IN
the
dayes
of
Severus
lived
Origen
,
a
man
famous
for
Learning
,
and
in
mental
excellencies
most
rare
and
singular
:
He
was
bold
and
fervent
under
the
Reign
of
Severus
,
Maximinus
,
and
Decius
,
in
assisting
,
comforting
,
exhorting
and
cherishing
the
Martyrs
that
were
imprisoned
,
with
such
danger
of
his
own
life
,
that
had
not
God
wonderfully
protected
him
,
he
had
been
stoned
to
death
many
times
of
the
heathen
multitude
;
for
such
great
concourse
of
men
and
women
went
daily
to
his
house
to
be
Catechized
and
instructed
in
the
Christian
Faith
by
him
,
that
Souldiers
were
hired
of
purpose
to
defend
the
place
where
he
taught
them
.
Again
,
such
search
sometime
was
set
for
him
,
that
neither
shifting
of
place
,
nor
Countrey
could
hardly
serve
him
.
In
which
laborious
travels
and
affairs
of
the
Church
,
in
teaching
,
writing
,
confuting
,
exhorting
and
expounding
,
he
continued
about
fifty
two
years
,
unto
the
times
of
Decius
and
Gallus
;
divers
and
great
persecutions
he
sustained
,
but
especially
under
Decius
:
In
his
body
he
sustained
Bonds
and
Torments
,
Rackings
with
Bars
of
Iron
,
stinking
and
dark
Dungeons
,
besides
terrible
threats
of
Death
and
Burning
;
all
which
he
manfully
and
constantly
suffered
for
Christ
:
Yet
at
length
(
like
an
Isicle
)
he
that
could
endure
the
rough
Northern
Wind
of
Persecution
well
enough
,
melted
with
the
heat
of
the
Sun
(
sweet
Allurements
and
fair
promises
of
Satan
and
his
Adherents
;
his
own
flesh
also
proving
a
treacherous
Sollicitor
:
)
For
in
the
end
,
being
brought
by
the
Idolatrous
Infidels
to
an
Altar
of
theirs
,
he
shamefully
condescended
to
offer
Incense
thereupon
,
in
manner
as
followeth
,
by
his
own
Confession
.
When
(
saith
he
)
I
sought
to
allure
and
win
these
Idolaters
by
cunning
means
to
the
knowledge
of
the
Son
of
God
,
after
much
sifting
,
they
promised
me
(
unhappy
man
!
)
that
they
would
by
crafty
conveyances
avoid
the
subtilty
of
Satan
,
and
be
baptized
:
But
being
ignorant
and
unskilfull
in
their
divers
cunning
sleights
,
they
(
together
with
the
Devil
)
undermined
my
simplicity
,
and
Satan
turning
himself
into
an
Angel
of
Light
,
reasoned
with
me
that
same
Night
,
saying
:
When
thou
art
up
in
the
Morning
,
go
on
and
perswade
them
,
and
bring
them
unto
God
;
and
in
case
they
demand
ought
of
thee
,
so
they
will
hearken
and
condescend
unto
thee
,
do
what
thou
shalt
think
necessary
,
without
staggering
at
all
at
the
matter
,
to
the
end
many
may
be
saved
.
And
again
,
the
Devil
going
before
to
prepare
the
way
,
whetted
their
Wits
to
devise
mischief
against
me
,
silly
wretch
,
and
sowed
in
their
minds
hypocrisie
,
dissimulation
,
and
deceit
.
But
I
,
O
unhappy
creature
,
skipping
out
of
my
bed
at
the
dawning
of
the
day
,
could
not
finish
my
wonted
Devotions
,
neither
accomplish
my
usual
Prayer
:
But
wishing
that
all
men
might
be
saved
,
and
come
to
the
knowledge
of
the
Truth
,
I
folded
and
wrapped
my self
in
the
snares
of
the
Devil
.
