Section 173
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142 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. of Anicetus, turned many from the aforesaid heretics to the church of God, proclaiming the one and only true faith, that he had received from the apostles, that, viz., which was delivered by the church. And there are those still living who heard him relate, that John the disciple of the Lord went into a bath at Ephesus, and seeing Cerinthus within, ran out without bathing, and exclaimed, " let us flee lest the bath should fall in, as long as Cerinthus, that enemy of truth, is within." And the same Polycarp, once coming and meeting Marcion, who said, " acknow ledge us," he, replied, "I acknowledge* the firstborn of Satan." Such caution did the apostles and their disciples use, so as. not even to have any communion, even in word with any of those that thus mutilated the truth, according to the declaration of Paul : " An heretical man after the first and second admonition avoid, knowing that such an one is perverse, and that he sins, bringing condemnation upon himself." There is, also, an excel lent epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. From which those that wish, and that have any concern for their salvation, may perceive both the character of his faith, and the doctrine of the truth." Such is the account of Irenseus. But Polycarp, in the epistle to the Philippians, still extant, has made use of certain testimonies taken from the first epistle of Peter. About this time Antonine, surnamed the Pious, having completed the twenty-se cond year of his reign, was succeeded by Marcus Aurelius Verus, who is also called Antoninus, his son, together with his bro ther Lucius. * It was customary in the primitive church to use this expression as a form of salutation, particularly at the communion. I acknowledge thee, therefore, is the same as " I salute thee."