Page:Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus, 1842.djvu/60

28 to us,  who  have  come  after  Christ,  with  those  pious  men  who lived in  times  long  before? Whence it  is  evident  that  the  religion delivered  to  us  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ  is  not  a  new  nor  a strange  doctrine;  but  if  the  truth  must  be  spoken,  it  is  the  first and only  true  religion. Thus much  may  suffice  on  this  point.

After the  necessary  preliminary  to  the  Ecclesiastical  History which we  have  proposed  to  write,  it  now  remains  that  we  commence our  course,  invoking  God,  the  Father  of  the  word,  and  Jesus Christ himself,  our  revealed  Saviour  and  Lord,  the  heavenly  word of God,  as  our  aid  and  fellow-labourer  in  the  narration  of  the truth. It was  the  forty-second  year  of  the  reign  of  Augustus, but the  twenty-eighth  from  the  subjugation  of  Egypt  and  the death of  Antony  and  Cleopatra,  which  terminated  the  dynasty of the  Ptolemies,  when,  according  to  prophetic  prediction,  our Lord and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  was  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judea; the same  year,  when  the  first  census  was  taken,  and  Quirinius was governor  of  Syria. — This census  is  mentioned  by  Flavins  Josephus,  the  distinguished  historian  among  the  Hebrews,  who  also adds another  account  respecting  the  sect  of  the  Galileans,  which arose about  the  same  time,  of  which  also  mention  is  made  by  our Luke in  his  book  of  Acts,  in  the  following  words — "  After  this  man arose  Judas  of  Galilee,  in  the  days  of  the  taxing  (assessment), and  drew  away  much  people  after  him,  he  also  preached;  and all,  even  as  many  as  obeyed  him  were  dispersed." Acts v.  37. The aforesaid  author  agreeing  with  this  statement  in  the  18th