I
got
me
unto
the
wicked
Assembly
,
I
required
of
them
to
perform
the
Covenant
made
the
night
before
;
and
coming
(
as
I
thought
)
unto
the
Baptism
,
I
(
silly
soul
)
not
knowing
of
any
thing
,
answered
but
in
a
word
,
and
became
reproachfully
defamed
.
I
spake
without
malice
,
yet
felt
I
their
inveterate
and
deadly
spite
;
for
instantly
the
Devil
raised
an
Assembly
about
me
,
who
carried
me
to
an
Altar
of
theirs
;
where
a
foul
filthy
Ethiopian
being
appointed
,
this
option
or
choise
was
offered
unto
me
;
namely
,
Whether
I
would
sacrifice
to
the
Idol
,
or
have
my
body
polluted
with
that
soul
and
ugly
Ethiopian
?
In
which
strait
,
I
having
ever
kept
my
Chastity
undefiled
,
and
much
abhorring
that
filthy
villany
to
be
done
to
my
body
,
brake
out
into
many
moans
,
lamentations
,
and
cries
against
both
;
Yet
(
O
wretched
man
that
I
am
)
at
length
yielded
rather
to
Sacrifice
.
Whereupon
the
Judge
putting
Incense
into
my
hand
,
caused
me
to
set
it
to
the
fire
upon
the
Altar
;
for
the
which
impiety
,
I
was
delivered
both
from
that
,
and
Martyrdome
.
But
upon
my
discharge
,
the
Devil
raised
a
marvellous
out-cry
in
the
City
,
in
pronouncing
against
me
that
just
,
and
yet
unjust
sentence
,
Origen
hath
sacrificed
.
Whereupon
he
was
Excommunicated
out
of
the
Church
and
driven
with
shame
and
sorrow
out
of
Alexandr●a
,
and
going
to
Jerusalem
,
and
being
there
among
the
Congregation
,
was
requested
by
the
Priests
to
make
some
Exhortation
in
the
Church
to
the
people
,
the
which
he
refused
to
do
for
a
great
while
;
but
at
length
being
constrained
through
importunity
,
he
rose
up
,
and
turning
the
Book
as
though
he
would
have
expounded
some
place
of
the
Scripture
,
he
happened
upon
,
and
read
onely
the
16
verse
of
the
50
Psalm
▪
where
he
found
it
thus
written
;
But
God
said
unto
the
sinner
,
What
hast
thou
to
do
to
declare
my
Statutes
,
or
that
thou
shouldest
take
my
Covenant
into
thy
mouth
?
seeing
thou
hatest
instruction
,
and
castest
my
words
behind
thee
?
Which
being
read
,
he
shut
the
Book
,
and
sate
down
weeping
and
wailing
,
the
whole
Congregation
weeping
and
lamenting
with
him
,
he
said
unto
the
Church
,
Wo
is
me
:
my
Mother
which
brought
me
forth
as
an
high
and
lofty
Turret
,
yet
suddenly
I
am
turned
down
to
the
ground
;
as
a
fruitfull
tree
,
yet
quickly
withered
;
as
a
burning
light
,
yet
forthwith
darkened
;
as
a
running
fountain
,
yet
by
and
by
dried
up
.
Wo
is
me
that
ever
I
was
decked
with
all
gifts
and
graces
,
and
now
seem
pittifully
to
be
deprived
of
all
.
The
Lord
hath
made
and
ingrafted
me
a
fruitfull
Vine
,
but
instead
of
pleasant
Clusters
of
Grapes
,
I
brought
forth
pricking
Thorns
.
Let
the
well-springs
of
tears
be
stirred
up
,
and
let
my
Cheeks
be
watered
;
let
them
flow
upon
the
earth
,
and
moisten
it
,
for
that
I
am
soaked
in
sin
,
and
bound
in
mine
iniquity
;
every
creature
sorroweth
,
and
may
well
pity
my
case
;
for
that
I
was
wont
heretofore
to
pour
out
my
Prayers
unto
God
for
them
all
,
but
now
there
is
no
salve
for
me
.
