Section 268
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 237 CHAPTER XVIII. Of Ambrose' ABOUT this time also, Ambrose, who had favoured the heresy of Valentinus, being convinced by the truth as maintained by Origen, and as if illuminated by a light beaming on his mind, became attached to the sound doctrine of the church. Many others, also, induced by the celebrity of Origen's learning, came to him from all parts, to make trial of the man's skill in sacred literature. Many also of the heretics, and of distinguished philo sophers not a few, were among his diligent hearers, deriving in structions from him, not only in divine things but also in those which belonged to foreign philosophy. As many as he saw en dowed with abilities, he also taught the philosophical branches, such as geometry, arithmetic, and other preparatory studies ; and then advancing them to the opinions in vogue ^mong the philoso phers, and explaining their writings, he commented and speculated upon each, so that he was celebrated as a great philosopher even among the Greeks. He also instructed many of the more common people in the liberal studies, asserting frequently that they would receive no small advantage from these in understand ing the holy Scriptures ; whence also he considered the studies of political and philosophical matters particularly necessary for himself. CHAPTER XIX. The accounts given of Origen by otfiers. BUT the Gentile philosophers, themselves, among the Greeks v*ho flourished in the age of Origen, bear witness to his profici ency in these studies, in whose works we find frequent mention made of the man ; at one time quoting his own words, at another