Columbia Hnibersiitp in tfje Citp of i^etu Borfe LIBRARY GIVEN BY Dr. James Peck X K'r ly INSTITUTES OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, ANCIENT AND MODERN, IN FOUR B ooKs, ^,1 y MUCH CORRECTED, ENLARGED, AND IMPROVED FROM THE PRIMARY AUTHORITIES. \ BY JOHN LAWRENCE VON MOSHEIM, D.D., CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTTINGEN. V • r ' \ ' A ^'EW AND LITERAL TRANSLATION, FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, WITH COPIOUS ADDITIONAL NOTES, ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. BY JAMES MURDOCK, D.D. '- . .N THREE VOLUMES. V VOL. I. THIRD EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. H £' \ •- - ..M lr:,\N-^c NEW.YORK: . * HARPEH & JBROTHERS. 52 CLIFF-STREET. xT'-M-V^ .i84V-^;&l-v^ ^' U». '^.t^t t-t ^ \ c^ \ s ;. . -i l\ 10. K i::^ C Gift Dr. JAMES PIflH June 7 lOr^ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1839, by James Murdock, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of Connecticut District. .'.\ TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. To produce a general history of the Christian church, adapted es- pecially to the wants of the younger clergy, but suitable for intelligent readers of all classes, a history so comprehensive as to touch on all the more important facts, briefly indeed, but distinctly, with suitable enlargement on the points of peculiar interest, and a constant reference to authorities and to the writers who give more full information, so that the work, while itself affording a good general knowledge of the whole subject, might serve as a guide to more thorough investigations ; —such was the design of Dr. Mosheim in the following work, and such has been the aim of the present translator. The great need of such a work at the present day, when every other branch of theology is much cultivated, is so generally felt, that it is unnecessary to say anything to evince its importance or to excite an interest on the subject. The only things, therefore, which here claim attention, are the character and history of Dr. Mosheim, the reasons for giving a new translation of his work, and the additions made to it by way of notes. John Lawrence von Mosheim was nobly born at Lubec, October 9, 1694. His education was completed at the university of Kiel, where, at an early age, he became professor of philosophy. In his youth he cultivated a taste for poetry ; and he actually published criticisms on that subject. But pulpit eloquence, biblical and historical theology, and practical religion, were his favourite pursuits. He published seven volumes of sermons, and left a valuable treatise on preaching, which was printed after his death. The English and French preachers, par- ticularly Tillotson and Watts, Saurin, Massillon, and Flechier, were his models. The Germans admit that he contributed much to improve the style and manner of preaching in their country. While a professor at Kiel, he gained such reputation that the King of Denmark invited him to a professorship at Copenhagen. But the Duke of Brunswick soon after, in the year 1725, called him to the divinity chair at Helm- stadt, which he filled with great applause for twenty-two years. In 1747, when George II. king of England, the founder of the university of Gottingen, wished to place over that institution men of the highest rank in the literary world, Dr. Mosheim was deemed worthy to be its chancellor, and the head of the department of theology. In this hon- ourable station he remained eight years, or till his death, September 9, 1755. His works were very numerous ; consisting of translations into Latin or German of various foreign works, Italian, French, Eng- IV TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. iish, and Greek, with learned notes ; an immense number of disqui- sitions relating to historical, dogmatic, and moral subjects; besides orations, sermons, letters, &c. On church history, in which he most distinguished himself, he published, among other works, two volumes of essays on detached subjects ; and a compendious church history, in two volumes, 12mo ; a full church history of the first century, 4to ; Commentary on the affairs of Christians till the times of Constantine, 4to ; and he had just published the revision and enlargement of his compendious church history, under the new title of Institutes of Ec- clesiastical History, ancient and modern, in one volume, 4to, when he was removed by death, at the age of 61. The character of Dr. Mosheim is thus given by his disciple and translator, /. R. ScJilegel " We may have had, perhaps, biblical in- terpreters, who, like Ernesti and Michaelis, expounded the Scriptures with more philosophical and critical learning ; perhaps, also, theolo- gians and moralists who have treated dogmatic and practical theology with more metaphysical precision; we may likewise have had, and perhaps still have, pulpit orators, who, among the many unsuccessful imitators of Mosheim's method, have even rivalled him, and perhaps come nearer to that ideal perfection which he wished to see realized. But in ecclesiastical history, the merits of Mosheim are so decisive and peculiar, that I will not venture to compare him with any who preceded or followed him in this department of learning. He is, as Schroeckh says, our first real historian in church history."