Chapter 4

1Valens, a presbyter, having fallen into the sin of covetousness, he exhorts them against it . I AM greatly afflicted for Valens, who was once a presbyter among you; that he should so little understand the place that was given to him in the church. Wherefore I admonish you that ye abstain from covetousness; and that ye be chaste, and true of speech.
2Keep yourselves from all evil. For he that in these things cannot govern himself how shall he be able to prescribe them to another?
3If a man does not keep himself from covetousness, he shall be polluted with idolatry and be judged as if he were a Gentile.
4But who of you are ignorant of the judgment of God? Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world, as Paul teaches?
5But I have neither perceived nor heard any thing of this kind in you, among whom the blessed Paul laboured; and who are named in the beginning of his Epistle.
6For he glories of you in all the churches who then only knew God; for we did not then know him. Wherefore, my brethren, I am exceedingly sorry both for him, and for his wife; to whom God grant a true repentance.
7And be ye also moderate upon this occasion; and look not upon such as enemies, but call them back as suffering, and erring members, that ye may save your whole body: for by so doing, ye shall edify your own selves.
8For I trust that ye are well exercised in the Holy Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you; but at present it is not granted unto me to practice that which is written, Be angry and sin not; and again, Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
9Blessed be he that believeth and remembereth these things; which also I trust you do.
10Now the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and he himself who is our everlasting high-priest, the Son of God, even Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and in truth and in all meekness and lenity; in patience and long-suffering, in forbearance and chastity.
11And grant unto you a lot and portion among his saints; and us with you, and to all that are under the heavens, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in his Father who raised him from the dead.
12Pray for all the saints: pray also for kings, and all that are in authority; and for those who persecute you, and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross; that your fruit may be manifest in all; and that ye may be perfect in Christ.
13Ye wrote to me, both ye, and also Ignatius, that if any one went from hence into Syria, he should bring your letters with him; which also I will take care of, as soon as I shall have a convenient opportunity; either by myself, or him whom I shall send upon your account.
14The Epistles of Ignatius which he wrote unto us, together with what others of his have come to our hands, we have sent to you, according to your order; which are subjoined to this epistle.
15By which we may be greatly profited; for they treat of faith and patience, and of all things that pertain to edification in the Lord Jesus.
161What you know certainly of Ignatius, and those that are with him signify to us.
17If These things have I written unto you by Crescens, whom by this present epistle I have recommended to you, and do now again commend.
18For he has had his conversation without blame among us; and I suppose also with you.
19Ye will also have regard unto his sister when she shall come unto you.
20Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and in favour with all yours. Amen. Footnotes 192:1 Vid. Voss. in loc. in the Eternal work. 192:2 Ex. Vet. Interp. Vid. Voss. Annot. 192:3 Sojourneth. 192:4 Firm root remains in you. 192:5 Acts xi. 24. 192:6 1 Pet. i. 8. 192:7 Eph. ii. 8. 192:8 1 Pet. i. 13. 192:9 Psalm ii. 11. 192:10 1 Pet. i. 21. 192:11 Phil. ii. 10. 192:12 Breath. 192:13 Him. 192:14 In. 192:15 Injustice. 193:1 Eph. iv. 19. Coloss. iii. 5. 1 Pet. iii. 9. 193:2 Said to us, teaching, Luke vi. 37. Matt. vii. 1. 193:3 Matt. v. 3, 10. Luke vi. 20. 193:4 περι ἀλεθειας, concerning Truth. 193:5 Epistles. Vid. Annot Coteler. in loc. 193:6 Be within. 193:7 Beginning of all troubles, or difficulties, χαλεπων, 1 Tim. vi. 7. 193:8 Be armed. 193:9 In. 193:10 Love. 193:11 Truth. 193:12 Of the. 193:13 And that he. 194:1 His righteousness. 194:2 Continent. 194:3 Pet. ii. 11. 194:4 Cor. vi. 9, 10. 194:5 Elders. 194:6 Presbyters. 194:7 Ezek. xxxiv. 4. 194:8 Rom. xii. 17. 194:9 Swiftly believing. 194:10 Matt. xii. 14; Rom. xiv. 10; 2 Cor. v. 10. 194:11 For. 194:12 1 John iv. 3. 194:13 The martyrdom of the cross. 195:1 1 Pet. vi. 7. 195:2 Matt. vi. 13. 195:3 Matt. xxvi. 41. 195:4 1 Pet. ii. 22, 24. 195:5 In. 1 Pet. iii. 14, &c. 195:6 Persuaded. 195:7 Associated in truth. 195:8 Yielding to each other in the mildness of the Lord. Tobit, xii. 9. 195:9 1 Pet.. ii. 12. 195:10 Unreprovable. 195:11 Rom. ii. 24. Titus, ii. 5. 195:12 Concupiscence; or, immoderate and filthy lusts. So Dr. Hammond on Rom. i. 29. 195:13 1 Thes. v. 22. Eph. v. 5; Coloss. ii. 5. 195:14 As before, Dr. Hammond on 1 Cor. v. 10. 196:1 Cor. vi. 2. 196:2 Phil. 1. 196:3 Said in these Scriptures. Psalm iv. 5. Eph. iv. 26. 196:4 Gal. 1, 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. 196:5 Powers and princes. 196:6 Him. 196:7 See Annot. Usser. in loc. 196:8 i.e. To himself, and to the church of Smyrna. 196:9 Our Lord. 196:10 His grace be with you all. Amen. Next: The Shepherd of Hermas