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Pamphilus. a. D. 294. 231
were near, and if not true, their weakness might have been
perceived. They were advanced by it to this eminence,
when it was considered as an institution of virtue, not an
abstruse and specuhitive science; a doctrine front heaven,
not a creature of the state : and when Jesus, their Lord and
Master, was not only admired as a divine teacher, but was
also esteemed an exaniple both in his life and in his death.
One thing' which frcquenfly occurs in the authentic histo-
ries of these primitive christians of note and distinction,
deserves especial regard : I mean their affection and zeal for
the holy scriptures. P'or their own sake, for the sake of
others, and among- them for our good, they were nn'ghtily
taken up in reading, studying-, explaining, and commenting-
upon, the scriptures of the Old and New Testament;
or in transcribing- them, or correcting- copies of them, and
procuring- exact editions, for the use of all sorts of persons.
This is for our imitation, and for our satisfaction. It is
what ought to be imitated by us : and it likewise aftbrds ns
good reason to think that the books of holy scripture, M'hich
contain the revelations of the divine will to mankind, and
are the rule of our faith, have been transmitted to us in great
purity, without any remarkable alterations or deviations from
the original writing*.
X. Fabricius has published what he calls' Acts of the
Passion of St. Pamphilus, taken out of his Life written by
Ensebius of Coesarea ; for which I might have selected some
things, and thereby possibly made my account of Pamphilus
more agreeable to some : but I cannot persuade myself
to make any use of that piece, not being- satisfied of its
genuineness.
Here it is not only said that he was of a noble family,
which is very likely, but also that he had honourably
discharged civil ofHces in his country: which, I think, cannot
be easily reconciled with Eusebius's genuine account
et inter tormenta laetitia. Quum enim quis viderit tanta perseverantia stare
martyres atque torqueri, et in suis cruciatibus gloriari, odor notitiae Dei disseminatur
in Gentes, et subit tacita cogitatio, quod, nisi verum esset evangelium,
nunquam sanguine defenderetur. Neque enim delicata, et divitiis studens ac
secura confessio est; sed in carceribus, in plagis, in persecution ibus, in fame, in
nuditate et siti. Hie triumphus Dei est, apostolorumque victoria. Hieron.
ad Hedib. n. xi. T. iv. P. i. p. 184.
' Acta passionis S. Paniphili martyris ex libris Eusebii Cajsariensis dc illius
Vita, juxta MS. Medicseum Regis Ciiristianissimi. Ap. Fabr. Spic. Patr. sea
Hippolyti Opp, T. ii. n. 217, &c. Conf. ejusd. Bib. Gr. T. v. p. 277, 278.
'"
CTricn]fi(i)Q re ruig Kara rrjv TrarpiSa TToXiTuaig SiairptipavTog. Act.
Pass. ap. Fabr. p. 218. m fuissetautem insignisin republica gercnda in patriit
sua. Certamen Pamphili ex Metaphr. ap. Vales. Ann. in Eus. p. 179. b. in.
;