* Dr. Madaine informs us that, after he had commenced his translation, he received a letter from Bishop Warburton, saying, " Mosheim' s com- pendiimi is excellent, the method admirable ; in short, the only one deserving the name of an ecclesiastical history. It deserves and needs frequent notes. '"' Mosheim's Institutes, as well as most of his other historical works, being written in Latin, were accessible to learned foreigners. And Dr. Archibald Madaine, the son of a dissenting minister in the north of Ireland, and himself an assistant minister to an English congrega- tion at the Hague, published an English translation of these Institutes so early as the year 1764, only nine years after the appearance of the original. Dutch and French translations were also made ; but I know not by whom or at what time. In 1769, /. A. C. von Einemy a pious but not profound German minister, commenced his German translation of the Institutes. His design was to bring down the work to the capacities of the unlearned, and to render it an edifying book for common Christians. Accordingly, he omitted nearly all the marginal references and discussions, and introduced much religious biography and historical detail. His translation fills six vols. 8vo, and the continuation of the history three additional volumes. In the year 1770, John R. Schlcgel, rector of the gymnasium of Heilbronn, a learned and judicious man, commenced another German translation, which is very literal and close, free from all interpolations, and ac- * Schlegel's Mosheim, vol. i., Preface. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. V companied with learned notes. This translation, in four large volumes 8vo, was completed in 1780; and a continuation of the history, in two volumes, appeared in 1784 and 1788. The lectures and the printed works of Mosheim on ecclesiastical history kindled up such ardour for this science in Germany, that, in the course of fifty years, Baumgarten, Semler, Schroeckh, Ilenke, and ScJujiidt, severally, produced large and valuable church histories. Of these, the most full and complete is that of Schroeckh, a pupil of Mo- sheim, continued by Tzschirner, in forty-five vols. 8vo. And next, that of Henke, continued by Vater, in nine vols. 8vo. Nor has the ardour for this branch of theology yet subsided in Germany ; for Pro- fessor Neander, of Berlin, is now publishing a profound and philosoph- ical church history, which, if completed on the plan commenced, will probably fill twenty-five or thirty volumes 8vo. The limits assigned to this preface will not allow a discussion of the merits of these sev- eral successors of Mosheim. Suffice it to say, that a careful exami- nation of them all has resulted in the decided conviction that Mo- sheim's history, in a form similar to that given to it by Schlegel, is the best adapted to the wants of this country, and the most likely to meet general approbation among the American clergy. The necessity for a new English version of the Institutes arises principally from the unauthorized liberties taken by the former trans- lator, under the mistaken idea of improving the work and rendering it more acceptable to the public. He says in his preface : " The style of the original is by no means a model to imitate in a ivork dc' sig7ied for general use. Dr. Mosheim affected brevity, and laboured to crowd many things into few loords : thus his diction, though pure and correct, became sententious and harsh, without that harmony which 'pleases the ear, and those transitions luhich make a narration flow with ease. This being the case, I have so7netimes taken con- siderable liberties with my author, and followed the spirit of his nar- rative without adhering strictly to the letter : and have often added a few sentences to render an observation more striking, a fact more clear, a portrait more finished. ^^ Thus Dr. Maclaine frankly owns, that his chief design was to render the work interesting to those superficial readers who delight in that harmony which pleases the ear, and in those transitions which make a narration flow with ease ; and that he often added a few sentences of his own, to give more vivacity and point to the sentiments of his author, or more splendour to their dress. And whoever will be at the pains of comparing his translation with the original, may see that he has essentially changed the style, and greatly coloured and altered in many places the sentiments of his author ; in short, that he has paraphrased rather than translated a large part of the work. The book is thus rendered heavy and te- dious to the reader by its superfluity of words, and likewise obscure and indefinite, and sometimes self-contradictory, by the looseness of its unguarded statements. Its credibility also as a history of facts is impaired, and it fails of carrying full conviction to the mind, because vl TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. it is stripped of its native simplicity, precision, and candour. For no wise man will confide in a writer wlio appears intent on fabricating sonorous and flowing periods, who multiplies splendid epithets, and. habitually deals in loose and unqualified assertions. Nor is this all, for the old translation has actually exposed Dr. Mosheim to severe and unmerited censure from different quarters : and Dr. Madaine has long stood accused before the public as a translator " who has inter- woven his own sentiments in such a manner with those of the original author, both in the notes and in the text, that it is impossible for a mere English reader to distinguish them ; and in diverse instances he has entirely contradicted him. This (add the accusers) w^iU be evident to all, if a literal translation of Mosheim shall ever be pub- lished."* It is not strange, therefore, that so large a portion of the community have been dissatisfied with Dr. Maclaine's Mosheim, and liave desired a more faithful and literal version of this valuable author. If the translation here offered to the public, is what it was intended to be, it is a close, literal version, containing neither more nor less than the original, and presenting the exact thoughts of the author in the same direct, artless, and lucid manner, with as much similarity in the phraseology and modes of expression as the idioms of the two languages would admit. That all the elegances of the Latin style and diction of the author have been retained, is not pretended. The translator can only say he has aimed to give Mosheim, as far as he was able, the same port and mien in English as he has in Latin. But writing out an entirely new and independent translation of the Institutes has not been half the labour