Section 252
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 221 the hostility of the unbelievers to him, that they formed them selves into companies, to station soldiers about the house where he abode, on account of the numbers that were instructed by him in the principles of the faith. But the persecution against him daily blazed forth with such virulence, that the whole city of Alexandria could no longer contain him, as he removed from house to house, driven about in every direction, on account of the great number of those that had been brought over by him to the true faith, since also his daily actions afforded admirable specimens of a conduct resulting from a sound philosophy. For, " as his doctrine, say they, so was his life ; and as his life, so also was his doctrine." Wherefore, also, with the divine assistance, he in duced numbers to imitate him. But when he saw a greater number of pupils coming, the instruction of them having been committed to him entirely by Demetrius the bishop of the church, he thought that to teach literature exclusively* was inconsistent with the study of divine truth, and without delay abandoned the school of philosophy, as useless, and an obstruction to his sacred studies. Then, also, with a becoming consideration that he might not stand in need of aid from others, he disposed of whatsoever works he had formerly written on ancient works, and composed with great elegance and taste, and was content with receiving four oboli f the day from the purchaser. Many years he continued to lead this life of philosophy ,J completely removing all the in centives to youthful passions from him, during the whole day Literature exclusively, ,] We have added the word exclusively as the obvious meaning. Origen could not, without great inconsistency, consider the business of literary instruction as hostile to the study of divine things, nor does this appear to have been his opinion. But the exclusive occupation of such a teacher in his re lative situation was incompatible with a higher duty. We have also rendered ypa^.uaTixo xcyoi, contrary to our predecessors, by the terms literature and philo logy. Others render grammar, but seem to have overlooked the fact, that the terms, beside the grammatical study of a language, also comprehended the whole compass of philology and the belles lettres. •j-Oboli.'] The obolus was a small coin, about two or three cents in value. t Philosophy.'] Our author uses this word, when applied to the primitive Christ ians, in a practical sense, indicating the austerity of life and self-denial which they exercised.