[Footnote 54: I hardly need detain the reader by any proof of
the spuriousness of this passage; the whole work from which it
is taken is rejected altogether by the Benedictine editors:
"Reliqua ejusmodi spuria omittenda censuimus, qualia sunt ...
Homiliae in diversos;" and they have not allowed a single line of
it to appear in their volumes, not even in the small
character.--Vol. iv. p. 1.]
"The memory of these (the Innocents) is always {149} celebrated, as is
right, in the Churches. These, therefore, since they were unjustly or
impiously put to death in peace and rest, having suffered much for the
name of the Lord, were taken from this world, to remain in the eternal
Church for ever in Christ. But their parents for the merits of their
suffering will receive a worthy recompense of reward from the just and
eternal Lord God." Here we have strongly marked indeed the difference
between Origen himself, and the errors fastened upon him by the design
or ignorance of subsequent times.
Were not his testimony a subject of great moment, I should plead guilty
to having detained my readers too long on Origen; and yet I cannot
dismiss him without first refreshing our minds with the remembrance of
some of his beautiful reflections on a Christian's prayer. We need not
read them with a controversial eye, and they may be profitable to us
all.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184