bestowed on the work. Every- where the statements of Mosheim have been compared with the sources from which they were drawn, and with the representations of other standard writers of different communities, so far as the means of doing this were at hand. The reasonings also of Mosheim have been w^eighed with care. And nothing has been suffered to go before the public, without first passing an examination by the best criteria within the reach of the translator. Often days and weeks have been consumed in such examinations, when the results were, that Mosheim's statements needed no correction, or at least that no palpable errors were discovered in them, and it was therefore thought advisable to allow him to express his own views without note or comment. But, in many instances, the translator supposed that he discovered such mistakes or defects in his author as called for animadversion. In these cases he has given, in the form of notes, such statements and criticisms as he deemed necessary. Numerous other instances occurred in which Mosheim was found to differ from other standard writers, or to have simply omitted what the translator or others deemed worth inserting; and in such cases the opinions or statements of other writers have been given, that the reader might be able to compare them, and the omitted matter has been supplied. In the history of the primitive churchy for two or three centuries, the translator deemed almost every- * See the New-York edition of Maclaine's Mosheim, in 1824, vol. iv., p. 284. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. -vii thing interesting which can be learned with any degree of certainly. Accordingly, his notes and animadversions here are more frequent and minute than in the subsequent parts of the work. — In regard to what are called the fathers, especially those of the four first centuries, and likewise the leading men in the church in all ages, he has deemed it proper greatly to enlarge the account given by Mosheim ; not so much by minutely tracing the history of their private lives, as by more fully stating their public characters and acts, and mentioning such of their works as have come down to us. In no one respect has the history been more enlarged than in this. Through all the ages down to the reformation, the eminent men, whom Mosheim thought proper to name particularly, have each a distinct note assigned them, containing all of much importance which can be said of them ; and in each century, at the close of Mosheim's list of eminent men, nearly a complete catalogue of all those omitted by him is subjoined, with brief notices of the most material things known concerning them. ■ — On the controversies and disputes among Christians, especially such as related to religious doctrines, much and critical attention has been bestowed. So also the reputed heresies, and the diflferent sects of professed Christians, which Mosheim had treated with great fulness and ability, have been carefully re-examined and subjected to critical remarks. Here great use has been made of the writers who suc- ceeded Mosheim, and particularly of the younger Walch. — The prop- agation of Christianity, especially among the nations of Europe in the middle ages, and among the Asiatics by the Nestorians, has been the subject of frequent and sometimes long notes. — The origin and history of the reformation, particularly in countries not of the Augs- burg confession; also the contests between the Lutherans and the Reformed, and the history of the English and Scotch churches, and of the English dissenters, have received particular attention ; and the occasional mistakes of Mosheim have been carefully pointed out. Yet the enlargements of the history since the times of Luther, and partic- ularly during the seventeenth century, have been the less considerable, because there was danger of swelling the third volume to a dispro- portionate size, and because another opportunity is anticipated foi supplying these omissions. These remarks may give some idea of the extensive additions to the original by way of notes. All additions to the work are carefully distinguished from the original by being enclosed in brackets. They are also accompanied by a notice of the persons responsible for their truth and correctness. What the translator gives as his own, he sub- scribes with a Tr. When he borrows from others, which he has done very largely, he either explicitly states what is borrowed, and from whom, or subjoins the name of the author. Thus several notes are bor- rowed directly from Maclaine; and these are not only marked as quo- tations, but they have the signature Mach annexed. A few others are translated from Von Einems Mosheim ; and these have the signature Von Ein, affixed. But the learned and judicious Schlegel has been viii TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. taxed for the greatest amount of contributions. Throughout the work his notes occur, translated from the German, and with the signature ScJiI. annexed. The work is now divided, perhaps for the first time, into th7'ee volumes of nearly equal size, each embracing a grand and distinct period of church history, strongly marked with its own peculiar char- acteristics ; and, being furnished with a separate index, each volume is a complete and independent work of itself. A continuation of the history to the present time is deemed so im- portant, that the translator intends, if his life and health are spared, to attempt a compilation of this sort as soon as the printing of these volumes shall be completed. New-Haverij February 22, 1832. