Page:Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus, 1842.djvu/58

26 of God  as  its  support. This nation,  appearing  at  the  time  appointed by  inscrutable  wisdom,  is  that  which  among  all,  is  honoured with  the  name  of  Christ. One of  the  prophets,  foreseeing with the  eye  of  the  spirit  of  God,  that  this  people  would  arise,  was so struck  with  amazement  that  he  exclaimed:  "  Who  hath  heard such  things  as  this?  and  who  hath  ever  declared  thus?  hath  the earth  brought  forth  in  a  single  day,  and  hath  a  nation  been  born at  once?" The same  prophet  also  gives  some  intimation  of  the name that  would  be  introduced:  "They  who  serve  me  shall  be called  by  a  new  name,  which  shall  be  blessed  upon  the  earth." And indeed,  though  we  are  evidently  a  new  people,  this  new name also  of  Christians  has  lately  become  known  to  all  nations. The practice,  however,  and  the  walk  and  conversation,  the  principles of  piety  prevalent  among  this  people,  have  not  been  recently invented,  but  were  established,  we  may  say,  by  the  Deity in the  natural  dictates  of  pious  men  of  old,  from  the  very  origin  of our  race;  an  assertion  which  we  shall  endeavour  to  prove,  in  the following manner.

That the  nation  of  the  Hebrews  is  not  new,  but  honoured  among all for  its  antiquity,  is  well  known. The writings  and  literature of this  nation  concern  ancient  men,  rare  and  few  in  number,  but yet excelling  in  piety,  righteousness,  and  every  virtue. And indeed, even  before  the  flood,  there  were  some  who  were  distinguished for  their  virtue;  and  after  this  others,  both  of  the  sons and posterity  of  Noah,  among  whom  we  would  mention  Abraham, celebrated by  the  Hebrews  as  the  founder  and  progenitor  of  their nation. Should any  one,  beginning  from  Abraham,  and  going  back to the  first  man,  pronounce  those  who  have  had  the  testimony  of righteousness. Christians in  fact,  though  not  in  name,  he  would  not be far  from  the  truth. For as  the  name  Christians  is  intended  to indicate  this  very  idea,  that  a  man,  by  the  knowledge  and  doctrine of Christ,  is  distinguished  by  modesty  and  justice,  by  patience  and a virtuous  fortitude,  and  by  a  profession  of  piety  towards  the  one and only  true  and  supreme  God;  all  this  was  no  less  studiously  cultivated by  them  than  by  us. They did  not,  therefore,  regard  circumcision, nor  observe  the  Sabbath,  neither  do  we;  neither  do  we abstain  from  certain  foods,  nor  regard  other  injunctions,  which