for the most part taken out of the late magnificent edition of the Works of St. ATHANASIUS; though that piece be none of his, but the work of the YOUNGER ATHANASIUS, patriarch of the same church, who lived about the seventh century. [See tom. II. p. 251, Doctrin. ad Antioch. Ducem.] Both these advantages I do likewise owe to the same learned person I before mentioned; who not only purposely collated the one for me, but readily communicated to me the extracts. he had made for his own use out of the other.

Having said thus much concerning the several pieces themselves here set forth, and the translation of them, I shall not trouble the reader with any long account of my own. introductory discourse; in which I have added some things, and corrected others. I hope, as it now stands, it may be of some use to those who have not any better opportunities of being acquainted with these matters; and convince them of the just regard that is due to the discourses which follow it, upon this double account, both that they were (for the most part) truly written by those whose names they bear, and that those writers lived so near the apostolical times, that it cannot be doubted but that they do indeed represent to us the doctrine, government, and discipline of the church, as they received it from the apostles; the apostles from Christ, and that blessed Spirit, who directed them both in what they taught, and in what they ordained.

What that doctrine, government, and discipline is, I have particularly shown in the eleventh chapter of my discourse. I shall only observe here, that it is so exactly agreeable to the present doctrine, government, and discipline of the church of England by law established, that no one who allows of the one can reasonably make any exceptions against the other. So that we must either say, that the immediate successors of the apostles had departed from the institutions. of those holy men from whom they received their instruction

Dr. Grabe.

in the gospel of Christ, and by whom they were converted to the faith of it; or, if that be too unreasonable to be supposed of such excellent persons, who not only lived in some of the highest stations of the Christian church, but the most of them suffered martyrdom for the sake of it, we must then conclude, what is indeed the truth, that the church of England, whereof we are members, is, both in its doctrine, government, discipline, and worship, truly apostolical; and in all respects comes the nearest up to the primitive pattern of any Christian church at this day in the world.

GENERAL CONTENTS.

PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE RELATING TO THE SEVERAL

TREATISES, AND THE AUTHORS OF THEM.

Introduction

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II.

That the pieces here put together are all that remain of the most

primitive and apostolical antiquity

CHAPTER III.

Of the authority of the following Treatises; and the deference

that ought to be paid to them upon the account of it

CHAPTER IV.

Of the subject of the following Discourses, and of the use that is to

be made of them

CHAPTER V.

Of the manner after which these Discourses are written, and the

simplicity of style used in them.

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THE FIRST PART.

Preliminary Discourse on the First Epistle of St. Clement to the

Corinthians

The First Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians.

33

42

I. II. He commends them for their excellent Order and Piety in Christ, before their

Schism brake out.

III. How their Divisions began.

IV. V. VI. Envy and Emulation the Original of all Strife and Disorder. Exam-
ples of all Mischiefs they have occasioned.

VII. VIII. He exhorts them to look up to the Rules of their Religion, and repent
of their Divisions, and they shall be forgiven.

IX. X. To encourage them whereunto he sets before them the examples of Holy
Men whose Piety is recorded in the Scriptures.

XI. XII. And particularly such as have been eminent for their Kindness and
Charity to their Neighbours.

XIII. What Rules our Religion has left us to this purpose.

XIV. XV. Which he applies to the Case of the Corinthians, exhorting them to put
an end to their Contentions so contrary to their Duty. -

XVI. XVII. XVIII. In order to this, he advises them to be humble; and that from
the Examples of our Saviour, and of holy Men in all Ages.

XIX. XX. He returns to the Business of their Divisions, which, by more Argu-
ments, he again persuades them to compose.

XXI. He exhorts them to Obedience, from the consideration of the Goodness of
God, and of his Presence in every Place.

XXII. XXIII. XXIV. Of Faith; and particularly what we are to believe as to the

future Resurrection.

XXV. to XXVII. This Article at large proved.

XXVIII. He again exhorts them to Obedience: That it is impossible to escape the
Vengeance of God, if we continue in Sin.

XXIX. This farther enforced from the consideration of their Relation to God, as his

Elect.

XXX. How we must live that we may please God.

XXXI. XXXII. We are justified by Faith.

XXXIII. Yet this must not lessen our Care to live well, nor our Pleasure in it.

XXXIV. This enforced from the Examples of the holy Angels, and from the ex-
ceeding greatness of that Reward which God has prepared for us.

XXXV. XXXVI. We must attain unto this Reward by Faith and Obedience.

XXXVII. Which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the Duties of our
several Stations, without Envying or Contentions.

XXXVIII. The necessity of different Orders among Men. We have none of us
any thing but what we received of God: whom, therefore, we ought in every
condition thankfully to obey.

XXXIX. &c. From whence he exhorts them to do every thing orderly in the
church, as the only way to please God.

XLII. The Orders of Ministers in Christ's Church, established by the Apostles, ac-
cording to Christ's command.

XLIII. And after the example of Moses.

XLIV. Therefore they who have been duly placed in the Ministry, according to
their order, cannot, without great Sin, be put out of it.

XLV. &c. He exhorts them to Peace, from Examples out of the Holy Scriptures.
XLVII. XLVIII. Particularly from St. Paul's Exhortation to them.

XLIX. The Value which God puts upon Love and Unity: The Effects of a true
Charity.

L. Which is the Gift of God, and must be obtained by Prayer.

LI. LII. He exhorts such as have been concerned in these Divisions to repent, and
return to their Unity, confessing their Sin to God.

LIII. LIV. Which he enforces from the example of Moses.

LV. Nay, of many among the Heathen; and of Judith and Esther among the
Jews.

LVI. The Benefit of mutual Advice and Correction.

LVII. He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.

LVIII. Recommends them to God.

LIX. Desires speedily to hear that this epistle has had a good Effect upon them.

LX. And so concludes.

Preliminary Discourse on the Epistle of St. Polycarp to the Philip-
pians

The Epistle of St. Polycarp to the Philippians.

AFTER THE SALUTATION,

1. He commends the PHILIPPIANS for their respect to those who suffered for the
gospel, and for their own faith and piety. I.