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. The first edition of this work, consisting of fifteen hundred copies, was published by A. H. Maltby, a worthy bookseller of New-Haven, towards the close of the year 1832. At the same time, two stereotype editions of Dr. Maclaine's Mosheim were thrown before the public, at very reduced prices ; and no pains were spared by the interested booksellers to give them currency. But notwithstanding this stren- uous competition, and the supervening commercial embarrassments of the country, with no special efforts to give it circulation, and no patronage but what was voluntarily afforded by the friends of theo- looical science and by a discerning and candid public, the new Mo- sheim had a regular and constant sale, at its original price, till the whole edition was exhausted; and the work is now received with fa- vour in all parts of the country, and is adopted as a text-book in near- ly every Protestant theological seminary on this side the Atlantic. For this very kind reception of his work, the author feels himself under great obligations to the enlightened public who have passed so favourable a judgment upon it : and he would now offer them the best return he can make, a new edition of the work, carefully revised, and somewhat enlarged, and, as he hopes, more worthy of approbation, and better suited to the wants of students in this branch of theology. The translation has been again compared with the original, through- out, sentence by sentence, and subjected to a rigid criticism. In a very few instances, it was discovered, that a word or clause of the original had been overlooked in the translation ; and that in several instances, the import of the original had been inadequately or ob- scurely expressed. Yet no very important departure from the sense of the original author, has been discovered. Nearly all the numerous alterations and changes, therefore, relate to the phraseology, or to the choice of words and the structure of the sentences. The difficulty of combining a neat and perspicuous anglicism with a close adhe- rence to the sense and to the very form of thought in the original, throughout so large a work, must be obvious to all who have had ex- perience in the business of translating; and they will not need to be told, that numberless corrections and improvements will always occur to a translator, who revises his work after a lapse of several years. In this manner, the diction and the style of this edition, it is believed, have been considerably improved, without any sacrifice of fidelity ia Vol. I.—B X ADVERTISEMENT. the translation. If it be not so, more than half a year's labour has been expended unsuccessfully. The references, to a considerable extent, and where the means were at hand, have been verified ; and a considerable number of er- rors, some occasioned by the transcription, but more by the mistakes of the printers, have been corrected. Many new references to au thorities and to modern authors, have also been added, in various parts of the work ; and these, it is hoped, will add considerably to the value of the present edition. Several topics have likewise been subjected to further investiga tion : and some new notes, of no inconsiderable length, have been added, especially in the first vol. of the work. See, for example, the notes on the Meletian controversy^ p. 269, &c. ; — on the origin of the Christian festivals, and particularly that of Christmas, p. 279, &c. ; — on the life and labours of St. Patrick, the apostle of Ireland, p. 316, &c. ; — and on the character and life of Mohammed, the progress of his religion, and the sects among his followers ; both in the text and in the notes, p. 427-434. The new matter in this edition amounts, probably, to fifteen or twenty pages in the three volumes. At the same time, by enlarging the pages a little, by greater economy in regard to blank spaces, and by giving the text in a type a trifle smaller, the number of pages in each of the volumes is less than in the former edition. The notes are also printed in double columns, which is not only favourable to economy in the printing, but will render the perusal of the longer notes less laborious to the eye. Lastly, the exclusive publication of the work during ten years, having been assigned to one of the most distinguished publishing houses in America, and that house having undertaken to stereotype the work ; great pains have been taken, both by the publishers and the author, to secure more accuracy in the printing of this edition, than was attained in the former edition. New-Haven, 1839. THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. My Institutes of Christian History (\) having been long out of print, the worthy person at whose expense they were published has often requested me to give a new edition of them, somewhat improved and enlarged. This request I for many years resisted ; for I was re- luctant to suspend other works then on my hands, which were deemed more important; besides, I must acknowledge that I shrunk from the irksome task of correcting and enlarging a book which needed so much amendment. The importunities of the publisher, however, and of other friends who joined with him, at length overcame my tardi- ness ; and now, after the leisure hours of two years have been spent on the work, it is brought to a close ; and these Institutes of Eccle- siastical History now make their appearance, not only in a new form and dress, but so materially changed as to be almost entirely a new work. The distribution of the materials under certain heads, which I once deemed the best form for :he learner, is still retained ; for, notwith- standing weighty reasons have occurred to my mind for preferring a continuous and unbroken narration, I have chosen to follovvr the judg- ment of those excell^int men whom experience has led to prefer the former method. And, indeed, a little reflection must convince us, that whoever would embrace in a single book all the facts and obser- vations necessary to a full acquaintance with the state of the church in every af^e of it, must, of course, adopt some classification and dis- tribution of those facts ; and as such was the design of the following work, I have left its primitive form unchanged, and have directed my attention solely to the correction, improvement, and enlargement of the work, so as to render it a more useful book. My principal care has been to impart fidelity and authority to the narration. For this purpose I have gone to the primary sources of information, such as the best writers of all ages who lived in or near the dmes they describe ; and I have consulted them with attention, and have transcribed from them, whenever they were sufficiently con- cise, and, at the same time, clear and nervous. It is often the case, that those who write summaries of history only abridge the more voluminous historians ; and this method I myself before pursued to a considerable degree. But such a procedure, though sometimes (1) [A work in 2 vols. 12mo, first pub- by J. P. Miller, in 1 vol. 12rao. Hamb., Ushed in 1737-41 ; and afterward abridged 1752.