called; for I require your united prayer and love in God, that the Church in Syria may be counted worthy to be bedewed through your Church.

XV. Ephesians in Smyrna, (whence I write to you,) salute you; who now are here to the glory of GoD, like unto you, and have refreshed me in all things, together with Polycarp, Bishop of the Smyrnæans. Likewise the other Churches salute you in the honour of JESUS CHRIST. Be strong in concord of God, possessing the Spirit indivisible, which is JESUS CHRIST.

[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. III.

THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH
ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.

The Apostle St. John and the Robber.

(From the Church History of Eusebius.)

LISTEN to a tale, which is no mere tale, but a true story which has been handed down and kept in memory, of John the Apostle. For when the Roman Emperor was dead, and St. John had returned to Ephesus from his banishment in the island of Patmos, he went over to the neighbouring countries; in some places to appoint Bishops, in some to establish new Churches, in others to separate to the Ministry some one of those whom the Spirit pointed out to him. At length he arrived at a city not very far from Ephesus, of which some even give the name; and after he had refreshed the brethren, he turned at last to the Bishop, whom he had appointed, and having observed a youth of goodly stature, comely appearance, and of an ardent spirit, "Here," he said, "is a deposit which I earnestly commend to your care, in the sight of CHRIST, and the Church." And after the Bishop had accepted the charge, and had promised all that was required of him, he repeated the same request, and with the same solemn form of words. Accordingly the Elder, taking to his home the youth intrusted to him, bred, controlled, fostered, and at last admitted him to baptism. After this he relaxed somewhat of his constant care and watchfulness, as having placed upon him the seal of the Lord, that last and best preservative from evil. But the other, having thus obtained his liberty too early, was taken hold of by certain idle and profligate youths of his own age, themselves habituated to wickedness. At first they lure him on by expensive revellings, next they carry him along with them on a thieving expedition by

VOL. I.

Gilbert & Rivington, Printers,
St. John's Square, London

night, and then they beg him to join them in some still greater crime. By little and little he became habituated to vice, and then through the hotness of his nature, starting like a hard-mouthed and spirited horse out of the right path, and taking as it were the bit into his mouth, rushed so much the more violently down the precipice. Finally, despairing of the salvation which is by GoD, he was no longer contented with mere petty offences; but, as he was now altogether lost, would fain do some great thing, and disdained to suffer but an equal punishment with the rest. He took therefore with him these same companions, and having got together a band of robbers, became their ready leader, and of all the most violent, the most bloody, the most cruel.

An interval elapsed; and upon some need falling out in the Church, the men of the city again called upon John to visit them. After he had set in order the things for which he came, "Come," said he to the Bishop, "give me back the deposit which I and CHRIST Committed to thee in the sight of the Church over which you preside." The Bishop was at first amazed, for he thought that John was unjustly charging him with money which had not been really given him, and knew not either how to credit a demand for what he had never received, or how to discredit the Apostle. But when he said plainly, "It is the youth I demand of thee, the soul of a brother," the old man groaned from the bottom of his heart, and shedding a few tears at the thought, answered him, "He is dead." "How then did he die, and by what death?" "He is dead," he said," to GOD, for he has ended in becoming wicked and abandoned, and to sum up all, a robber, and now, instead of the Church, he has taken to the hills with an armed band of robbers like himself." Then the Apostle tore his garment, and uttering a loud wail, beat his head, and said, "a careful guardian truly I left of the soul of my brother, but bring me a horse, and let me have some one to guide me on my way." So he rode away from the Church, just as he was, and when he came to the place, being taken, by the outposts of the robbers, he neither fled from them, nor asked for mercy, but cried out, "For this purpose came I; bring me to your chief." He in the mean time, in the armour he wore, waited for his approach. When, however, he recognized St. John, as he drew near, he was filled with shame, and turned and fled. But the Apostle followed after him with all his strength, forgetful of his years, and calling out, "Why do you flee from me,