Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 1.djvu/458

 of, the Bishop of us all. Meet therefore it is, that for the honour of Him, who wills it, ye should present an obedience that is without guile; since in any delusion of your visible Bishop, you trifle rather with the Bishop invisible, and so the question is not with flesh, but with who seeth the secrets.

IV. It is mens' duty not merely to bear the name of Christians, but such to be likewise; whereas some there are, who use the name of Bishop, yet do all without consideration of the office. To me such persons appear to be void of a good conscience, since they are a congregation of men not gathered together in strict conformity to the commandment.

V. Now, as all things have their end, two alternatives are laid before us, death, and life: and every man must go to his own place. For there are, as it were, two coins, one of and one the world's: and each of these has its proper mark upon it; unbelievers the mark of this world, and they who in love believe, the mark of  the Father through ; through whom if we are not readily disposed to die after the likeness of His passion, neither have we His life in us.

VI. Seeing now that, through the persons aforenamed, I have seen you all gathered together in faith and love, take good heed, I charge you, that you do all things in a spirit of godly concord:—the Bishop holding presidency over you, in the place of ; and the Presbyters in the place of the Council of Apostles; and the Deacons, my well-beloved, entrusted with the service of, who was with the before the worlds, and appeared in the last days. Assuming therefore all of you this scheme of godly unity, give heed one to another, and let no man regard his neighbour in a fleshly spirit, but love ye one another continually in. Let there be in you nothing which can divide you; but be ye made one, in the Bishop, and in the Superiors, for an example and lesson of incorruption.

VII. As therefore our, being united with the , without Him, neither of Himself, nor by His Apostles, did any thing; so neither do you do any thing, apart from the Bishop and the Presbyters. Neither seek ye gratification in any thing to your own selfish judgment, but be there in the same place, one Form of prayer, one topic of supplication, one Mind, one Hope, in love and joy reproachless. There is One, who surpasseth all things; together therefore haste ye all, as to One Temple of , as to One