Page:Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus, 1842.djvu/13

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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
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LIFE OF EUSEBIUS. Vu entered into the firmest friendship. Pamphilus was, as Photius re- lates, a PhoBnician, born at Berytus, and scholar of Pierius, a pres- byter of the Alexandrian church. Who, since he was animated with the most singular attachment to sacred literature, and was with the utmost zeal collecting all the books, especially Origen's, of the eccle- siastic writers, founded a very celebrated school and library at Caesa- rea, of which school Eusebius seems to have been the first master. Indeed, it is affirmed* by Eusebius, that Apphianus, who suffered martyrdom in the third year of the persecution, had been instructed by him in the sacred Scriptures, in the city of Oaesarea. From that time Eusebius's intimacy with Pamphilus was so great, and his at- tention to him, as his inseparable companion till his death such, that from this attachment he acquired the name of Pamphilus. Neither did that attachment terminate with the death of the latter, but survived with the former, who ever mentioned his deceased friend in the most respectful and affectionate manner; this, indeed, is exemplified by the three books, eulogized by St. Jerome, and written by Eusebius, con- cerning the life of Pamphilus, and by many passages in his Eccle- siastic History, and in his account of the martyrs of Palestine. In his Second Book, also, against Sabellius, written by Eusebius, after the Nicene Council, he frequently commends Pamphilus, though he suppresses his name. In the commencement of that discourse, Euse- bius observes, " I think that my ears are as yet affected by the me- mory of that blessed man ; for I seem to be yet hearing him utter that devout word, ' the (tidy begotten Son of God,' a phrase he constantly employed ; for it was the remembrance of the only begotten to the glory of the unborn Father. Now we have heard the apostle com- manding that presbyters ought to be honoured with a double honour, those especially who have laboured in the word and doctrine." And at page 29, he thus again speaks of his friend : " With these things from the memory of that blessed man, I am not elated, but wish I could so speak, as if, together with you, I were always hearing from him. And the words now cited may be pleasing to him, for it is the glory of good servants to speak truth concerning the Lord, and it is the honour of those fathers, who have taught well, if their doctrines be repeated."! Some, it is true, " may insinuate, that these were

  • In his book concerning the martyrs of Palestine,

-j- Again, in the same book, p, 37: "These words we always heard from that lilnssed man, for they were often thus spoken by him."