— Tr.] ^j THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE, iuslifiable and not to be \vholly condemned, is attended with this evil, that it perpetuates the mistakes which are apt to abound in very large and voluminous works, by causing them to pass from a single book into numerous others. I had long been apprized of this danger; but I felt it, with no little mortification, when 1 brought the testimony of the best authorities to pour their light on the pages of my own work. I now perceived, that writers pre-eminent for their diligence and fidel- ity are not always to be trusted ; and I found, that I had abundant oc- casion for adding, expunging, changing, and correcting in every part of my book. In performing this task, I know that 1 have not been want- ino- in patience and industry, or in watchfulness and care ; but whether these have secured me against all mistakes, which is confessedly of no easy accomplishment, I leave them to judge who are best informed in ecclesiastical affairs. To aid persons disposed to institute such inquiries, I have, in general, made distinct reference to my authori- ties ; and if I have perverted their testimony, either by misstatement or misapplication, 1 confess myself to be less excusable than other transfrressors in this way, because I had before me all the authors whom I quote, and I turned them over, and read, and compared them -with each other, being resolv^^d to follow solely their guidance. This effort to render my history faithful and true, that is, exactly coincident with the statements of the most credible witnesses, has caused many and various changes and additions throughout the work; but in no part of it are the alterations greater or more noticeable than in the Third Book, wdiich contains the history of the church, and especially of the Latin or Western Church, from the time of Charle- inao-ne to the reformation by Luther. This period of ecclesiastical history, though it embraces great events, and is very important on account of the light it casts on the origin and c-aiises of the present civil and religious state of Europe, thereby enabling us correctly to estimate and judge of many things that occur in oui own times, has not hitherto been treated with the same clearness, solidity, and ele- gance, as the other parts of church history. Here the number of orif^inal writers is great; yet few of them are in common use, or of easy acquisition, and they all frighten us either with their bulk, the barbarity of their style, or their excessive price ; not a few of them, loo, either knowingly or ignorantly, corrupt the truth, or at least ob- scure it by their ignorance and unskilfulness ; and some of them have not yet been published. It is not strange, therefore, that many things in this part of ecclesiastical history should have been either silently passed over or less happily stated and explained, even by the most laborious and learned authors. Among these, the ecclesiastical annal- ists and the historians of the monastic sects, so famous in the Roman church, as Baronius, Raynald, Bzovius, Manriqicez, Wadding, and others, though richly supplied with ancient manuscripts and records, have often committed more faults and fallen into greater mistakes, than writers far inferior to them in learning, reputation, and means of information. Having therefore bestowed much attention during many THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. xiii years on the history of the church from the eighth century onward and beheving that 1 had obtained, from works pubhshed or still in manuscript, a better and more correct knowledge of many events than is given in the common accounts of those times, I conceived that I might do service to the cause of ecclesiastical history by exhibiting to the world some of the results of my investigations ; and 'that, by throwing some light on the obscure period of the Middle Ages, I might excite men of talents and industry to pursue the same object, and thus to perfect the history of the Latin Church. I persuade my- self that I have brought forward some things which are new, or before httle known ; that other things, which had been stated incorrectly or obscurely, I have here exhibited with clearness, and traced back to the proper authorities; and, claiming the indulgence allowed an old man to boast a little, that some things, which were accredited fables, I have now exploded. Whether I deceive myself in all this, or not, the dis- cerning reader may ascertain by examining, and comparing with the common accounts, what I have here said respecting Consiantine's do- nation, the Cathari and Albigenses, the Beghards and Beguines, the Brethren and Sisters of the Free Spirit (that pest to many parts of Europe during four centuries), and of the Fratricelli [or Little Breth- ren], the controversies between the Franciscans and the Roman pon- tiffs, the history of Berengarius and of the Lollards, and several other subjects. If, in these enlargements of ecclesiastical history, and while giving ■views either partially or wholly new, I had used the same brevity as on the subjects well stated and explained by many before me, I should neither have satisfied the inquisitive reader nor have done justice to myself. For I should have appeared to many, as a