history. It is, however, pretty clear that, in their original
form, they first saw the light in the early part of the third
century. About that time there was evidently something like a
mania for the composition of such works,--as various spurious
writings, attributed to Clemens Romanus and others, abundantly
testify. Their authors do not seem to have been aware of the
impropriety of committing these pious frauds, and may even have
imagined that they were thus doing God service. [67:1] Several
circumstances suggest that Callistus--who became Bishop of Rome
about A.D. 219--may, before his advancement to the episcopal
chair, have had a hand in the preparation of these Ignatian
Epistles. His history is remarkable. He was originally a slave,
and in early life he is reported to have been the child of
misfortune. He had at one time the care of a bank, in the
management of which he did not prosper. He was at length banished
to Sardinia, to labour there as a convict in the mines; and when
released from servitude in that unhealthy island, he was brought
under the notice of Victor, the Roman bishop. To his bounty he
was, about this time, indebted for his support. [68:1] On the
death of Victor, Callistus became a prime favourite with
Zephyrinus, the succeeding bishop. By him he was put in charge of
the cemetery of the Christians connected with the Catacombs; and
he soon attained the most influential position among the Roman
clergy. So great was his popularity, that, on the demise of his
patron, he was himself unanimously chosen to the episcopal office
in the chief city of the empire. Callistus was no ordinary man.
He was a kind of original in his way. He possessed a considerable
amount of literary culture. He took a prominent part in the
current theological controversies,--and yet, if we are to believe
Hippolytus, he could accommodate himself to the views of different