Early Church Writings — historically valuable Christian documents, presented as noncanonical writings rather than Scripture.
Additional and Disputed Ignatian Letters
Chapter VI.—Renewed cautions
These things I write to you, thou new olive-tree of Christ, not that I am aware you hold any such opinions, but that I may put you on your guard, as a father does his children. Beware, therefore, of those that hasten to work mischief, those "enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose glory is in their shame." 1240 Beware of those "dumb dogs," those trailing serpents, those scaly 1241 dragons, those asps, and basilisks, and scorpions. For these are subtle wolves, 1242 and apes that mimic the appearance of men.
Notes
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson; revised by A. Cleveland Coxe. Public domain. Electronic text courtesy of CCEL.