writer of fables ; and their apprehensions on these subjects would have been indistinct, useless, and fallacious. Therefore, when I have departed widely from the common statements, or advanced apparent novelties I have not only aimed to be very explicit, but, in order to give credi- bility to my narration, have gone into more ample disquisitions and citations of authorities, because full statements and demonstrations though out of place in an epitome of history, were here indispensable. In addition to these causes for changing materially the character and swelling the size, of my book, another occurred soon after I com- menced its revision. I had before designed my work especially for lecturers on church history, who need a compendious text for the basis of their instructions; and had therefore only touched upon many things which I supposed would be dilated and explained more fully by the lecturer. But when I began to revise and correct the work for a new edition, it occurred to me that it would be more satisfactory to many, and better subserve the cause of sacred learning, if the book were adapted not merely to the convenience of lecturers, but also to the wants of those who attempt without a teacher to gain a general knowledge of ecclesiastical history. As soon as this thought occurred, my views were changed ; and I began at once to supply omissions, Xiv THE AUTHOR'S PREFAOK to explain more fully what was obscure, and to give greater precision and distinctness to the whole narration. And hence it is that, in de- scribing the calamities in which the Christians of the first ages were involved, more pains are taken than is commonly done to state pre- cisely the truth ; and in tracing the origin and progress of the sects which disturbed the church, greater accuracy is attempted ; so, like- wise, the new forms of rehgion, devised by those who love new thinos, are calmly and candidly described, and with all possible fideli- ty ; ^nd religious contests and disputes are more clearly stated, and their importance more carefully determined ; and the history of the Roman pontiffs after the times of Charlemagne, their conflicts and their enterprises, have received more careful attention. I mention these as specimens only of what has been attempted, for the advantage of those who cannot" pursue a regular course of church history from their want of books or leisure, and who yet wish to obtain a clear and cor- rect view of the principal facts and transactions. The book, for the most part, may be safely trusted by such readers ; and it will afford them as much"' knowledge as will satisfy one that reads only for prac- tical purposes: and, besides, it will direct to the authors from whom more full information may be obtained. It would be folly, and would betray ignorance of human imperfec- tion, if I should suppose that no errors could be detected, and that nothing needed correction in all the details of so large a history ; yet, conscious of my own integrity and good faith, and of the pains I have taken to avoid mistakes, I cannot but hope, that I have rarely so failed that serious evils will result from my errors. I could add some other prefatory remarks, which would, perhaps, not be useless ; but nothing more need be added to enable those to judge correctly of the present work, who will be candid and ingenu- ous, and who are competent judges in such matters. I therefore conclude by offering the just tribute of my gratitude to Almighty God, who has given me strength, amid the infirmities of age and the pres- sure of other labours and cares, to surmount the difficulties and bear the fatigue of completing the v^ork now given to the public. Gottingen, March 23, 1755. INTRODUCTION. ^ 1. Ecclesiastical History defined.— § 2. Its Divisions.— <^ 3. The External History of the Church, — «J 4. which treats of the prosperous — <5» 5. and the adverse Events. — I 6. The Internal History,— 13. Means of discovering these Causes, general— <$i 14. and particular; in the external— <^ 15. and internal History.— <5i 16. The Sources of Ecclesiastical History. —^ 17. Qualities of the Historian.— <;> 18. He must be free from all Prejudices.— <^ 19. Faults of Historians. — <^ 20. Uses of Ecclesiastical History, general— <^ 21. and special. ^ 22, 23. Method in Ecclesiastical History. Division into Periods — ^ 24. Distribution under Heads. § 1. The Ecclesiastical History of the New Dispensation is a clear and faithful narrative of the external condition, and of the internal state and transactions, of that body of men who have borne the name of Christians ; and in which events are so traced to their causes, that the providence of God may be seen in the establishment and preservation of the church, and the reader's piety, no less than his intelligence, be advanced by the perusal. § 2. The best form of such a history seems to be that, which considers the whole body of Christians as constituting a society or community, sub- jected to lawful authority, and governed by certain laws and institutions. To such a community many external events must happen, which will be favourable to its interests or adverse to them : and, since nothing human is stable and uniform, many things will occur in the bosom of such com- munity tending to change its character. Hence its history may very suit- ably be divided into its external and its internal history. In this manner the history of the Christian community, in order to its embracing all the details and promoting the greatest usefulness, should be divided. § 3. The external history of Christians, or of the Christian community, is properly called a history of the church : and it embraces all the occur- rences and changes which have visibly befallen this sacred society. And as all communities are sometimes prosperous and sometimes meet with adversity, such also has been the lot of Christians. Hence this part of ecclesiastical history is fitly divided into an account of the prosperous and of the calamitous events which Christians