AND

HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

TA
10830

LONDON:

PRINTED BY HARRISON AND SONS,

ST. MARTIN'S LANE, W.C.

CONTENTS.

CH. XV. THE PROGRESS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, AND THE SEN-

TIMENTS, MANNERS, NUMBERS, AND

CONDITION OF THE PRIMITIVE

CHRISTIANS.

A.D.

Importance of the Inquiry

Its Difficulties

Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity

I. THE FIRST CAUSE. Zeal of the Jews

Its gradual Increase

Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest

More liberal Zeal of Christianity

Obstinacy and Reasons of the believing Jews

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1

1

2

3

5

6

8

9

The Nazarine Church of Jerusalem.

10

II. THE SECOND CAUSE. The Doctrine of the Immortality

of the Soul among the Philosophers

III. THE THIRD CAUSE. Miraculous Powers of the Primitive

Church

35

Their Truth contested

37

IV. THE FOURTH CAUSE. Virtues of the First Christians .

40

Effects of their Repentance

40

Care of their Reputation

41

Morality of the Fathers.

42

Principles of Human Nature.

The Primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury

Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity

Their Aversion to the Business of War and Government

42

43

45

46

V. THE FIFTH CAUSE. The Christians active in the Govern-

ment of the Church

49

Its primitive Freedom and Equality

50

Institution of Bishops as Presidents of the College of Pres-

Progress of Episcopal Authority

Pre-eminence of the Metropolitan Churches

Laity and Clergy .

Oblations and Revenue of the Church

Distribution of the Revenue

Excommunication

Public Penance

The Dignity of Episcopal Government

Weakness of Polytheism

The Scepticism of the Pagan World proved favourable to the

New Religion

As well as the Peace and Union of the Roman Empire

Historical View of the Progress of Christianity.

In the East.

The Church of Antioch

In Egypt

In Rome

54

55

56

57

58

61

62

64

65

66

66

67

68

70

70

72

73

74

with regard to Rank and Fortune

Christianity most favourably received by the Poor and Simple

Rejected by some Eminent Men of the First and Second

Their Neglect of Prophecy

of Miracles

General Silence concerning the Darkness of the Passion

79

79

80

82

82

83

84

84

CH. XVI. THE CONDUCT OF THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT TOWARDS THE

CHRISTIANS, FROM THE REIGN OE NERO TO THAT OF CONSTANTINE.

Toleration of the Jewish Religion

The Jews were a People which followed, the Christians a sect

which deserted, the Religion of their Fathers

89

90

Christianity accused of Atheism, and mistaken by the People

and Philosophers

92

The Union and Assemblies of the Christians considered as a

dangerous Conspiracy

Their Manners calumniated

94

96

Their imprudent Defence

97

ceeding egainst them

Trials of the Christians.

Idea of the Conduct of the Emperors towards the Christians.
They neglected the Christians as a Sect of Jews
The Fire of Rome under the Reign of Nero

Cruel Punishment of the Christians as the Incendiaries of

the City
Remarks on the Passage of Tacitus relative to the Persecu-
tion of the Christians by Nero

Oppression of the Jews and Christians by

Execution of Clemens the Consul

Ignorance of Pliny concerning the Christians

Trajan and his Successors establish a Legal Mode of Pro-

Popular Clamours

98

99

101

103

117

118

120

121

122

123

124

125

127

129

Three Methods of escaping Martyrdom

130

180. State of the Christians in the Reigns of Commodus and

252–260. Of Valerian, Gallienus, and his Successors

140

260. Paul of Samosata, his Manners

140