These, and other obvious advantages of such a history, have determined me to attempt it. I feel oppressed with the greatness of the subject: Nevertheless, with God's help, I mean to proceed. IN MAGNIS VOLUISSE SAT EST. I have two things further to premise: 1st, To assure the Reader that I shall think it my indispensable duty to give him real facts; and, if I be rather more copious in reflections than the severe laws of history allow, he will do well to observe, that the fashionable misrepresentations of ancient story require considerable attention. And, 2dly, I fairly warn the Reader not to expect from me any indulgence in the modern taste of Scepticism. I shall not affect to doubt the credibility of ancient respectable historians. And, as it is hardly possible to avoid altogether the infection of the age in which one lives, I seem to myself sufficiently secured, by the torrent of prevailing opinions, from the other extreme of superstitious belief. Both ought to be avoided: but that, which supports itself by the appearance of extraordinary sense, by the authority of great names, and by the love of applause, must of course be the more ensnaring. The present age, in matters of religion, may justly be called the age of self-sufficiency: We condemn the ancients by wholesale, and without giving them a hearing: we suspect their historical accounts, without discrimination: malevolence and profaneness are both encouraged by such conduct: we fancy ourselves so ENLIGHTENED, as to be without any parallels in discernment: we are amazed, that our ancestors should so long have been deluded by absurdities; and, we are very little aware how much some future age will pity or blame us, for follies, of which we imagine ourselves perfectly clear. J. M. THE Editor* of this third Edition of Vol. I. takes this opportunity of most gratefully acknowledging the liberal patronage of the University of Cambridge, in having printed at their own expence four Volumes of Mr. M.'s Ecclesiastical History. Their kindness and consideration in this matter makes an indelible impression on his mind: and, if any thing could increase his affectionate attachment to that learned Body, after so long and active a residence among them, it would be this honourable token of respect to the memory of his deceased Brother, who himself many years ago as a Student in the same Seminary † received distinguished marks of approbation. The Rev. Isaac Milner, D.D. Dean of Carlisle, and President of Queen's College, Cambridge. + Mr. M. took his degree of B.A. in the year 1766; and obtained, as a prize, one of the Chancellor's gold medals. The Candidates were uncommonly numerous and able. N. B.--Two handsome gold medals are given annually by the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, to such Bachelors of Arts as excel in classical learning. CHAP. VII. The State of Christians under the Reigns of CHAP. VIII. Some Account of Christian Authors who CHAP. IX. The Heresies and Controversies of this Century CHAP. VI. State of Christianity during the Reigns of CHAP. VIII. The Beginnings of the Persecution of De- cius.-The Government of Cyprian till his Retirement, CHAP. IX. The History of Cyprian, and of the Western Church, during his Retirement of two Years - P. 339 CHAP. X. Cyprian's Settlement of his Church after his Return, and the History of the Western Church till the CHAP. XI. The Effects of the Persecution of Decius in the CHAP. XII. The History of the Church during the Reign CHAP. XVII. From the Reign of Gallienus to the End CHAP. XVIII. Some Account of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Theognostus, and Dionysius of Rome |