have experienced. § 4. The prosperous events, or those tending to the advancement and progress of the Christian interest, proceeded either from the heads and leaders, or from the subordinate members of this community. Its heads and leaders were either public characters, such as kings, magistrates, and sovereign pontiffs ; or private individuals, the doctors, the learned and in- fluential men. Both classes have contributed much, in all ages, to the in- crease of the church. Men in power, by their authority, laws, benefi- cence, and even by their arms, have contributed to establish and enlarge the church. And the doctors, and men of learning, of genius, and emi- nent piety, by their vigorous and noble efforts, their travels, their writings, and their munificence, have successfully recommended the religion of xvi INTRODUCTION. Christ to those ignorant of it. And common Christians, by their faith, their constancy, their piety, their love to God and men, have induced many to become Christians. ^ 5. The calamitous events which have befallen the church, arose either from the fault of Christians, or from the malice and stratagems of their ad- versaries. There is abundant evidence that Christians themselves, and especially those who presided in the church, have brought much evil upon the body by their negligence, their unholy lives, and their strifes and con- tentions. The enemies of Christ's kingdom were also either public or private men. Public enemies, namely, kings and magistrates, by their laws and penalties, obstructed the progress of Christianity. Private man, the philosophers, the idol-worshippers, and the despisers of all religion, assailed the church with false accusations, stratagems, and hostile writings. § 6. The internal history of the Christian church, treats of the changes to which the church in every age has been exposed, in regard to its dis- tinguishing characteristics as a religious society. It may not unsuitably be called the history of the Christian religion. The causes of these inter- nal changes are found, for the most part, in the rulers of the church. These often explained the principles and precepts of Christianity to suit their own fancy or convenience. And as some acquiesced and were sub- missive, while others frequently resisted, divisions and contentions were the coHsequence. 'I o all these subjects the intelligent ecclesiastical his- torian must direct his attention. § 7. The first subject in the internal history of the church, is the history of its rulers and of its government. Originally, the teachers and the peo- ple conjointly administered the affairs of the church. But, in process of time, these teachers assumed a loftier spirit, and, trampling on the rights of the people, they claimed sovereign power, both in sacred and secular affairs. At last, things gradually came to this, that one person held su- preme power over the whole church, or, at least, affected to hold it. Among these prefects and guides of the church, some obtained by their writings pre-eminent fame and influence ; and as they were by after ages regarded as oracles, and blindly followed, they ought to rank among the governors of the church, whether they held offices in it or not. § 8. The history of the laws by which this religious society was gov- erned, naturally follows the history of its ministers. The laws peculiar to the Christian community are of two kinds. Some are divine, proceed- ing from God himself; and these are found written in those books which Christians very properly believe to be divinely inspired. Others are hu- man, or are enactments of the rulers of the community. The former are usually called doctrines, and are divided into two species, namely, doc- trines of faith, which are addressed to the understanding, and moral doc- trines, which address the heart or will. § 9. In the history of these laws or doctrines, it should be our first in- quiry, In what estimation was the sacred volume held from age to age, and how was it interpreted? For in every period, the state of religion among Christians has depended on the reverence paid to the sacred volume, and on the manner of expounding it. We should next inquire how these di- vine instructions and laws were treated ; in what maimer they were incul- cated and explained, defended against gainsayers, or debased and corrupted. The last inquiry is, how far Christians were obedient to these divine laws, INTRODUCTION. xvu or liovv they lived, and what measures were taken by the rulers of the church to restrain the licentiousness of transgressors. § 10. The human laws of which we speak, are prescriptions relating to the external worship of God, or religious riles, whether derived from cus- tom or from positive enactment. Rites either directly appertain to religion, or indirectly refer to it. 'J'he former embrace the whole exterior of re- ligious worship, both public and private. The latter include everything, except direct worship, that is accounted religious and proper. This part of religious history is very extensive, on account of the variety and the fre- quent changes in ceremonies. A concise history, therefore, can only touch upon the subject, without descending into details. § 11. As in civil republics wars and insurrections sometimes break out, so, in the Christian republic, serious commotions have often arisen on ac- count of both doctrines and rites. The leaders and authors of these sedi- tions are called heretics ; and the opinions for which they separated from other Christians are called heresies, 'i'he history of these commotions or heresies should be written with much care. The labour, if expended wisely and with impartiality, will well repay the toil : but it is arduous and difficult. For the leaders of these parties have been treated with much injustice, and their doctrines are misrepresented ; nor is it easy to come at the truth in the midst of so much darkness, since most of the writings of those called heretics are now lost. Those, therefore, who approach