THF

E

HISTORY

OF

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST,

PREVIOUS TO

The Reformation;

CONSISTING CHIEFLY

OF SKETCHES OF THE LIVES, AND EXTRACTS FROM THE
WRITINGS, OF CHRISTIANS

DURING THE EARLY AND MIDDLE AGES

VOL. II.

CONTAINING

THE FOURTH AND FIFTH CENTURIES.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY;

AND SOLD AT THEIR DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER-ROW ;

ALSO BY

T. CADELL, STRAND; J. NISBET, BERNERS-STREET;

AND OTHER BOOKSELLERS.

MUSEUM BRITANNICEN

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CENTURY IV.

CHAP. I. The persecution of Dioclesian

Dioclesian and Galerius; their edict against the Christians;

the persecutions inflicted on them;-Egypt ;-Phileas ;-Suffer-

ings of the martyrs ;-Malice of the persecutors;-Martyrs of

Palestine ;-Romanus and other writers against Christianity ;-

Galerius succeeds to the empire;-Apphian and Edesius;-

Reflections on the persecution;-Agapius and Theodosia ;-Per-

secution in Palestine ;-Edicts of Maximin ;-Pamphilus and

others ;-Remarks on the declension of real Christianity;-Con-

stantine becomes emperor;-Death of Galerius ;-Maximin re-

news the persecution ;-Calumnies and artifices of the perse-

cutors ;-A plague and famine;-Death of Dioclesian ;-Awful

death of Maximin ;-The persecution ceases.

CHAP. II. A view of the state of the Christian reli-

gion under Constantine

Constantine professes Christianity; subdues his opponents ;—
Christianity established;-Decline of vital religion;-The Dona-
tists;-Remarks.

CHAP. III. The progress of the Arian controversy,

till the death of Constantine

Disputation between Alexander and Arius;-The doctrines of

Arius and his adherents;-Constantine summons the Council of

Nice;-Conversion of a Gentile philosopher;-Subtilties of the

Arians;-The Nicene creed ;-Doctrines of the primitive Chris-

tians ;-Canons of the Council of Nice ;-The Novatians ;-Atha-

nasius appointed bishop of Alexandria ;-False accusations of

the Arians against Athanasius ;-His innocence proved, but the

Arians prevail;-Death of Arius ;-Reflections;-Death of Con-

stantine.

CHAP. IV. The progress of the Arian controversy

during the reign of Constantius..

Controversy with the Arians;-Athanasius deposed by the Arians

who persecute the orthodox Christians;-Letter of Athanasius ;-
Council at Sardica ; -Proceedings of the Arians in the East;-

Page.

1

29

36

56

Athanasius recalled;-Death of Constans ;-The orthodox again

persecuted ;-Hosius, bishop of Corduba;-Athanasius again per-

secuted-Effects of the doctrines of truth;-The Arians perse-

cute the Novatians ;-Prevalence of Arianism;-Death of Con-

stantius.

Page.

CHAP. V. A view of monasticism and other miscel-

laneous circumstances, from the establishment of

Christianity under Constantine to the death of

Constantius

Ancient monks;-Anthony the first monk; his doctrines and

death;-The Marcionites ;-Jerusalem the resort of Pilgrims.

CHAP. VI. The extension of the gospel, from the

beginning of the century to the death of Constan-

tius..

Abyssinia Edesius and Frumentius;-The Ibereans ;—The

Sabeans;-Britain, Persia, and other nations.

CHAP. VII. The decline of idolatry in this century,

to the death of Constantius...

Decline of Paganism ;-Porphyry writes against Christianity ;—

Reflections;-Constantine destroys heathen statues.

CHAP. VIII. Julian's attempts to restore idolatry.. 86

Reign of Julian; his zeal for Paganism; he attempts to restore

Paganism;-The means he employed to overthrow Christianity ;—-
The Christians secretly persecuted;-Julian attempts to rebuild the

temple;—his artful proceedings his attempts to deceive the Chris-

tian soldiers;-his incessant activity.

CHAP. IX. The Church under Julian

Julian patronises the heretics;-Cæsarius ;-Valentinian ;

Many Christians resist Paganism;-Cæsarea ;-Antioch ;-Mark ;-
George of Alexandria ;-Athanasius is restored;-Lucifer ;-Julian
causes Athanasius to be again banished;-Julian invades Persia;
he is slain ;-Remarks on his character.

CHAP. X. The Church under Jovian

Jovian openly professes Christianity; his faithful adherence to

his word;-Indecorous triumph of some Christians ;- Decline of

Paganism;-Christianity re-established ;--Athanasius recalled ;—

The Arians oppose him ;-The character of Jovian.

96

110

CHAP. XI. The Christian Church under Valens.—

The death, character, and writings of Athanasius..119

Arianism again prevails ;-The Novatians persecuted by the

Arians;-Council at Laodicea ;-Eighty orthodox ministers mur-
dered by order of Valens ;-Deatn of Athanasius;-Remarks on
his writings;-The Arians persecute the orthodox in Egypt and
other countries;--Eusebius of Samosata ;-Death of Valens.