Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I:
POLYCARP: Chapter II.—An exhortation to...

Chapter II.—An exhortation to virtue.

“Wherefore, girding up your loins,” 344 “serve the Lord in fear” 345 and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and “believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory,” 346 and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things 347 in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. 348 His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him. 349 But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise 350 up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; “not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,” 351 or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: “Judge not, that ye be not judged; 352 forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you; 353 be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; 354 with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;” 355 and once more, “Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” 356

Footnotes

Comp. 1 Pet. i. 13; Eph. vi. 14.

Ps. ii. 11.

1 Pet. i. 21.

Comp. 1 Pet. iii. 22; Phil. ii. 10.

Comp. Acts xvii. 31.

Or, “who do not obey him.”

Comp 1 Cor. vi. 14; 2 Cor. iv. 14; Rom. viii. 11.

1 Pet. iii. 9.

Matt. vii. 1.

Matt. 6:12, 14; Luke vi. 37.

Luke vi. 36.

Matt. vii. 2; Luke vi. 38.

Matt. 5:3, 10; Luke vi. 20.