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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
saint_n	bishop_n	church_n	presbyter_n	1,570	5	10.2756	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A38579	A prospect of the primitive Christianity, as it was left by Christ to his Apostles, by the Apostles to their disciples Saint Polycarp and Holy Ignatius, both contemporaries with and disciples to the Holy Evangelist and Apostle Saint John whose lives follow in this short treatise, together with their famous epistles written to several churches / translated according to the best copies out of the original Greek into English, by Thomas Elborowe ...	Elborow, Thomas.; Polycarp, Saint, Bishop of Smyrna. Epistola ad Philippenses. English.; Ignatius, Saint, Bishop of Antioch, d. ca. 110. Epistolae. English.	1668 (1668)	Wing E323; ESTC R15095	56,995	138

A PROSPECT OF THE Primitive Christianity as it was left by CHRIST to his APOSTLES BY THE Apostles to their Disciples Saint Polycarp and Holy Ignatius Both Contemporaries with and Disciples to the Holy Evangelist and Apostle Saint JOHN Whose Lives follow in this short Treatise together with their famous Epistles written to several Churches Translated according to the best Copies out of the Original Greek into English By Thomas Elborowe Vicar of Chiswick in the County of Middlesex In the SAVOY Printed by Tho. Newcomb for William Grantham at the Sign of the Black Bear in Westminster-Hall 1668. TO THE REVEREND FATHER in GOD ROBERT Lord Bishop of Worcester My Lord I Have been your debter these many years and although I was perswaded formerly to appear in print in a short Exposition upon the Book of Common-Prayer yet that small and imperfect piece did seek protection from the wings of another It is my happiness now to make choice of a Subject most proper and fit for your Lordships Patronage wherein Christianity and the Fence about it the Vine and the Hedge are so delineated according to the Primitive Patterns that this present age wherein we live may blush and stand amazed to see how much short they are in the practise of that Religion which they profess and be ashamed of themselves that they of the first Age should be Christians indeed whilst too many of this are onely Christians in Name It hath been very well observed by the Antient Fathers and as much by these two as by any Holy Polycarp and Divine Ignatius who fly to the sacred wings of your Lordships protection to secure them from a second Martyrdom which the unkind world may threaten them withall That Religion consists more in practice than in speculation and is rather an Occupation than a meer Profession But I will detain your Lordship no longer from the reading of them in our plain English whom you have so often conversed with in their own Language Thus having discharged a small part of my debt which yet your Acceptance will double upon me I remain your Lordships debter still ever praying for your Lordships health and happiness Your dutiful and obedient Son Thomas Elborowe The Life and Death of Saint POLYCARP Martyr Bishop of the Church of Smyrna and Disciple to Saint John the Evangelist POlycarp was a man of an excellent Spirit an eminent Christian fruitful in every good work the Disciple of the blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John not onely instructed by the Apostles in the Doctrine of Christianity and continually conversant amongst them who had seen Christ in the flesh but he was by the Apostles themselves ordained Bishop of the Church of Smyrna in Asia He was that famous Angel so much commended for his Pietie Patience and Constancie Revel 2. 8 9 10. when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very great persecutions disturbed and vexed all Asia and fell very heavie upon that City where he was then Metropolitan Irenaeus who was Polycarps Disciple makes mention of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his conversation with John and gives him this Style that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That blessed and Apostolical Presbyter He further reports of him thus that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 made Bishop over the Church of Smyrna in Asia by the Apostles themselves Tertullian shewing how the Apostolical Churches derived their Successions mentioned Polycarp placed over the Church of Smyrna by John He is styled by Eusebius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a person very familiar with the Apostles and is said by the s●me author to have obtained 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Episcopacie of the Church of Smyrna by the joynt suffrage of those who had seen the Lord and were his Ministers Jerom says he was a Disciple of John the Apostle and by him ordained Metropolitan Bishop of Smyrna for he was Totius Asiae Princeps the Prince of all Asia Gildas saith he was Egregius Pastor Christi testis an excellent Pastour and Witness of Christ The very heathens thinking to disgrace him the more did give him this honourable Eulogie that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Doctor of Asia the Father of the Christians This godly Professor and great Prelate lived to a very great age and finishing his life by a glorious Martyrdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 did as it were seal up by his Martyrdom and put a Period to the