History of the Church during the Apostolic Age, extending to the

Close of the First Century of the Christian Era.

9

CHAPTER II.

History of the Church under the Ministry of the Apostolic

Fathers, and of their Survivers and immediate Successors,

falling in nearly with the Second Century.-The Era of Igna-

tius, Polycarp, &c.

...

CHAPTER III.

History of the Primitive Church till the Close of the Third

Century. The Era of Origen, Cyprian, &c....

63

CHAPTER IV.

PAGE

History of the last Pagan Persecution, and the subsequent Esta-

blishment of Christianity, under Constantine, to be the Religion

of the State, with the History of the Church to the final

Division of the Eastern and Western Empires, at the Close of

the Fourth Century.-The Era of Athanasius, Ambrose, &c..

CHAPTER V.

History of the Church, during the chief Inroads of the Barbarian

Nations of the North, till the Fall or Division of the Roman

Empire in the West, agreeing nearly with the Period of the

Fifth Century. The Era of Chrysostom and Augustin......

PART II.

118

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST DURING THE MIDDLE

OR THE DARK AGES.-FROM THE CLOSE OF THE FIFTH TO

THE OPENING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER I.

SECT. I. History of the Grecian Empire, and of the Imperial

Government...

SECT. II. Of the Remnant of the Greek Church

CHAPTER II.

A short View of the Civil History of the Western Empire, and of

the Rise of the Ecclesiastical State..

PAGE

153

157

167

172

CHAPTER III.

⚫ History of the faithful Remnant, and of the Witnesses for the
Truth, in the Western Empire, during the Middle Ages.....

SECT. I.. Of the Remnant which appeared in the Roman Com-

munion....

SECT. II. Of the Reformers who appeared previously to the

Sixteenth Century. – The Waldenses Wickliffites

Hussites

-

-

PAGE

210

and

229

The Effects produced by the Reformation, on the Nations of

Europe...

333

SECT. I. The Reception of Lutheranism in Sweden and Denmark

335

SECT. II. The Progress of the Reformers of the Helvetian

Confession

337

SECT. III. The Effects of the Reformation in Belgium or the

CHAPTER III.

History of the Church since the Era of the Reformation ......

SECT. I. The Eastern Churches

SECT. II. The Romish Church.....

SECT. III. The Lutheran Churches

PAGE

454

ib.

460

478

SECT. IV. The Helvetic or Calvinistic Churches on the Con-

tinent

SECT. V. The Churches of the British Isles....

.... 482

493

PREFACE.

THESE short memorials of Ecclesiastical History were, a considerable time since, announced as ready for publication. I have to offer an apology, but too valid, for the delay. The last sheet had just gone to the press, when the whole was consumed by fire; and, as the manuscript was at that time in the printer's hand, only a remnant of the Work could, with the utmost diligence, be recovered from the ruins. Restored, at length, as nearly as possible, to its original form, it is now presented to the reader, and it will, I hope, be found to answer the design of its publication.

The "New Plan" of Mr. Milner, which, omitting a great deal of what is found in most other Ecclesiastical Histories, would confine our attention chiefly to the concerns of " real," and not "merely nominal Christians," has been followed in the present Work. And where the guidance of this valuable historian, and that of his learned continuator, the late Dean of Carlisle, cease, it has been my endeavour to trace out the same plan for the ages subsequent to their narrative. The present Work, however, is upon a very reduced scale. Its limits, in order to suit the convenience of a different class of readers or purchasers, are confined to a single volume. The History referred to, already