A letter from Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, written on his way to martyrdom in Rome.
Chapter 4. The same continued
Chapter 5
1Wherefore it is fitting that you should run together in accordance with the will of your bishop , which thing also you do. For your justly renowned presbytery , worthy of God , is fitted as exactly to the bishop as the strings are to the harp. Therefore in your concord and harmonious love , Jesus Christ is sung. And man by man, become a choir , that being harmonious in love , and taking up the song of God in unison, you may with one voice sing to the Father through Jesus Christ , so that He may both hear you, and perceive by your works that you are indeed the members of His Son . It is profitable, therefore, that you should live in an unblameable unity , that thus you may always enjoy communion with God .