persecution which then raged This happened under the reign of Marcus Aurelius Philosophus and Lucius Verus Roman Emperours Very memorable things are recorded of this great Saint and Martyr by Eusebius to whom I refer my Reader This briefly touching Polycarp himself I come now to speak as briefly of his Works and Writings Divers are by divers attributed to him Some make mention of many Tracts Homilies and Epistles which he wrote and of One entire Book composed by him upon the Death of Saint John the Evangelist his Master Suidas mentions Epistles written by him to Dionysius the Areopagite and to several Churches Irenaeus who was his Disciple mentions Epistles written by him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To neighbour Churches and to certain of the Brethren But these shall not be a matter of my further enquirie whether so or not so I shall now give you a brief account out of some of the Ancients touching this Epistle of his written to the Philippians Photius reports it to be read publickly in Churches his word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and gives it out to be an Epistle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 full of many admirable Admonitions clear and plain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Ecclesiastical form of interpretation then used Jerom styles it Epistolam valdè utilem a very useful Epistle and reports it to be read in the Churches of Asia to his very time Irenaeus saith it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most full and complete Epistle out of which all who are willing to learn and have any care or value for their Salvation may learn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the exact form of Faith and Doctrine of Truth Eusebius says the very same out of Irenaeus Sophronius and Suidas style it an Epistle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very admirable Maximus the Scholiast reports him to have written Epistles to the Philippians but that is supposed a mistake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Epistle so excellent for the building of us up in Faith and Love and in whatever may adorn Christian Profession I now offer to the charitable and courteous Reader translated into English out of that Greek copie which was published by the Right Reverend Prelate and learned Antiquarie Doctor Vsher Primate of Ireland and printed at Oxford Anno Dom. 1644. The Epistle of Saint Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna and holy Martyr to the Philippians POLYCARP and the Presbyters with him to the Church of God within the Diocess of

beginning Let us attend unto Prayers with all sobrierie and unto Fastings with all perseverance and in our supplications let us pray unto the Al-seeing God that he would not lead us into temptation as the Lord hath taught for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak Let us endure without fainting resting our selves upon our hope and pledge of righteousness which is Jesus Christ who did bear our sins in his own body upon the tree who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth but he patiently endured all things for us that we might live through him Therefore let us be the followers of his patience and if we suffer for his Name we glorifie him for he set us such an Example in himself as we believe Therefore I exhort you all to obey the word of Righteousness and to exercise all Patience as ye have seen it exemplified before your eyes not onely in the blessed Ignatius Zosimus and Rufus but in others among you in Paul himself and the rest of the Apostles For ye may be confident that all these have not run in vain but in Faith and Righteousness and having obtained the place due unto them are now with the Lord with whom also they suffered for they loved not this present world but him who died for us and was for us by God raised again from death to life Stand fast therefore in these things and follow the Pattern of the Lord Be stedfast in the Faith immutable Lovers of the brotherhood kind one to another united in Truth performing all meekness each to other and despising none When ye can do good do not deferre it for Alms delivereth from death Be subject one to another having your conversation unblameable among the Gentiles that your selves may receive praise from your good works and the Lord be not blasphemed by your means But wo to that man by whom the Name of the Lord is blasphemed Therefore teach all men sobriety and be your selves conversant in it I am very much troubled for Valens who was made a Presbyter among you because he is unmindful of his place which was committed unto him I therefore admonish you that ye abstain from Covetousness and that ye be chaste and true Keep your selves from all evil But how can he preach this to another who cannot govern himself in these matters If a man keep not himself from Covetousness he will be defiled with Idolatry and accounted an heathen But who knows not the judgement of the Lord Do we not know that the Saints shall judge the world as Paul teacheth But I have neither perceived nor heard of any such thing among you amongst whom blessed Paul laboured who are also in the beginning of his Epistle For he glories of you in all those Churches which onely knew God at that time for as yet we had not known him Therefore my Brethren I am grieved for him