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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH,

FROM

THE EARLIEST AGES

ΤΟ

THE REFORMATION.

BY THE REV. GEORGE WADDINGTON, M.A.

FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND PREBENDARY OF

FERRING, IN THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF chichester.

PUBLISHED UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE SOCIETY
FOR THE DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE.

LONDON:

BALDWIN AND CRADOCK, PATERNOSTER ROW.

MDCCCXXXIII.

A.D.

134 Testimony of the Emperor Adrian, respecting the religious character
of the Alexandrians

Establishment there of the Catechetical School, and subsequent la-
bours of Pantænus, Clemens, and Origen

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CHAPTER II.-On the Numbers, Discipline, Doctrine, and Morality of the Primitive Church.

200 The great extent over which Christianity was spread before the end
of the second century

The earliest converts were chiefly of the middle or lower classes;
the cause of their obscurity

The great facility of intercourse throughout the Roman Empire, the
zeal of the missionaries, &c.

On the miraculous powers claimed by the Church, and the period
to which they were most probably confined
They appear to have ceased with the immediate successors of
the Apostles

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The episcopal government generally established after the death
of the Apostles. . . A perpetual succession of Bishops traced
up to that time in most of the Eastern Churches and in Rome 20, 21
On the temporary ministry of the prophets

On the subordinate office of deacon, and the extent of the spiritual
duties assigned to it

Very early origin of the distinction between clergy and laity, esta-
blished by the Act of Ordination

The Bishop co-operated with the Council of Presbyters in the
government of his Church, and was elected by the whole body of
the clergy and people

150 et seq. Origin and composition of the first provincial assemblies
or synods; they rose in Greece

From these synods proceeded the title and dignity of the Metro-
politan, and the general aggrandizement of the episcopal order
Excommunication the oldest weapon of the Church
Community of property had not universal prevalence

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The primitive institution of the Lord's Day

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The two most ancient festivals were those of the resurrection
and of the descent of the Holy Spirit

The only public fast on the day of the crucifixion

The variety of early creeds, and primitive use of the Apostles' Creed.
The sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist.

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Exemplary morality of the early Christians, proved from the writ-
ings of St. Clement, Origen, the Younger Pliny, Bardesanes,
Lucian, and Justin Martyr
Charity the corner-stone of the moral edifice

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CHAPTER III.-Progress of Christianity from 200 till Constantine's

Accession.

The first appearances of corruption in the Church necessarily pro-
ceeded from the increased numbers and more varied character
of the converts

313 Before the time of Constantine, Christianity was deeply rooted in
all the eastern provinces of the Roman empire; it had also spread
among the northern and western nations

Some vague pretensions of Rome advanced and resisted

251 The Roman Synod against Novatian was attended by sixty Bishops 203 Origen was made President of the Catechetical School, and re

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A.D.

mained so for nearly thirty years. His great diligence and er-
roneous principles in the interpretation of Scripture. He was
successful in converting some Arabian Heretics

192 Tertullian was made Presbyter of the Church of Carthage. He fell
into Montanism about seven years afterwards. He was of a vio-
lent, inconsistent, and powerful character

250 Cyprian was raised to the See of Carthage

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The dignity of the Metropolitans was exalted, and the general dis-
tinction between Bishops and Presbyters widened during the
third century. Cyprian instrumental in this

Some inferior classes in the ministry were instituted; the distinc-
tion between the faithful and the Catechumens became prevalent
in this age; and some mistaken notions were encouraged respect-
ing the nature of baptism, as well as of the Eucharist
The sign of the Cross was employed in the office of exorcism
The connexion of religion with philosophy occasioned the origin of
pious frauds and forgeries

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The sect of the Eclectics, founded by Ammonius Saccas, tended to the injury and corruption of Christianity. His successor, Plotinus, made a compromise with his religion

The Millennarian opinions prevalent in the early Church should probably be ascribed to the error of Papias

CHAPTER IV.-Persecutions of several Roman Emperors.

The theory of pure Polytheism permits an unlimited reception of divinities, and, as such, is tolerant; but the Polytheism of Rome was a political engine; the laws were rigid in excluding foreign Gods; and the practice of the Republic was continued in the empire The Number of Ten Persecutions became popular after the fifth century. The name of persecution should be confined to four or five 64 Whether the persecution of Nero was general or confined to Rome, and whether his laws against the Christians were more than an application to them of the standing statutes of the empire 94 or 95 The grandsons of St. Jude were brought before Domitian, and dismissed in security

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The Rescript of Trajan enjoined death as the punishment of a convicted Christian; forbidding, however, inquisition 138-161 The Christians suffered, during the reign of Antoninus Pius, through popular violence, rather than legal oppression 162-181 The first systematic persecution was that of Marcus Antoni

nus, and it lasted during his whole reign. He encouraged inquiry after the suspected and inflicted every punishment. He censured the enthusiasm of the martyrs, yet not himself free from the charge of superstition, though adorned by many virtues 202-211 The Edict of Severus against the Christians remained in force; it was most destructive in Egypt

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250 Decius pretended to constrain all his subjects to return to the religion of their ancestors; many perished; and many fell away from

the faith

258 Cyprian suffered martyrdom in the reign of Valerian, on his re

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fusal to sacrifice 303 The teachers of philosophy were instrumental in bringing Diocletian to begin his persecution. It was continued for ten years, with a severity comprehending every form of oppression; and ceased not till the accession of Constantine

313 The early unpopularity of the Christians is accounted for by ancestral prejudices, the fame of peculiar sanctity, converting zeal,

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