Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

266 THE FORMATION OF CHRISTENDOMestablished religion. This is denied by Eusebius,who says that he remained a Christian to the last.The pupils of Ammonius considered his doctrine asthe revelation of a higher wisdom, which should notbe communicated to the uninitiated. Porphyriusasserts Plotinus to have derived his system from theoral teaching of Ammonius. But as no writing byAmmonius is extant, it is from the treatises of thedisciple that we learn the Neoplatonic system. Thisvery eminent philosopher was born A.D. 205, atLykopolis in Egypt. In his twenty-eighth year, A.D.232, he gave himself up to the study of philosophy.After frequenting the schools of various teachers hecame to that of Ammonius, and the doctrine anddemeanour of this teacher so attracted him, that heexclaimed, " That is the man for me," and he remainedin faithful and devoted attendance on him for elevenyears.^^ He then attempted to visit the East in orderto learn the wisdom of the Persians and Indians, andfor this purpose accompanied the army of the EmperorGordian. But this expedition did not succeed, andthereupon I'lotinus betook himself to Rome in the year244. In this place he gave philosophical lectureswhich were much frequented by the higher classes.He won great applause, not merely by the originalityof his thoughts and by the skilful and attractivemanner of his instruction, but likewise by the dignityof his person, his intense earnestness, and the purityof his moral character. He practised the Pythagoreanlife in all the severity of its abstinence. His wholeheart was in the work of teaching. So highly was heesteemed, that a great many friends chose him forguardian of their children of both sexes. Those whoO1 See Zeller, v. 413.