and for his wife to whom the Lord give true Repentance And be ye sober as to this very thing esteem not such as as enemies but restore them as frail and erring members that the whole body of you may be saved for in so doing ye build up your selves I trust that ye are well exercised in the holy Scriptures and that nothing is hid from you which thing is not yet granted unto me As it is written Be angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath Blessed is he who shall believe which thing I believe to be in you Now the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ the eternal High-priest and Son of God build you up in faith and truth and in all meekness that ye may be without anger and in all patience longanimity long-sufferance and chastity and give you a lot and part amongst his Saints and to us together with you and to all who are under heaven that 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 and Potentates and Princes for those who persecute you and hate you and for the enemies of the Cross that your fruit may be manifested in all and ye may be perfect in him Ye and also Ignatius have written unto me that if any man go into Syria he may carry also your Letters which I will either do my self if I have a fit opportunity or he whom I shall send upon your message also According to your request we have sent unto you those Epistles of Ignatius which he wrote unto us and so many others of his as we had by us which are subjoyned to this Epistle and by which ye may be very much profited for they contain in them faith and patience and all that is necessary for the building of you up in our Lord. Signifie unto us what ye shall certainly know concerning Ignatius himself and those who are with him I have written unto you these things by Crescens whom I formerly commended to you and do now commend for he was conversant amongst us unblameably and I believe he was the same amongst you Ye shall also have his sister commended when she shall come unto you Be safe in the Lord Jesus Christ in grace with all yours Amen The Life and Death of Holy IGNATIUS Bishop of the Church of Antioch in Syria Holy Martyr and Disciple of Saint John the Evangelist Together with a true account of these following Epistles of his 1. To the Smyrneans 2. To Polycarp 3. To the Ephesians 4. To the Magnesians 5. To the Philadelphians 6. To the Trallians 7. To the Romans All faithfully translated out of the Original Greek into English according to the most genuine Copy found in the Library of Lawrence De Medicis by the Learned Isaac Vossius and by him published at Amsterdam in the year of our Lord. 1646. THis holy man Ignatius was a man of an extraordinary Zeal vast Charity most clear Apprehensions as to Divine things devout and religious even to a Miracle He was styled Theopherus as he calls himself in all his Epistles either as is supposed by some because he was that Little Child mentioned in the Gospel which Christ took up in his arms when he would teach his Disciples Humility by the low Character of Childhood or because he did constantly bear God about with him in his holy and pure heart My purpose is in brief to shew you what he was of what esteem in the Church and how he ended his life by a glorious Martyrdom which I shall do out of those Writers of Antiquity who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persons worthy of credit and of very venerable esteem in the Church of Christ Origen reports him Episcopum Antiochiae post Petrum secundum The second Bishop of Antioch after Peter Athanasius said he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Made Bishop of Antioch after the Apostles and a Martyr of Christ Irenaeus hath written of him thus that

he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a testimony of his faith towards God condemned to beasts Chrysostom saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he was familiarly conversant with the Apostles nourished up together with them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that he was by them esteemed worthy of so great a Principality meaning undoubtedly the Episcopacie of the Church of Antioch for he says presently after that he was not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy of so great a Principality but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he obtained that dignity from those holy persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the hands of the blessed Apostles themselves were laid upon his holy head Theodoret says he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most famous Doctor of the Church and that he received 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Grace of the High-priesthood by the right hand of glorious Peter and that after he had governed the Church of Antioch he was crowned with Martyrdom Jerom says he was the third Bishop of the Church of Antioch after Saint Peter the Apostle Socrates says the same and that he was very much a companion of the Apostles He is styled by Evagrius I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divine Ignatius Gildas in his time said that the British Clergy were not onely not good enough to be accounted Priests but scarce good enough to be esteemed mean Christians in comp r●son of him Scaliger s ys he was Vir singulari eruditione a man of singular Learning Neander says he was Vir magni