Page:Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 1.djvu/171

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TO THE EPHESIANS.
157

Now the way is unerring, namely, Jesus Christ. For, says He, "I am the way and the life."[1] And this way leads to the Father. For "no man," says He, "cometh to the Father but by me."[1] Blessed, then, are ye who are God-bearers, spirit-bearers, temple-bearers, bearers of holiness, adorned in all respects with the commandments of Jesus Christ, being "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people,"[2] on whose account I rejoice exceedingly, and have had the privilege, by this epistle, of conversing with "the saints which are at Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus."[3] I rejoice, therefore, over you, that ye do not give heed to vanity, and love nothing according to the flesh, but according to God.


Chap. x.Exhortations to prayer, humility, etc.

And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of other men. For there is in them hope of repentance that they may attain to God. See,[4] then, that they be instructed by your works, if in no other way. Be ye meek in response

And pray ye without ceasing in behalf of other men; for there is hope of the repentance, that they may attain to God. For "cannot he that falls arise again, and he that goes astray return?"[5] Permit them, then, to be instructed by you. Be ye therefore the ministers of God, and the mouth of Christ. For thus saith the Lord, "If ye

  1. 1.0 1.1 John xiv. 6.
  2. 1 Pet. ii. 9.
  3. Eph. i. 1.
  4. Literally, "permit."
  5. Jer. viii. 4.