Section 233
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202 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. Then, however, pretending to the name of the Lord, he was liberated, after he had spread his errors among the faithful there. But the church of the place whence he sprung would not receive him, because he was a robber. Those, however, that wish to learn his history, can consult the public archives of Asia. And yet the prophet professed to be totally ignorant of having lived with him many years ; but by refuting him, through him, we also overturn the pretensions of the prophet. The same thing could be shown in many others, and if they have the courage let them undergo the test of argument." In another part of the same work, he adds the following, respecting their boasted prophets : " If," says he, " they deny that their prophets took presents, let them at least acknowledge, that, if they should be proved to have received them, they are no prophets. And of these matters we will furnish a thousand proofs. But it is ne cessary that all the fruits of a prophet should be examined. Tell me, does a prophet dye (his hair) 1 Does a prophet stain (his eyelids) ? Does a prophet delight in ornament ? Does a pro phet play with tablets and dice ? Does he take usury 1 Let them first acknowledge these things, whether they are right or not ; and I will show that they have been done by them." This same Apollonius relates, in the same work, that it was forty years from the time that Montanus undertook his pretended prophecy down to the period when he wrote his work. And again he says, that Zoticus, who was also mentioned by the for mer historian, when Maximilla was pretending to utter prophe cies at Pepuza, attempted to interfere and reason with the spirit by which she was stimulated, but was hindered by those that followed her opinions. He mentions, also, a certain Thraseas among the martyrs of the times, and also that it was handed down by tradition, that our Saviour commanded his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem for twelve years. He quotes, also, the Revelations of John as testimony ; and relates, also, that a dead man was raised by the divine power, through the same John, at Ephesus. Many other matters he also states; by which he abundantly refutes the error of the abovementioned heresy. — • These are the matters stated by Apollonius.