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| Preface to Origen's Homilies on Numbers.
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Preface to Origen’s Homilies on Numbers.
Addressed to Ursacius.3445
| 3445 Nothing more is known of Ursacius than is to be gathered from the
mention of him here. | Written in
410.3446
| 3446 The date is fixed by the burning of Rhegium by Alaric, who
intended to invade Sicily, but his transports were scattered by a storm
and he himself died soon after. See Gibbon ch. xxxi. |
————————————
My dear brother, I might rightly
address you in the words of the blessed master, “You do well,
dearest Donatus, in reminding me of this;” for I well remember my
promise that I would collect all that Adamantius wrote in his old age
on the Law of Moses, and translate it into Latin for the use of our
people. But, as he says, the season was not seasonable for the
fulfilment of my promise, but was full of storm and confusion. How can
the pen move freely when a man is in fear of the missiles of the enemy,
when he has before his eyes the devastation of cities and country, when
he has to fly from dangers of the sea, and there is no safety even in
exile? As you yourself saw, the Barbarian was within sight of us; he
had set fire to the city of Rhegium, and our only protection against
him was the very narrow sea which separates the soil of Italy from
Sicily. In such a position, what leisure could there be for writing,
and especially for translating, a work in which one’s duty is not
to develop one’s own opinions but to express those of another?
However, when there was a quiet night, and our minds were relieved from
the fear of an attack by the enemy, and we got at least some little
leisure for thought, I set to work, as a solace from our troubles, and
to relieve the burden of our pilgrimage, to gather into one and arrange
all that Origen had written on the book of Numbers, whether in the way
of homilies or in writings such as are called Excerpts,3447
| 3447 Apparently a longer style of note. | and to translate them into the Roman
tongue. You urged me to do this, Ursacius, and aided me with all your
might, indeed, so eager were you, that you thought the youth who acted
as secretary too slow in the execution of his office. I wish, however,
to point out to you, my brother, that the object of this method of
studying scripture is not to deal with each clause separately, as you
find done in commentaries, but to open up a path for the understanding,
so that the reader may not be made negligent, but as it is written3448
may “stir up his own
spirit” and draw out the meaning, and, when he has heard the good
word, may add to it by his own wisdom. In this way I have tried to give
all the expositions which you desired; and now of all the writings that
I have found upon the Law the short comments upon Deuteronomy alone are
wanting; these, if God so will, and if he restores my eye-sight, I hope
to add to the body of the work. Indeed, my very loving son Pinianus,
whose truly Christian company I have joined in their flight because of
my delight in their chaste conversation, requires yet other tasks from
me. But do you and he join your prayers that the Lord may be present
with us, and may give peace in our time, and shew mercy to those who
are in trouble, and make our work fruitful for the edification of the
reader.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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