The Theology of the Early Christian Church

travagances of heretics, the false Messiah Barcochebas gave vent to the enmity of the Jews. The Apologies of Justin Martyr, Athenagoras, and others, seem to have made a favourable impression on the rulers of the world.

Of the philosophical emperors, Antoninus Pius, under the influence of a refined heathenism, gave some repose to the afflicted church; but Aurelius, about the middle of the second century, allowed, if he did not instigate, the persecutions that raged, about the year 177, when Polycarp, Justin, and the martyrs of Lyons and Vienne in France, sealed the truth with their blood. During this period Irenæus wrote. The reign of Septimus Severus is infamous for the cruelties exercised against the Christians, at least towards the beginning of the third century, when Clemens Alexandrinus, Origen, and Tertullian, bear witness to the talents, industry, and sufferings of the church.

Alexander Severus, about the year 220, gave repose to the Christians, under the wise counsels of his mother Mammæa; and as Philip the Arabian has been strangely called a Christian, it may be presumed he was not a persecutor. The cruelties of Decius first gave the character to the latter part of the third century, which presents a stirring field to the civil historian, but to the eye of a Christian is a mere aceldama, a field of blood.

EDITIONS OF THE WORKS QUOTED.

Le Clerc's Edition of Cotelerius' Apostolical Fathers. 2 vols.

fol. Antverpiæ, 1700.

Justini Philosophi et Martyris Opera.

Athenagora Atheniensis.

Theophili Antiocheni.

Tatiani Assyrii.

Fol. Paris, 1636.

Justini Philosophi et Martyris Apologiæ duæ et Dialogus cum Tryphone Judæo cum notis et emendationibus. Styani Thirlbii. Lond. 1722.

Sancti Irenæi Lugdunensis Episcopi et Martyris adversus Hæreses libri quinque. Lutet. Paris, 1675.

Clementis Alexandrini Opera quæ extant. Frederico Sylburgio. Lugd. Batav., 1616.

Origenis contra Celsum, libri octo. Gulielmus Spencerus Versionem recognovit, et Annotationes adjecit. Cant. 1677.

M. Minucii Felicis Octavius. Cant. 1707.

Q. Septimii Florentis Tertulliani Opera. Recensuit Joh. Salomo Semler. Halæ Magd. volumen primum typis recusum, 1827.

Sancti Coecilii Cypriani Opera recognita et illustrata, per Joann. Oxon. Epis. Bremæ, 1690.

Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ Scriptores Græci.

Eusebius, &c., Curâ Henr. Valesii. Amst. 1695.

D. Aurelii Augustini Opera. 10 vol. Basileæ, 1529.

ADVERTISEMENT.

(BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY.)

THE CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY was established with a view to the promotion of Ecclesiastical, Theological, and Biblical Literature, in that religious connexion with whose friends and supporters it originated. It was also designed to secure a convenient locality for such associations as had previously existed, or might hereafter exist, for the purpose of advancing the literary, civil, and religious interests of that section of the Christian Church to which it was appropriated. Without undervaluing the advantages of union, either with Evangelical Protestants, or Protestant Nonconformists, on such grounds as admit of liberal co-operation, it was nevertheless deemed expedient to adopt measures for facilitating the concentration and efficiency of their own denomination. In connexion with these important objects, it was thought desirable to institute a LECTURE, partaking rather of the character of Academic prelections than of popular addresses, and embracing a Series of Annual Courses of Lectures, to be delivered at the Library, or, if necessary, in some contiguous place of worship. In the selection of Lecturers, it was judged proper to appoint such as, by their literary attainments and ministerial reputation, had rendered service to the cause of divine truth in the consecration of their talents to "the defence and confirmation of the gospel." It was also supposed, that some might be found possessing a high order of intellectual competency and moral worth, imbued with an ardent love of biblical science, or eminently conversant with theological and ecclesiastical

literature, who, from various causes, might never have attracted that degree of public attention to which they are entitled, and yet might be both qualified and disposed to undertake courses of lectures on subjects of interesting importance, not included within the ordinary range of pulpit instruction. To illustrate the evidence and importance of the great doctrines of Revelation; to exhibit the true principles of philology in their application to such doctrines; to prove the accordance and identity of genuine philosophy with the records and discoveries of Scripture; and to trace the errors and corruptions which have existed in the Christian Church to their proper sources, and, by the connexion of sound reasoning with the honest interpretation of God's holy Word, to point out the methods of refutation and counteraction, are amongst the objects for which "the Congregational Lecture" has been established. The arrangements made with the Lecturers are designed to secure the publication of each separate course, without risk to the Authors; and, after remunerating them as liberally as the resources of the Institution will allow, to apply the profits of the respective publications in aid of the Library. It is hoped that the liberal, and especially the opulent friends of Evangelical and Congregational Nonconformity will evince, by their generous support, the sincerity of their attachment to the great principles of their Christian profession; and that some may be found to emulate the zeal which established the "Boyle," the "Warburton," and the "Bampton" Lectures in the National Church. These are legitimate operations of the "voluntary principle" in the support of religion, and in perfect harmony with the independency of our Churches, and the spirituality of the kingdom of Christ.

The Committee deem it proper to state, that whatever responsibility may attach to the reasonings or opinions advanced in any course of lectures, belongs exclusively to the Lecturer.

CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY, Blomfield Street, Finsbury, Sept. 1841.

CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

General view of those sources, p. 5. Ecclesiastical writers in the order

of time. Author of the letter to Diognetus, 6-10. Clemens Roma-

nus, 10-17. Ignatius, 17-21. Polycarp, 21-23. Justin Martyr,

23-25. Tatian, 25-26. Theophilus of Antioch, 26, 27. Athena-

goras, 27, 28. Irenæus, 28-33. Clemens Alexandrinus, 33-36.

Origen, 36-39. Minucius Felix, 39-42. Tertullian, 43-47.

Cyprian, 47-49. Translators of Scripture, Latin and Syriac,
Apocryphal writings,

49-51.