St. Ignatius of Antioch

ON THE NEED TO PERSEVERE
IN OUR FAITH
From a letter of St Ignatius of Antioch to the Ephesians 5
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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. 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 have a share — to wear them
when I rise from the dead! Thus I shall be found in the ranks of the Christians of
Ephesus, who have ever been of one mind with the Apostles through the power
of Jesus Christ…

Make an effort then, to meet more frequently to celebrate God’s Eucharist
and to offer praise. For, when you meet frequently in the same place, the forces
of Satan are overthrown, and his baneful influence is neutralized by the
unanimity of your faith. Peace is a precious thing: it puts an end to every war
waged by heavenly or earthly enemies.

Nothing of this escapes you; only persevere to the end in your faith in, and
your love for, Jesus Christ. Here is the beginning and the end of life: faith is the
beginning,”the end is love”; and when the two blend perfectly with each other,
they are God. Everything else that makes for right living is consequent upon
these. No one who professes faith sins; no one who possesses love hates. “The
tree is known by its fruit.” In like manner, those who profess to belong to Christ
will be known as such by their conduct. Certainly, what matters now is not mere
profession of faith, but whether one is found to be actuated by it to the end.

It is better to keep silence and be something than to talk and be nothing.
Teaching is an excellent thing, provided the speaker practices what he teaches.
Now, there is one Teacher who “spoke and it was done.” But even what he did
silently is worthy of the Father. He who has made the words of Jesus really his
own is able also to hear His silence. Thus he will be perfect: he will act through
His speech and be understood through His silence. Nothing is hidden from the
Lord; no, even our secrets reach him. Let us, then, do all things in the
conviction that he dwells in us. Thus we shall be his temples and he will be our
God within us. And this is the truth, and it will be made manifest before our
eyes. Let us then, love him as he deserves.

5
Ancient Christian Fathers, Vol I (Newman Press, 1946) pp. 64-66.