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230 Credibility of the Gospel History.
with concerning- this martyr for the christian religion. There
can be no question but Pamphilus >vas an understandingand
truly pious man. He was not distinguished only by the
last scene of life, the magnanimity, fortitude, and patience
of his confessions and martyrdom ; but his whole life was
a shining- example of virtue. He must have been a person
of a good family, and a large estate; but he despised the
world, and renounced all earthly expectations. He was a
zealous christian, and greatly delighted himself in the scriptures:
he was liberal to the poor, kind to his acquaintance,
and to all men who sought to him : he had an earnest desire
to promote learningand knowledge, especially the knowledge
of the holy scriptures, in men of every condition: and his
diligence in all laudable undertakings was extraordinary.
The testimonies to his virtue which we have seen, are very
agreeable : but if the large history of his life, written by
Eusebius, were still in being-, very probably it Mould be
more entertaining-, and inform us of many things of an
edifying- nature. It is one of those works of Eusebius, the
loss of which is much lamented by learned men.
Where can such a man as this be found in the heathen
world ? how rare were such examples under the Mosaic
institution, of men, who employed their Avhole time in improving-
their own minds, and serving others, without noise
and ostentation, and without worldly views, and at last quietly
resigned their lives rather than disown the principles by
which they had been hitherto conducted and supported !
Nor was Pamphilus alone, though distinguished. There
were twelve in all, who at one and the same time bore the
most signal testimony to truth. One' of whom was a servant
of Pamphilus, by name Porphyry ; who, thoug-h he
was burned at a stake, bore that painful death, and all the
preceding tortures appointed by the cruel governor, with
wonderful fortitude and resignation, serenity and patience.
Not to insist now on the many others in Palestine, Egypt,
and other places, Avho about this time signalized tliemselves
by divers confessions, and at last by dying for their religion.
Certainly these men, if tliey were not the best speakers, were
the best livers that ever the world saw : and in their death
they arc M'ithout rivals. These holy and useful men, these
confessors and martyrs, undaunted by all the evils which an
iMikind and mistaken world sometimes brings upon those
who are its greatest blessings and best benefactors, were
formed by the christian'' religion when the evidences of it
' Vid. Euseb. de Mart. Pal. c. xi. p. 3m, 339.
I" Triumphus Dei est passio martyriini, ct pro Christi nomine cruoris efFusio,