spiritus fidei zeli a man of a great spirit faith and zeal Baronius styles him Copiosam Apostolicarum traditionum Apothecam fortémque adversus haereticos armaturam A copious Store-house of Apostolical traditions and a strong armour against heretiques He suffred a glorious Martyrdom under the Emperour Trajan and being brought bound from Antioch to Rome was condemned to be devoured by beasts Here I conclude touching Ignatius himself I come now to speak something of his Writings It is the judgement of learned men that many Epistles are ascribed to him which were never written by him but were the Epistles of some latter supposititious writers who did imitate his Style which are these Epistles following 1. The Epistle written from Philippi to the Church of Tarsus 2. The Epistle written from Philippi to the Church of Antioch 3. The Epistle written from Philippi to Heron Deacon of the Church of Antioch 4. The Epistle written to the Philippians touching Baptism which Epistle makes mention of several Feasts the Quadragesimal Fast and the Passion week to be observed and from this very passage Mr John Calvin took his occasion to speak against the Epistles of Ignatius or rather against that Epistle now his objection being against that which is not numbred amongst the Genuine Epistles can make no thing against those Epistles of his which will hereafter appear to be Genuine 5. An Epistle written from Antioch to Maria Cassobolita is ascribed to Ignatius 6. Two Epistles written to Saint John the Evangelist 7. One short Epistle written to the blessed Virgin Mary these are all ascribed to Ignatius Indeed in the forementioned Epistles we may meet with much of Ignatius Spirit Style Method Matter and his very Expressions yet they are not accounted his Genuine Epistles and in regard they are not received for the true Epistles of Ignatius nor found in that Sylloge or Collection made by Polycarp at the end of his Epistle to the Philippians therefore though I have translated them I have forborn the publishing of them and yet there are many excellent things in them very much conducing to Christianity Having hitherto given a brief account of those Epistles which are supposed false I come now to make enquiry after those which are without all question true First that Ignatius wrote Epistles is not to be questioned unless we will also question all Antiquitie for the Ancient Fathers of the Church make frequent mention of his Epistles and fetch Citations out of them as being of great moment and good authority Eusebius by name tells us expresly what Epistles Ignatius wrote and from whence he wrote them and to whom Whilst he was at Smyrna and upon his voyage to Rome he wrote Epistles from Smyrna to the Ephesians Magnesians Trallians and Romans when he was gon from Smyrna to Troas he wrote from Troas to the Church of Philadelphia to the Church of Smyrna and to Polycarp Here we have the just number of those Epistles which were accounted his being seven in all Well though we have found out the seven Epistles which were his yet we have not brought our search to the full point the proper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for there were several Copies of these Epistles found in several Libraries and Manuscripts by the diligent search of able and learned men fitted for such an imployment Now of these Copies some were corrupt and interpolate such were the Epistles published in Greek with the Vulgar Latine version by the Right Reverend Father in God Bishop Vsher Primate of Ireland and by him printed at Oxford Anno Dom. 1644. Master Isaac Vossius published the same in an Edition of his which was printed at Amsterdam Anno Dom. 1646. I believe Master John Calvin the Centuriators Doctor Whitaker and some others made their Exceptions and Objections against these Epistles and justly enough rejecting them as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 refuse and adulterate stuff for their quarrel was not against the Epistles of Ignatius but against the corruptions and interpolations inserted and put into his Epistles And this is the opinion of Doctor Rivet Calvinum non in Ignatium sed in quisquilias nanias depravatorum Ignatii invectum esse That Calvin inveighed not against Ignatius but against those who corrupted and depraved him But besides these there is a later truer and more refined Copie wherein are the very Epistles of Ignatius found out by the diligent search of Master Isaac Vossius all in Greek the Epistle to the Romans only excepted which is called the Laurenti●n Copy because it was found in the Library of Lawrence de Medicis and published by the said Isaac Vossius together with the forementioned Edition printed at Amsterdam Anno Dom. 1646. which Copy agrees word for word with two ancient Latine Manuscripts lately found out by the Right Reverend Bishop Vsher one in the publike Library of Gunwel and Caius Colledge in Cambridge the other in the private Library of Doctor Richard Montague late Bishop of Norwich both which Manuscripts are printed with the Edition of Bishop Vsher Anno Dom. 1644. This is judged to be the most true pure and incorrupt Copy of Ignatius which is now exstant containing in it all that ever was cited by the Ancient Fathers out of Ignatius and agreeing very exactly with the exemplar used by Eusebius more then 1300 years ago in so much that Doctor Blundel upon the sight of