this part of church history, should exclude everything invidious from the name of heretic, and should consider it as used in its more general sense, to de- note those who were the occasion, whether by their own or others' fault, of divisions and contests amonff Christians. § 12. In treating of both the external and the internal history of the church, the writer who would be useful, must trace events to their causes ; that is, he must tell us not only what happened, but likewise how and why. He who narrates the naked facts, only enriches our memory and amuses us ; but he who at the same time states the operative causes of events, profits us, for he both strengthens our judgment and increases our wisdom. Yet it must be confessed that caution is here necessary, lest we should fabri- cate causes, and palm our own waking dreams upon the men long since dead. § 13. In exploring the causes of events, besides access to ancient tes- timony and the history of the times, a good knowledge of human nature is requisite. The historian who understands the human character, the pro- pensities and powers, the passions and weaknesses of man, will readily discover the causes of many things attempted or done in former times. No less important is it, to be acquainted with ihe education and the opinions of the persons we treat of; for men commonly regard as praiseworthy and correct, whatever accords with the views and practices of their ancestors and their own sect. § 14. To explore causes in the external history, a historian should con- sider the civil state of the countries in which the Christian religion was either approved or rejected ; and also their religious state, that is, the opin- ions of the mass of the people concerning the Deity and divine worship. For, it will not be difficult to determine why the church was now prosper- ous and now in trouble, if we know what was the form of government, what the character of the rulers, and what the prevailing religion at the time, § 15. To dispel obscurities in the internal history, nothing is more coa- YoL. I.— C xviii INTRODUCTIOiNf. ducive than a knowledge of the history of learning, and especially o{ 'phi- losophy. For, most unfortunately, human learning or philosophy has in every age been allowed more influence in regard to revealed religion than was fit and proper, considering the nature of the two things. iVloreover, a good knowledge of the civil government and of the ancient superstitions of different countries, is useful to the same end. For through the prudence, or, rather, the indiscretion of the presiding authorities, many parts of the discipline and worship of the church have been shaped after the pattern of the ancient religions, and no little deference has been paid to the pleas- ure of sovereigns and to human laws in regulating the churcli of God. § 16. From what sources all this knowledge must be drawn, is quite obvious ; namely, from the writers of every age who have treated of Chris- tian affairs, and especially from those contemporary with the events ; for testimony or authority is the basis of all true history. Yet we ought not to disregard those who, from these sources, have compiled histories and annals. For to refuse proffered assistance, and despise the labours of those who before us have attempted to throw light on obscure subjects, is mere fully.(l) § 17. From all this, it will be easy to determine the essential qualifica- tions of a good ecclesiastical historian. He must have no moderate ac- quaintance with human affairs in general; his learning must be extensive, his mind sagacious and accustomed to reason, his memory faithful, and his judgment sound and matured by long exercise. In his disposition and temperament, he must be patient of labour, persevering, inflexible in his love of truth and justice, and frue from every prejudice. ^ 18. Persons who attempt this species of writing are liable to preju- dice, especially from three sources ; namely, times, persons, and opinions. First, the times in which we live often have such ascendency over us, that we measure past ages by our own ; we conclude that what does occur, or can not occur, in our day, in like manner did occur, or could not occur, in for- mer ages. fieconiWy ,i\\e persons with whose testimony we are concerned, especially if for ages they have been highly revered for their holiness and their virtues, acquire such an authority with us, as to lead us blindfold. And, thirdly, our attachment to the opinions and doctrines we espouse, often so paralyzes our judgment that, unconsciously, we misapprehend facts. Now from this triple bondage the mind must, as far as possible, be set free. ^ 19. But from this rule, and from others equally obvious and important, how widely ecclesiastical historians of all ages have departed, is loo well known. For, not to mention the many who think themselves great historians if they have a good memory, and to pass by those who are governed more by their private interests than by the love of truth, few are the writers, whom neither the sect to which they belong, nor the venerated names (1) To acquaint us with all the writers on (in German), vol. ii., and by J. A. Nossclt ecclesiastical history was the professed ob- and C. F. L. Simon, Guide to a knowledge ject of Srv. Walth. Slii/erus, in his Propy- of the best works in every branch of theolo- laeum Historian Christiana;, Luneb., 1696, gy, (in German), 2 vols. 8vo, 2d ed. Leipz., 4to ; and of Casp. SogtUartus, Introduc- 1800-13. Valuable notices of the principal tio ad Historiam Eccles., singulasque ejus writers are lobe found in J. G. Watc/i, Bib- paries ; especially vol. i. [2 vols. 4lo, liotheca theol. selecta, tonio 3tio, and in his Jena, 1694, 1718. — A good account of the Historia Eccles. Novi Test. ; also in the most tmportant writers is given by G. J. (German) (Church History of J. iV/. 11. It was confined to Times and Places. — ^ 12. The Mys- teries — 14 Its Votaries sunk in Vice. — ^ 15. How supported by the Priests. —