CAP. XIX.* 1.1
Howe Origen defended him selfe againste such as reprehended him for studying Philosophie. Of his voyage into Arabia and Palaestina.
WHen that I studyed for the increase of knovvledge, and that a rumor or fame vvas* 1.2 spredde abrode of the perfection of my learninge and doctrine, heretickes, and speciallie such as vvere profounde in philosophie and in the doctrine of the Gen∣tils, resorted vnto me: vvherefore I thought good to searche out the selfe opinions of here∣tickes and vvhat soeuer myght be sayde out of philosophie for the confirmation of the trueth. This haue I done firste of all after the example of Pantaenus vvho profited a greate manye before my tyme, and had singular skyll and knovvledge therein. secondly after the exam∣ple of Heraclas, novve a minister of the churche of Alexandria, vvhome I founde vvith a pro∣fessor of philosophie vvhiche vvas his mayster, fyue yeares before I applyed my minde to the studie of theyr sciences. VVho also in tymes paste vsed the common and vsuall attyre, novve layinge that asyde he tooke the philosophers habite the vvhiche he retayneth as yet, and cea∣seth not vnto this daye vvith earnest labour & industrie to reade ouer the philosophers bookes. These thinges hath he written to the clearinge of him selfe for his studie in prophane writers. When as at that tyme he continewed at Alexandria, there came a certayne souldier from the gouernour of Arabia, with letters vnto Demetrius Byshope of that seae, and vnto him who then was Liuetenante of Aegypte, requestinge them with all speede to sende Origen vnto him whiche myght communicate vnto him some parte of his doctrine. Origen then beynge sente of them taketh his voyage into Arabia. Not longe after when he had accomplished the cause of his iourney he returned into Alexandria. In the meane whyle there was raysed such a sedition in the cytie and the warres were so hotte that there was no beynge for him there, he lefte Alexan∣dria, and foreseeynge that he coulde be safe no where in all Aegypt, he went into Palaestina and remayned at Caesarea, where he was intreated by the byshopes of that prouince, to dispute in the open churche and to expounde holie scripture, beynge as yet not called to the ministerie. Whiche thinge may euidently appeare by that whiche Alexander bishope of Ierusalem, and Theoctistus bishope of Caesarea wrote in defence of the facte vnto Demetrius concerninge him after this manner: (he layde this downe in his letters that there was neuer suche practise hearde* 1.3 of, that there coulde no where the like president be founde; that laye men in presence of bishops haue taught in the churche) VVe knovve not for vvhat cause he reporteth a manifest vntrueth, vvhē as there may be found such as in opē assemblies haue taught the people. yea vvhen as there vvere present learned men that coulde profite the people, and moreouer holie byshops at that tyme also exhortinge them to preache. For example sake: at Laranda Euelpis vvas requested of Neon, at Iconium Paulinus vvas requested by Cellus, at Synada Theodorus vvas requested by Atticus, vvho vvere godly brethren. It is like also that this vvas practised in other places though vnknovven to vs. Thus was Origen honored beynge a yonge man, not onely of his ac∣quaintance, but of byshops that were straungers vnto him. Afterwardes when Demetrius had called him whome by his letters and diuers Deacons of the churche had earnestly solicited his returne, he taketh his voyage agayne into Alexandria, and there diligently applyeth his ac∣customed maner of teachinge.