To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightness of his faith: he continued two and fifty years in great labours of teaching, and writing, and sustained divers grievous persecutions, but especially under Decius: under whom having suffered bands, torments, rackings, with bars of iron, dungeons, besides terrible threats of death, and burning, at length was brought to an altar, where a foul filthy Ethiop was appointed to be, and there this choice was offered him, whether he would sacrifice to the Idol, or have his body polluted with that foul and ugly Ethiop. Origen made choice rather to do sacrifice:1 for the which impiety, he was after excommunicated by the Church. Epiphanius writeth, that he being urged to sacrifice to Idols, and taking the bones in his hand, wherewith the heathen were wont to honour their gods, called upon the Christians to carry them in honour of Christ: which fact the Church of Alexandria misliking, removed him from their communion.2 Whereupon Origen driven away with shame, went into Jury, where being in Jerusalem among the congregation, and there requested of the ministers to make some exhortation in the Church, refused a great while so to do: but at length through importunity, he turned the book as though he would have expounded some place of Scripture, and read the verse of the 49. Psalm. But God said to the sinner, why doest thou preach my justifications? and why doest thou take my testament in thy mouth? &c. Which verse having read, he shut the book, and sate down, weeping and wailing, the whole congregation ⟨p. 27⟩also weeping and lamenting with him.3
To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightnesse of his faith: he continued two and fifty yéeres in great labours of teaching, and writing, and sustained diuers gieuous persecutions, but especially vnder Decius: vnder whom hauing suffred bands, torments, rackings, with bars of yron, dungeons, besides terrible threats of death, and burning, at length was brought to an altar, where a foule filthy Ethiope was appointed to be, and there this choise was offered him, whether he would sacrifice to the Idoll, or haue his body polluted with that foule and ougly Ethyope. Origen made choyse rather to doe sacrifice:1 for the which impietie, hée was after excommunicated by the Church. Epiphanius writeth, that he being vrged to sacrifice to Idols, and taking the bones in his hand, wherewith the heathen were wont to honour their goddes, called vpon the Christians to carrie them in honour of Christ: which fact the Churche of Alexandria misliking, remooued him from their communion.2 Wherevpon Origen driuen away with shame, went into Iurie, where being in Hierusalem among the congregation, and there requested of the ministers to make some exhortation in the Church, refused a great while so to doe: but at length through importunitie, he turned the booke as though hée woulde haue expounded some place of Scripture, and read the verse of the 49. Psalme. But God saide to the sinner, why doest thou preach my iustifications? and why doest thou take my testament in thy mouth? &c. Which verse hauing read, hée shut the booke, and sate downe, wéeping and wayling, the whole congregation ⟨p. 27⟩also wéeping and lamenting with him.3
- 1Origen sacrificeth.
- 2Origen excommunicated.
- 3Origen repenteth.
