Seeing that the Church which is at Antioch in Syria is, as report has informed me, at peace, through your prayers, I also am the more encouraged, resting without anxiety in God,' if indeed by means of suffering I may attain to God, so that, through your prayers, I may be found a dis- ciple [of Christ]. It is fitting, O Polycarp, most blessed in God, to assemble a very solemn ^ council, and to elect one whom you greatly love, and know to be a man of activity, who may be designated the messenger of God ; * and to bestow on him the honour of going into Syria, so that, going into Syria, he may glorify your ever active love to the praise of God. A Christian has not power over himself, but must always be ready for 5 the service of God. Now, this work is both God's and yours, when ye shall have completed it. For I trust that, through grace, ye are prepared for every good work pertaining to God. Knowing your energetic love of the truth, I have exhorted you by this brief Epistle.