Section 258
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 227 than that act which was formerly done by him when but a boy, raised a violent accusation against him. He attempted, also, to involve those in his accusations who had elevated him to the pres bytery. These things were done a long time after. But Origen performed, without fear, his labours of instruction at Alexandria, \i™ht and day, to all that came ; devoting the whole of his leisure incessantly to the study of divine things, and to those that fre quented his school. In the meanwhile, Severus, having held the government about eighteen years, was succeeded by his son An toninus. At this time, one of those that had courageously en dured the persecution, and who, by the providence of God, had been preserved after the persecution, was Alexander, who we have already shown was bishop of the church at Jerusalem, and had been deemed worthy of this episcopate, on account of his distinguished firmness in his confession of Christ during the perse cution. This happened whilst Narcissus was yet living. CHAPTER IX. The miracle of Narcissus. MANY miracles are attributed to Narcissus by his countrymen, as they received the tradition handed down from the brethren. Among these they relate a wonderful event like the following. About the great watch of the passover, they say, that whilst the deacons were keeping the vigils the oil failed them ; upon \vhich all the people being very much dejected, Narcissus commanded the men that managed the lights to draw water from a neigh bouring well, and to bring it to him. ' He having done it as soon as said, Narcissus prayed over the water, and then commanded them in a firm faith in Christ, to pour it into the lamps. When they had also done this, contrary to all natural expectation, by an extraordinary and divine influence, the nature of the water was changed into the quality of oil, and by most of the brethren a small quantity was preserved from that time until our own, as a specimen of the wonder then performed. They relate also many 22