Where
is
he
that
went
down
from
Jerusalem
to
Jerico
,
who
also
salved
and
cured
him
that
was
wounded
of
the
Thieves
?
When
as
I
went
about
to
enlighten
others
,
I
darkened
my self
;
when
I
endeavoured
to
bring
others
from
death
to
life
,
I
brought
my self
from
life
to
death
.
O
blinded
heart
!
how
didst
thou
not
remember
?
O
foolish
mind
!
how
didst
thou
not
bethink
thy self
?
O
witless
brain
!
how
didst
thou
not
understand
?
O
thou
Sense
of
Understanding
!
where
didst
thou
sleep
?
But
it
was
the
Devil
which
provoked
thee
to
slumber
and
sleep
,
and
in
the
end
,
to
slay
thy
unhappy
and
wretched
soul
:
He
bound
my
power
and
might
,
and
wounded
me
.
I
bewail
sometime
the
fall
of
Sampson
,
but
now
have
I
faln
far
worse
my self
.
I
bewailed
heretofore
the
fall
of
Solomon
,
yet
now
am
I
faln
far
worse
my self
.
I
have
bewailed
heretofore
the
estate
of
all
sinners
,
yet
now
am
I
plunged
worse
then
them
all
.
Sampson
had
the
hair
of
his
head
clipt
off
,
but
the
Crown
of
Glory
is
faln
off
my
head
.
Sampson
lost
the
carnal
eyes
of
his
body
,
but
my
spiritual
Eyes
are
digged
out
:
Even
as
he
was
severed
from
the
Israelites
,
and
held
captive
among
Idolaters
,
so
I
have
separated
my self
from
the
Church
of
God
,
and
am
joyned
with
evil
spirits
.
Alas
!
my
Church
liveth
,
yet
am
I
a
Widower
.
Alas
!
my
Sons
be
alive
,
yet
am
I
barren
.
Alas
!
O
Spirit
which
camest
heretofore
down
upon
me
,
why
hast
thou
forsaken
me
?
O
thou
Devil
,
what
hast
thou
done
unto
me
?
O
Satan
,
how
hast
thou
wounded
me
?
It
was
the
wiliness
of
a
Woman
that
brought
Sampson
to
his
confusion
:
but
it
was
my
own
Tongue
that
brought
me
to
this
sinfull
fall
.
Alas
!
every
Creature
rejoyceth
,
and
I
alone
forsaken
and
sorrowfull
:
Bewail
him
that
is
bereaved
of
the
Holy
Ghost
;
bewail
me
that
am
thrust
out
of
the
Wedding-Chamber
of
Christ
;
bewail
me
that
am
tormented
with
the
prick
of
Conscience
;
for
now
it
behoveth
me
to
shed
infinite
tears
for
my
great
sin
.
Who
knoweth
whether
the
Lord
will
have
mercy
upon
me
?
whether
he
will
pity
my
fall
?
whether
he
will
be
moved
with
my
desolation
?
whether
he
will
have
respect
unto
my
humility
,
and
incline
his
tender
compassion
towards
me
?
Now
let
the
Elders
mourn
▪
for
that
the
staff
whereto
they
leaned
is
broken
.
Now
let
the
young
men
mourn
,
for
that
their
School-Master
is
fallen
.
Now
let
the
Virgins
mourn
,
for
that
the
advancer
of
virginity
is
defiled
.
Now
let
the
Priests
mourn
,
for
that
their
Patron
and
Defender
is
shamefully
faln
from
the
Faith
.
Assist
me
Holy
Spirit
,
and
give
me
Grace
to
repent
;
Let
the
Fountain
of
tears
be
opened
,
and
gush
out
into
streams
,
to
see
if
that
peradventure
I
may
have
the
Grace
worthily
and
throughly
to
repent
:
Why
hast
thou
shut
my
mouth
by
the
holy
Prophet
David
?
Am
I
the
first
that
have
sinned
?
Or
am
I
the
first
that
fell
?
