Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from History of the Christian Church From the Fourth to the Twelfth Century
The prophecies of jesus christ regarding his Church,1 the pre Ago, 306, parations made by Him, prior to His ascension, for its establish ment,2 the causes of the opposition to which His religion was Introductory subjected during the earlier ages of the Church,3 the calumnies Remar with which His disciples were assailed, and the persecutions which they heroically and patiently endured} have already en gaged our attention. The recollection of these things, taken in connection with the preliminary observations concerning the ecclesiastical history of the fourth century contained in the im mediately preceding chapter, must have prepared the reader to expect some great change in the position of the Church. It had weathered a storm of great tribulations. The ten persecutors Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Antonine, Severus, Maximin, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian - had almost exhausted the virulence of hate against it, but without success. And though treated by the Roman state as the off-scouring of all things,5 the Christians had asyet presented a noble spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men of steadfastness and patient endurance. Is the era of Christ nearly run, then? The maxim by which that may be decided Christians themselves have uttered, viz., for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow i Judged upon this principle, grandly impartial in its spirit, what opinion must we form regarding the future of the Church One would say - such persecution cannot much longer be withstood without the whole body of sufferers being looked upon as leagued revolters against the civil power, and thus bringing down upon themselves the whole force of the iron despotism of the State to subdue or exterminate them all; and then, faith failing, defections must multiply, and apostacies increase, till the power and in?uence of the new faith be diminished and, at last, utter and. Irretrievable disorganization must result in defeat and submission. In a con tention for mastery in the State, such a minority must succumb.
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