Section 153
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122 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. particularly to Polycarp, who was bishop there; whom he designates as an apostolical man and as a good and faithful shepherd, commends the flock of Antioch to him, requesting him to exercise a diligent oversight of the church. Writing to the Smyrniggg, he has also employed words respecting Jesus, I know noTwEence they are taken, to the following effect. " But I know and believe that he was seen after the resurrection, and that he said to those that came to Peter, ' take, handle me, and see that I am not an incorporeal spirit ;' and they immediately touched him and believed." Irenaeus, also, knew his martyrdom, and makes mention of his epistles, as follows : " As some one of our faith has said, who was condemned to the wild beasts, * I am the food of God, and am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread.' " Polycarp also makes mention of these same epistles in the Epistle to the Philimoians, that bears his name, in the following words : " I exhort you, therefore, all to yield obedience, and to exercise all the patience which you see with your own eyes, not only in the blessed martyrs Ignatius and Rufus, and Zosimus, but likewise in others of your fellow-citizens, as also in Paul and the other apostles, being persuaded that all these did not run in vain, but in faith and righteousness, and that they are gone to the place destined for them by the Lord, for whom also they suffered. For they did not love the world that now is, but him that died for us, and that was raised again by God." And afterwards he writes : " You have also written to me, both you and Ignatius, that if any one is going to Syria, he should carry your letters thither, which shall be done if I find a suitable opportunity, either by me or the one that I send on this errand to you. The epistles of Ignatius that were sent to us by him, I have sent you at your request, and they are appended to this epistle, from which you will be able to derive great benefit : for they comprise faith, and patience, and all edification pertain ing to our Lord." Thus much respecting Ignatius. But he was succeeded in the episcopal office at Antioch by Heros.