they offer ground for hoping that they may be converted and
Icnatius oF ANTIOCH a rope; your faith is your spiritual windlass and your love the road which leads up to God. 2 And thus you all are fellow travellers, God-bearers and temple-bearers, Christ-bearers * and bearers of holiness, with the commandments of Jesus
Christ for festal attire. At this I am jubilant, privileged as I am to converse with you through this letter, and to congratulate you because in your otherworldliness you love nothing but God alone.
10. But pray unceasingly** also for the rest of men, for they offer ground for hoping that they may be converted and win their way to God. Give them an opportunity therefore, at least by your conduct, of becoming your disciples. 2 Meet their angry outbursts with your own gentleness, their boastfulness with your humility, their revilings with your prayers, their error with your constancy in the faith, their harshness with your meekness; and beware of trying to match their example. 3 Let us prove ourselves their brothers through courtesy. Let us strive to follow the Lord's example and see who can suffer greater wrong, who more deprivation, who more contempt. Thus no weed of the devil will be found among you; but you will persevere in perfect chastity and sobriety through Jesus Christ, in body and soul." '
11. 'The last epoch has arrived! Therefore let us exercise restraint and fear lest God's long-suffering should turn to our condemnation. Obviously, we must either fear the gathering storm of anger," or else cherish the present time of grace— one of the two; only let us be found in union with Christ
Jesus so as to possess the true life. 2 Apart from Him, let nothing fascinate you. In union with Him I carry about these chains of mine—spiritual pearls they are!- May I be privileged through your prayer—in which I wish I may ever