Io Forbesii a Corse, Instructiones historico-theologica de doctrina christiana. Amstel. 1702.

Arnoldi Montani, Forbesius contractus, sive compendium Instructionum historico-theologicum-Forbesii. Amstel. 8vo.

Manual of christian dogmatic history, (in German,) by W. Münscher. Vol. I. and II. ed. 3d. Marpurg, 1817-18.vol. III. ed. 2d. ibid. 1818. vol. IV. ibid. 1809.

Elements of christian dogmatic history, (in German,) by John Chr. Wil. Augusti. Lips. 1805. 8vo.

Manual of christian dogmatic history, (Danish,) by F. Münter; (German,) by J. P. G. Ewers. II. vol. 8vo. Gottingen, 1802-04.

C. Works by Unitarians.

History of the corruptions of christianity, by Joseph Priestley, LL. D. 3d ed. Boston, 1797. II. vols. 12mo.

II. Works on the history of Dogmatics.

J. S. Semler's historical Introduction to theology; (in German,) prefixed to S. J. Baumgarten's evangelischer Glaubenslehre. Halle, 1759-60. III. vol. 4to.

Essay of a History of the various methods of teaching the articles of the christian faith, and of the most noticeable systems and compendiums of theology; (in German,) by Ch. Gottl. Heinrich. Lips. 1790.

Full instructions in the christian faith; (in German,) by Ch. Fr. Ammon. I. vol. in 2 parts. Nuremb. and Altorf.

1808.

III. Ecclesiastical Histories, which are most valuable for dogmatic history.

Ecclesiastica Historia per aliquot pios et studiosos viros in urbe Magdeburgica, Bas. 1559-74. XIII. Tomi. Fol. Caes. Baronii, Annales Ecclesiastici. Romæ 1588-1607. XII. vol. Fol. Odorici Raynaldi, Annales Eccles. Rom. 1646-76. X. vol. Fol. Both together, Lucca, 1738-1759. XXXVIII. vol. Fol.

Natalis Alexandri, Historia Ecclesiastica; Paris 1776-86. XXVI. vol. 8vo. Venet, 1778. XI. vol. Fol.

James Basnage, History of the Church; (in French,) 1699. II. Vol. Fol.

Jo. Matth. Schroeckh, Christian church History; (in German,) 1768-1810. XLV. vol. 8vo.

J. E. Ch. Schimdt, Manual of christian church History; (in German; to the Reformation,) VI. vol. 8vo. Giessen and Darmst. 1801-20.

A. Neander, General history of the christian religion and church; (in German,) 1825. IV. vol. 8vo. to be continued.

IV. Systems of Theology, which contain something of dogmatic history.

J Gerhardi, Loci theologici denuo edidit J. Fried. Cotta. Tubing. 1762-69. XXII. vol. 4to.

G. F. Seileri, Theologia dogmatico-polemica, cum compendio histor. dogmat. 3d. ed. Erl. 1789. 8vo.

I. F. Gruner, Institutionum theologia dogmaticæ, I—III. Hallae, 1777. 8vo.

I. Christopher Doederlein, Institutio theologi christiani in capitibus religionis theoreticis ; ed. 6, Altorf. 1799. II. vols. 8vo.

Elements of theology and of dogmatical history; (in German,) by C. Fr. Stäudlin, 3d ed. 1809. 8vo.

Commentarii historici decretorum religionis christianæ et formulæ Lutheriæ, scripsit Christ. Dan. Beck. Lips. 1801. 8vo.

I. A. L. Wegscheider, Institutiones theol. christ. dogmataticæ, addita singulorum dogmatum historia et censura ; ed. 2, Hallae, 1817. 8vo.

SEC. 8. Method in dogmatic history.

Since it has been admitted, that dogmatic history is not to be regarded as a mere appendage to church history or to dogmatic theology, but that it deserves to be treated independently; different methods for its execution have been proposed, and some of them have been put in practice. Some writers prefer a mere chronological arrangement; others a classification of the materials; and others again would combine both. The objects of an elementary history may perhaps be best secured, by as

suming certain long periods of time; and by giving, first a general view of the state of theology, and then a historical account of the principal doctrines held in each period. It appears not unsuitable, to make three periods: I. The early ages, A. D. 1-600. II. The middle ages, A. D. 600-1517. III. Modern times, A. D. 1517down to the present day.

