An Exhortation to Virtue

St. Polycarp of Smyrna, one of the Apostolic Fathers, writing an Epistle to the Philippians, gives an exhortation to virtue in order for the local Church to further its objectives, i.e. the communion with God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Wherefore, girding up your loins,"(8) "serve the Lord in fear"(9) and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory,"(10) and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things(11) in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead.(12) His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him.(13) But He who raised Him up from the dead will raise(14) up us also, if we do His will, and walk in His commandments, and love what He loved, keeping ourselves from all unrighteousness, covetousness, love of money, evil speaking, false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing,"(15) or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged;(16) forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;(17) be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy;(18) with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again;(19) and once more, "Blessed are the poor, and those that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God."(20)