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[deacons] of meat and drink, but servants of God's Church: they must therefore guard against reproach as against fire.
III. Likewise let all men give heed to the Deacons, as to an institution of Jesus Christ; and to the Bishop, as to the image of God; and to the Presbyters as to the Council of God and the Company of Apostles. Without these the name of Church is not. On which points I am persuaded that you hold with me; for I found and retain with me a specimen of your love in the person of your Bishop; whose whole constitution of mind is an instructive lesson, and his meekness full of power. I suppose that even Atheists respect him. Though able to write on this point, thus far only I mean to do so, lest a convict such as I should be giving laws to you like an Apostle.
IV. God has granted to me the knowledge of many things; but I controul myself, lest I perish in my boasting: for now I must be especially fearful, and hold off from them that puff me up. For they who make me their talk, inflict a persecution upon me. I am well contented to suffer, yet I know not that I am worthy to do so. My zeal, known but to few, is the more excited in myself. I have need therefore of that moderation, whereby the Prince of this world is brought to nought.
V. Am I unable to write to you of spiritual things? I am not unable, but fear lest I should bring an injury on infants such as you. Excuse therefore my doing so; lest from inability to receive my words, you be choked of them. For even I, prisoner as I am, am not enabled to behold the things that are in Heaven, the marshalling of the Angels, the stations of the celestial Powers, visible things and things invisible, but herein I am but a learner. For many things are placed beyond our capacity, lest we cease to have dependence on God.
VI. I exhort you, therefore, (yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ,) to use only the Christian nourishment, and to abstain from the strange herb, which is heresy. For the heretics receiving credit on the score of worldly reputation, invest Christianity with poison; offering as it were their fatal drug in a sop; and he who knows it not, accepteth death with a ready and fatal welcome.
VII. From such men keep yourselves guarded. And guarded ye will be, if ye are not puffed up, nor separated from Jesus Christ our Lord, and from the Bishop, and from the rules laid down by
