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A QUESTION was at this period agitated in Egypt, which had
been propounded a short time previously, namely, whether it is right
to believe that God is anthropomorphic. Because they laid hold of the
sacred words with simplicity and without any questioning, most of the
monks of that part of the world were of this opinion; and supposed that
God possessed eyes, a face, and hands, and other members of the
bodily organization. But those who searched into the hidden meaning of
the terms of Scripture held the opposite; and they maintained that
those who denied the incorporeality of God were guilty of blasphemy.
This later opinion was espoused by Theophilus, and preached by him in
the church; and in the epistle which, according to custom, he wrote
respecting the celebration of the passover, he took occasion to state
that God ought to be regarded as incorporeal, as alien to a human
form. When it was, signified to the Egyptian monks that Theophilus
had broached these sentiments, they went to Alexandria, assembled the
people together in one place, excited a tumult, and determined upon
slaying the bishop as an impious man. Theophilus, however, presented
himself to the insurgents forthwith, and said to them, "When I look
upon you, it is as if I beheld the face of God." This address
sufficiently mollified the men; yielding their wrath, they replied,
"Wherefore, then, if you really hold orthodox doctrines, do you not
denounce the books of Origen; since those who read them are led into
such opinions?" "Such has long been my intention," replied he,
"and I shall do as you advise; for I blame not less than you do,
all those who follow the doctrines of Origen." By these means he
deluded the brethren, and broke up the sedition.
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