Section 260
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 229 CHAPTER X. The bishops in Jerusalem. NARCISSUS having retired from the world, and no one knowing whither he had gone, it seemed proper to the bishops of the neigh bouring churches, to proceed to the ordination of another bishop, Dius was his name, who, after presiding over the church a short time, was succeeded by Germanic, and he by Gordius, in whose times Narcissus appearing again as one raised from the dead, was entreated by the brethren to undertake the episcopate again ; all admiring him still more, both for his retired life, and his philoso phy, and above all on account of the punishment inflicted by God upon his slanderers. CHAPTER XL Of Alexander. BUT as on account of his extreme age, he was now no longer able to perform the duties of his office, by a divine dispensation revealed in a dream at night, the abovementioned Alexander, who was bishop of another church, was called to the office at the same time with Narcissus. Influenced by this, as if an oracle from God had commanded him, he performed a journey from Cappadocia, where he was first made bishop, to Jerusalem, in consequence of a vow and the celebrity of the place. Whilst he was there, most cordially entertained by the brethren, who would not suffer him to return home, another revelation also ap peared to them at night, and uttered a most distinct communica tion to those that were eminent for a devoted life. This commu nication was, that by going forth beyond the gates, they should receive the bishop pointed out to them by God. Having done this, with the common consent of the bishops of the neighbouring churches, they constrain him to stay among them. Alexander,