CAP. VII.* 1.1
Origen embracing chastitie, gelded him selfe. the censure of others toutching that facte of his.
AT that time Origen executing the office of a Catechizer at Alexandria practised a certaine* 1.2 acte, which expressed the shewe of an vnperfecte sense, and youthly hardines, but a nota∣ble example of faith and chastitie. he vnderstanding simply and childishly the sainge of the Lorde: There be some vvhich make themselues Eunuches for the Kindome of heauens sake: &* 1.3 with all purposing to fulfill the wordes of our Sauiour, for that he being yong in yeares prea∣ched, and made manifest, not onely to men, but also to women the mysteries of God: sought mea∣nes to cutt of, all occasion of wantonesse and the sclaunder of the infidels, practised vpō himselfe to performe the words of our Sauiour, carefully minding to conceale from his familiar frends this facte of his. but it was vnpossible to cloke and couer so great a matter, which thing when Deme∣trius* 1.4 byshop of that place had vnderstoode he wondred at his bolde enterprise, yet allowed of his purpose, and the sinceritie of his faithfull minde, he bidds him be of good cheere and continewe the office of a Catechizer. Though Demetrius was then of that minde, yet not long after, seeing Origen luckely to prosper, to be highely estemed, reuerenced, renowmed and famous amonge all men: he was pricked with some humane passion, so that he painted and published abroad, vnto all the byshops throughout the worlde the geldinge of Origen as a moste foule and absurde facte. yet the best accepted and worthiest byshops throughout Palaestina, to wete of Caesarea & Ierusalem, because they had found him worthie of dignitie and great honor, made him minister through the laying on of hands. then after that he came to great estimation, and was well accepted of all men, and gotten no small commendation for his vertue & wisedome: Demetrius hauing no other thinge to charge him withall, accused him of the olde facte done of a child, & for company wrapped with accusations such as aduaunced him vnto the order of the ministerie, which were putt in practise within a while after. from that time forth Origen without lett or hinderance fulfilled the worke he had in hand, preached at Alexandria day and night the word of God vnto such as frequented vnto him, appliyng his whole minde vnto holy Stripture and the profit of his disciples. when Seuerus had held the emperiall sceptre the space of eightene yeares, his sonne* Antoninus succeeded him.* 1.5 And of them which manfully perseuered in the persecution of that time, and after confession and sundry torments & conflicts, by the prouidence of God were deliuered: on was Alexander whome a litle before we signified to haue bene byshop of Ierusalem. He because he perseuered constante in the confession of the name of Christ, was there chosen byshop, Narcissus his predecessor being yet a liue.