Why
hast
thou
forsaken
me
,
and
banished
me
from
among
the
Saints
,
and
astonied
me
to
preach
thy
Laws
?
Saint
Peter
,
the
Pillar
of
Truth
,
after
his
fall
,
wiped
away
that
bitter
passion
of
forswearing
his
Master
,
with
mournfull
tears
,
and
was
purged
from
the
venome
of
the
Serpent
in
a
short
time
.
Restore
me
again
to
my
former
health
of
salvation
:
O
all
ye
which
behold
my
wounds
,
tremble
for
fear
,
least
God
forsake
you
,
and
you
fall
into
the
like
crime
.
O
woe
is
me
,
that
I
am
severed
from
among
the
company
of
the
blessed
Assemblies
:
I
have
my
death's
wound
;
I
see
the
Clouds
in
the
Skie
shadowing
the
Light
from
me
,
and
the
Sun
hiding
from
me
his
bright
beams
.
O
Satan
,
what
Mischief
hast
thou
wrought
unto
me
?
How
hast
thou
pierced
my
breast
with
thy
poysoned
Dart
?
Thinkest
thou
that
my
Ruine
will
avail
thee
any
thing
at
all
?
Thinkest
thou
to
procure
unto
thy self
ease
and
rest
,
whiles
that
I
am
grievously
tormented
?
But
how
can
I
speak
,
when
as
my
Tongue
is
tied
?
My
Lips
dare
not
once
move
,
my
Throat
is
dammed
up
,
all
my
senses
and
instruments
are
polluted
with
iniquity
.
But
I
will
proceed
on
;
and
first
,
I
will
fall
to
the
ground
on
my
bare
knees
,
and
make
mine
humble
supplication
unto
all
the
faithfull
and
blessed
of
God
,
both
great
and
small
,
that
they
will
help
me
,
silly
wretch
,
which
by
reason
of
the
superfluity
of
my
sin
,
dare
not
crave
ought
at
the
hands
of
God
:
O
ye
Saints
and
blessed
of
God
,
with
waterish
eyes
and
wet
cheeks
soaked
in
dolour
and
pain
,
I
beseech
you
to
fall
down
before
the
Mercy-seat
of
God
for
me
miserable
sinner
:
Wo
is
me
,
that
am
compassed
thus
on
every
side
,
and
shut
up
in
my
sin
:
The
Lord
hath
made
me
an
Angel
,
I
have
made
my self
a
Devil
:
I
was
as
a
skilfull
Lawyer
,
yet
am
I
overthrown
by
my
unrighteous
dealing
:
I
was
an
heir
of
the
Kingdome
of
God
,
but
now
am
an
inheritor
of
the
Kingdome
of
the
Devil
:
I
am
choaked
with
infamous
doings
;
but
who
will
minister
moisture
unto
the
Temples
of
my
Head
?
and
who
will
give
streams
of
teares
unto
my
Eyes
,
that
I
may
bewail
my self
in
this
my
sorrowful
plight
?
O
all
ye
my
friends
,
tender
my
case
,
pity
my
person
,
in
that
I
am
dangerously
wounded
,
in
that
I
am
a
scorn
to
all
men
;
for
having
trodden
under
foot
the
Seal
and
Cognizance
of
my
Profession
,
and
joyned
in
league
with
the
Devil
.
In
that
I
am
rejected
and
cast
away
from
the
face
of
God
;
it
is
for
my
lewd
life
that
I
am
thus
polluted
.
I
see
the
Spider
over
my
seat
building
his
Cobweb
:
There
is
no
sorrow
like
to
my
sorrow
;
there
is
no
affliction
that
exceedeth
my
affliction
;
there
is
no
bitterness
that
passeth
my
bitterness
;
there
is
no
lamentation
more
lamentable
then
mine
;
neither
is
there
any
sin
greater
then
my
sin
,
for
there
is
no
salve
for
me
.
Where
is
that
good
Shepheard
of
Souls
?
I
have
broken
my
vow
I
made
in
Baptism
.
