I am greatly grieved for Valens, who was once a i)resbyter among you, because he so little un- derstands the place that was given him [in the Church]. I exhort you, therefore, that ye ab- stain from covetousness,'^ and that ye be chaste and truthful. " Abstain from every form of evil." '7 For if a man cannot govern himself in such matters, how shall he enjoin them on others ? If a man does not keep himself from covetousness,'*^ he shall be defiled by idolatr}% and shall be judged as one of the heathen. But who of us are ignorant of the judgment of the Lord ? " Do we not know that the saints shall judge the world? " '*^ as Paul teaches. But I have neither seen nor heard of any such thing among you, in the midst of whom the blessed Paul laboured, and who are commended '^ in the beginning of his Epistle. For he boasts of you in all those Churches which alone then knew the Lord ; but we [of Smyrna] had not yet known Him. I am deeply grieved, therefore, brethren, for him (Valens) and his wife ; to whom may the Lord grant true repentance ! And be ye then moderate in regard to this matter, and " do not count such as enemies," ^° but call them back as suffering and straying members, that ye may save your whole body. For by so acting ye shall edify }^ourselves.^'