Chapter II.—Exhortations. If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with 94 the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks [of disease] by gentle applications.591 Be in all things “wise as a serpent, and harmless as a dove.”592 For this purpose thou art composed of both flesh and spirit, that thou mayest deal tenderly593 with those [evils] that present themselves visibly before thee. And as respects those that are not seen,594 pray that [God] would reveal them unto thee, in order that thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call for thee, as pilots do for the winds, and as one tossed with tempest seeks for the haven, so that both thou [and those under thy care] may attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of God: the prize set before thee is immortality and eternal life, of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for thine,595 and my bonds also, which thou hast loved. If thou lovest the good disciples, no thanks are due to thee on that account; but rather seek by meekness to subdue the more troublesome. Every kind of wound is not healed with the same plaster. Mitigate violent attacks [of disease] by gentle applications.596 Be in all things “wise as a serpent, and harmless always as a dove.”597 For this purpose thou art composed of both soul and body, art both fleshly and spiritual, that thou mayest correct those [evils] that present themselves visibly before thee; and as respects those that are not seen, mayest pray that these should be revealed to thee, so that thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times call upon thee to pray. For as the wind aids the pilot of a ship, and as havens are advantageous for safety to a tempest-tossed vessel, so is also prayer to thee, in order that thou mayest attain to God. Be sober as an athlete of God, whose will is immortality and eternal life; of which thou art also persuaded. In all things may my soul be for thine,598 and my bonds also, which thou hast loved. 591 Literally, “paroxysms by embrocations.” 592 Matt. x. 16. 593 Literally, “flatter.” 594 Some refer this to the mysteries of God and others to things yet future. 595 Comp. Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, chap. xxi., etc. 596 Literally, “paroxysms by embrocations.” 597 Matt. x. 16. 598 Comp. Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians, chap. xxi., etc. Chapter II.—Exhortations. 242 Chapter II.—Exhortations.