Remark. On method in dogmatic history, see J. Chr. W.

Augusti neuen theol. Blättern, vol. II. P. II. p. 11-22. W. M. L. de Wette über Religion und Theologie. Berlin, 1815, 8vo. P. II. cap. iv. von der Christlichen Dogmengeschichte, p. 167-193.

FIRST PERIOD.

THE EARLY AGES. A. D. 1-600.

Works. J. S. Semler's historical Introduction, (in German,) prefixed to S.J. Baumgarten's Untersuchungen theologischer Streitigkeiten. Halle, 1762-64. III. vol. 4to. Doctrinal belief of the christian church in the three first centuries; (in German, by Ch. Fr. Rösler.) Frankf. 1775. 8vo. Rösler's Library of the Fathers, in translations and abridgments; (in German,) Lips, 1776–86. X. vol. 8vo. G. D. Fuch's Library of the ecclesiastical Councils; (in German,) Lips, 1780-84. IV. vol. 8vo.

Essays on the dogmatic history of the ancient Greek church, to the time of Clemens Alexandrinus; (in German, by J. Fr. Gaab.) Jena, 1790. 8vo.

A full history of doctrines, as held by the Fathers; (in German,) by Sam. Gottl. Lange. 1 vol. Lips, 1796.

History of the faith of Christians, from the age of Athanasius, to Gregory the Great; (in German,) by J. Chr. Fr. Wundemann. Lips, 1798-99. II. vol. 8vo.

Antiquity of ecclesiastical doctrines; (in German,) by J. Ulir. Röder. Coburg, 1812. 8vo.

PART I.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE STATE OF THEOLOGY.

SEC. 9. Jesus Christ.

The Jewish nation was distinguished from the surrounding nations, by giving homage to the one God, in accordance with their sacred books; with a splendid worship and numerous ceremonies. As the original character of the Mosaic religion was disfigured by speculations, by narrow conceptions, and immoral practices, JESUS CHRIST appeared, as one sent from God, for the purpose of estab

MUENSCHER'S ELEMENTS, ETC.

25

lishing a kingdom of God on the earth. His doctrine was simple and practical, and was exhibited as occasions drew it forth. Yet in compass and extent, it far surpassed the Jewish; and it embraced the superlative germs of truth, for the profounder reflection and investigations of the succeeding ages.

Reference. Fr. V. Reinhard on the plan which the founder of the christian religion devised, for the benefit of mankind; (in German,) 4th ed. 1798.

SEC. 10. The Apostles.

The apostles, who continued to propagate and spread the doctrines of Christ, and who were led by their circumstances to explain those doctrines more fully, compensated for their lack of a learned education by their deep feeling, their noble spirit, and their devout sense of religion. Notwithstanding it has been questioned, whether they all, with equal success, penetrated into the whole system of their master's doctrine, yet it is certain that the Spirit of Jesus animated them all. Paul, who was one of them, and the most active among them, employed his Jewish learning in explaining and enforcing christianity.*

SEC. 11. Opinions of the early Christians.

The views and the convictions of such as united with the christians, in the earliest times, could not but be exceedingly various and unlike; for they had differed extremely in religion, in education, in habits, and other circumstances; and it must have been a considerable time, before the community could annihilate, or even diminish greatly, the peculiarities of individuals. Here, labored zealous teachers, (the apostolic fathers,) in the true spirit

*Had the translator felt himself at liberty to express his own views, he would in this section have given far more distinctness and prominence to those miraculous gifts, or that divine inspiration, which Christ promised to his disciples, to qualify them for their office. But such liberty was not allowable in a translation: and the translator begs leave to remind the reader, that the private opinions and theological hypotheses, occasionally appearing among the historical facts in different parts of the work, are always those of the author, who alone is responsible for them.