The terrible preface that is here prefixed would make any man quake that is not acquainted with such vayne bragges. But soft man awhile, you do but dreame: for there is no such matter in that booke of Eusebius. Did you neuer heare tell of any that* 1.1 labouring to smite at another, haue deadly wounded themselues? I beléeue it will fall so out with you in this bitter and sharpe place, and then shall not I neede to be angry with you: you shall haue more cause to chafe with your selfe.
For answer to the place: I say it is altogither by you falsifyed, and most vntruly* 1.2 alleadged: the only thing that Demetrius found fault with, was bycause Origen being a lay man did teache in the Churche, Byshops being present: for he saithe: it was neuer heard that lay mē should teach in the churches, Byshops being present. But what is sayde to this, nescimus quomodò. &c. wherein he affirmeth (we know not how) that thing which is not* 1.3 true: seeing there may be found diuers, who when they were able to profyte the brethren, and that the holy Byshops had exhorted them to instruct the people, did after this sorte, teach in the Church. As Euelpis was required to do at Laranda by Neon: and Paulinus at I∣conium by Celsus: and at Synada Theodorus by Atticus, whiche were all blessed brethren: And it is very likely that this thing was done also in other places, whiche we know not of. Yea Demetrius himselfe suffered him to do the like in Alexandria as it is manifest in sundry places of that booke: and euen in the end of the same chapter He retourneth to Alexandria, and doth againe employ himselfe to his accustomed diligence in teaching. But bycause this place is so confidently auouched, and so vntruly, I will set it downe as it is in Eusebius lib. 6. cap. 20. where he speaking of Origen saith thus: In the meane time (by reason of a greate warre begonne in that citie) leuing Alexandria, and thinking that he could not safely abide in Aegypt, he went into Palestina, and remayned at Caesaria, where also he was requested of the Byshops of that countrie, that he would dispute, and expound the holy scriptures before the whole Church, when as yet he was not ordeyned minister. The whiche thing is hereby manifest, for that Alexander the Byshop of Hierusalem, and Theoctistus Byshop of Caesaria, writing to Demetrius of him, do after this sort render an accompt of that deed: Furthermore he addeth this also in his letters, that it was neuer heard of, neyther yet at any time seene, that lay men did teach in the Church, Byshops being pre∣sent: wherein (we know not how) he affirmeth that thing which is not true. &c. As it is set downe before. What one word is there here that sheweth how the Byshops were repre∣hended by the Byshop of Alexandria called Demetrius, bycause they had admitted Origen, with∣out the election of the presbyterie of the Churche, whiche were the chiefe in the election in euery Church, and vnto the which the Churches did committe the gouernment of themselues in euery seuerall towne and citie. &c. as you affirme? Nay is there any thing sounding that way? the only cause why Demetrius reproueth them (as I haue said) is, bycause they suffe∣red Origen in their presence to interpret the scriptures in the Churche, being as yet* 1.4 but a lay man. And yet you sée how Demetrius is reproued for that also, & how by sun∣dry examples it is there shewed, that it is no rare thing for a lay man, to interpret the scriptures in the Church, the Byshop being present, if he be there vnto called by the Byshop.
Is this your bitter place? is this that terrible cutter? Indéede, it maketh your doings vncyphered, and shrewdly woundeth you, if you can well consider it.