Section 324
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 293 dured with the heathen, but here alone those miseries with which they afflicted us, whilst we also experienced the effects of those which they inflicted, and suffered from one another. And again we rejoiced in the peace of Christ, which he gave to us alone, and when both we and they obtained a very short respite, then we were assailed by this pestilence. A calamity more dreadful to them than any dread, and more afflictive that any affliction, and which as one of their own historians has said, was of itself alone beyond all hope. To us, however, it did not wear this character, but no less than other events it was a school for ex ercise and probation. For neither did it keep aloof from us, al though it assailed the heathen most." To this he afterwards adds : "Indeed, the most of our brethren, by their exceeding great love and brotherly affection, not sparing themselves, and adhering to one another, were constantly superintending the sick, ministering to their wants without fear and without cessation, and healing them in Christ, have departed most sweetly with them." Though filled with the disease from others, and taking it from their neigh bours, they voluntarily, by exsuction, extracted their pains. Many also, who had healed and strengthened others, themselves died, transferring their death upon themselves, and exemplifying in fact, that trite expression which seemed before only a form of politeness, or an empty compliment ; they were in fact, in their death, the offscouring of all. (7tep4^a rtavtuv.) The best of our brethren, indeed, have departed this life in this way, some in deed presbyters, some deacons, and of the people those that were . exceedingly commended. So that this very form of death, with the piety and ardent faith which attended it, appeared to be but little inferior to martyrdom itself. They took up the bodies of the saints with their open hands and on their bosoms, cleaned their eyes and closed their mouths, carried them on their shoulders, and composed their limbs, embraced, clung to them, and prepared them decently with washing and garments, and ere long they them selves shared in receiving the same offices. Those that survived always following those before them. Among the heathen it was the direct reverse. They both .repelled those who began to be sick, and avoided their dearest friends. They would cast them