Chapter II.—Do not save me from martyrdom. For it is not my desire to act towards you as a man-pleaser,351 but as pleasing God, even as also ye please Him. For neither shall I ever have such [another] opportunity of attaining to God; nor will ye, if ye shall now be silent, ever be entitled to352 the honour of a better work. For if ye are silent concerning me, I shall become God’s; but if you show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for353 from the east unto the west. It is good to set from the world unto God, that I may rise again to Him. For it is not my desire that ye should please men, but God, even as also ye do please Him. For neither shall I ever hereafter have such an opportunity of attaining to God; nor will ye, if ye shall now be silent, ever be entitled to354 the honour of a better work. For if ye are silent concerning me, I shall become God’s; but if ye show your love to my flesh, I shall again have to run my race. Pray, then, do not seek to confer any greater favour upon me than that I be sacrificed to God, while the altar is still prepared; that, being gathered together in love, ye may sing praise to the Father, through Christ Jesus, that God has deemed me, the bishop of Syria, worthy to be sent for355 from the east unto the west, and to become a martyr356 in behalf of His own precious357 sufferings, so as to pass from the world to God, that I may rise again unto Him. 351 Some translate as in longer recension, but there is in the one case ὑμῖν, and in the other ὑμᾶς. 352 Literally, “have to be inscribed to.” 353 Literally, “to be found and sent for.” 354 Literally, “have to be inscribed to.” 355 Literally, “to be found and sent for.” 356 The text is here in great confusion. 357 Literally, “beautiful.” Some read, “it is good,” etc. Chapter II.—Do not save me from martyrdom. 200 Chapter II.—Do not save me from martyrdom.