Alas
that
ever
I
was
Doctor
,
and
now
occupy
not
the
room
of
a
Disciple
!
Thou
knowest
,
O
Lord
,
that
I
fell
against
my
Will
:
Who
is
able
to
signifie
unto
me
when
again
I
shall
be
coupled
and
made
Companion
of
the
Saints
of
God
?
O!
I
am
not
worthy
to
hear
the
message
of
them
that
bring
such
tidings
;
for
the
threats
of
the
Prophets
and
Evangelists
only
belong
unto
me
.
O
the
bosome
of
Abraham
,
the
which
I
am
deprived
of
!
I
am
become
partaker
with
the
Rich
Man
in
his
Condemnation
,
and
scorching
flames
in
the
horrible
pit
.
I
am
tormented
with
the
prick
of
Conscience
;
I
do
fear
the
dreadful
day
of
Judgment
,
for
that
I
am
damn'd
for
ever
.
I
do
fear
the
punishment
,
for
that
it
is
eternal
.
I
will
prostrate
my self
before
the
Threshold
and
Porches
of
the
Church
,
that
I
may
intreat
all
people
,
both
small
and
great
,
and
will
say
unto
them
,
Trample
and
tread
me
under
foot
,
which
am
the
foolish
Salt
,
the
unsavoury
Salt
;
tread
me
which
have
no
taste
nor
relish
of
God
.
Wo
is
me
that
I
fell
most
dangerously
,
and
cannot
rise
again
.
Assist
me
,
O
holy
Spirit
,
and
give
me
Grace
to
repent
,
and
wipe
out
of
the
Book
of
the
Conscience
the
Accusation
printed
against
me
:
Yea
,
do
thou
,
O
Lord
,
think
upon
me
,
though
I
am
of
polluted
lips
,
and
have
uttered
lewd
things
with
my
Tongue
;
and
accept
thou
Repentance
,
Affliction
,
and
bitter
Tears
,
the
dolour
of
my
heart
,
and
the
heaviness
of
my
soul
;
and
have
mercy
upon
me
,
and
raise
me
up
from
out
of
the
mire
of
Corruption
and
Filth
,
for
the
puddle
hath
even
choaked
me
up
.
Wo
is
me
,
that
sometime
was
a
Pearl
glistring
in
the
golden
garland
of
Glory
,
but
now
thrown
into
the
dust
,
and
trodden
in
the
mire
of
contempt
!
Wo
is
me
that
the
Salt
of
God
now
lieth
on
the
dunghil
!
O
how
many
great
streams
of
Lamentation
and
tears
will
wash
away
my
sin
,
and
purge
mine
humble
heart
?
I
will
turn
my
talk
to
God
:
Why
hast
thou
lift
me
up
,
and
cast
me
down
?
I
had
not
committed
this
impiety
,
unless
thou
hadst
withdrawn
thy
hand
from
me
.
David
sinned
too
bad
in
thy
sight
,
yet
after
his
Repentance
thou
receivedst
him
to
mercy
.
Grant
that
I
may
not
become
an
habitation
for
Divels
,
but
that
I
may
trample
under
foot
the
Divel
,
which
hath
trod
upon
me
.
I
have
fallen
and
am
bruised
,
there
is
no
health
in
me
.
Why
hast
thou
,
O
Lord
,
broken
down
my
hedge
and
strong
holds
.
The
wild
Boar
out
of
the
wood
hath
destroyed
me
,
and
the
wild
Beasts
of
the
field
hath
eaten
me
up
.
Rid
me
,
O
Lord
,
from
the
roaring
Lion
,
that
the
Bill
of
sin
written
against
me
may
be
blotted
out
;
that
I
may
cease
from
my
Lamentation
in
the
evening
,
and
receive
joy
in
the
morning
.
Let
my
sackcloth
be
rent
in
sunder
,
and
gird
me
wth
joy
and
gladness
.
Thus
in
his
bitter
affliction
and
grief
of
mind
,
he
uttered
these
things
confusedly
and
out
of
order
.