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Christian Writers.

Cent. 2.

were chosen by the suffrage of the people, and to the people they were accountable for the use they made of that authority with which they were invested. The RELATION of the churches appears equally evident. On important matters, they frequently associated in council by deputies, and such deputies always included their pastors or elders.

The ritual of the church is difficult to define; indeed the exact form is not furnished in the inspired page. Some general outline is presented, and this appears to have been preserved, such as the observance of the Lord's day, and the sacred supper thereon; water baptism; ordination of officers by imposition of hands ; public assemblies for prayer, and expounding the scriptures: to these we find added a festival in memory of the passion and resurrection of Christ, called Easter, As to the exact time in which this festival should be observed, the churches were not agreed; this was likely to have produced a breach in their fellowship, but was happily prevented by the mild interference of Polycarp and Irenæus. It is very evident, that there is not all that unmixed simplicity in church affairs at the end of this century, as marked the beginning.

THE PRINCIPAL WRITERS in aid of Christianity were Ignatius, whose letters have been noticed. Polycarp's correspondence with the churches has also passed in review. Justin Martyr wrote a most able defence of Christianity, as did likewise Athenagoras, Theophilus, and some others. This was not so much the age of writers as of martyrs.

Upon a review of the century, we discover the vast influence of DIVINE TRUTH in the establishment of so many churches, and in the boldness of so many who dared to lay down their lives for its sake. The church had

her seasons of trouble and of rest, but it is difficult to say which of the two were most inimical to her best interest. Persecution tended to purify and to keep pure. The gold shone bright in the furnace. Times of rest were in some instances accommodated to the purpose of contention, and the introduction of superstition and willworship.

G

THIRD CENTURY.

CHAPTER I.

STATE OF THE CHURCHES DURING THE REIGNS OF SEVERUS AND CARACALLA.

Irenæus Tertullian, Pantænus, Clemens Alexandrinus -Leonidas-Origen, and his Disciples-Perpetua and Felicitas-Proculus-Miracles considered.

In pursuing the history of the church, we shall find it necessary to take with us the great truths of the New Testament, by which we shall have a sure guide in ascertaining to whom properly belongs the denomination of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH. But it will be necessary to take this with us also, that many corruptions are beginning to increase. The seeds of philosophy taking root, produce a crop of tares, whereby the wheat is sadly choked, and the faith of some is overthrown. A love of power and of pomp prevails in the minds of church ministers, and the real glory of Christianity is, in a measure, obscured by the vain and empty trash of this world.

Whatever firmness of principle, and gentleness of manners may distinguish a Roman emperor in his character as a political governor, nothing can be gathered from hence, either for or against the Christian cause. Philosophy, virtue, mildness in the prinee, is no ground for a Christian's hope, nor need his fears be excited from the circumstance of the prince being the reverse.

Chap. 1.

Irenæus.

7.5

All here is governed by the turn of the times; by caprice; by prejudice; indeed by any thing except a love of truth and goodness. Severus began his imperial career by persecuting the saints. Asia, Egypt, and particularly Lyons, felt the severity of his laws. It is evident this persecution was sharp, but short. A Christian pastor it is said, having an opportunity of shewing him kindness on a particular occasion, was the means of abating his fury, and he was disposed for years after to deal gently with the church.

About the year 203, the natural violence of his disposition brake out afresh: whether any particular cireumstance provoked him does not appear; pride was rather at the bottom. He had just performed mighty exploits against a rival power in the East. This so inflated his vain mind, that he resolved to show his power against the church. By a formal ediet he forbad the propagation of the gospel, and made it unlawful for any of his subjects to forsake the religion of their pagan ancestors. Christians, inspired by the native influence of their own principles, not only abode by their faith themselves, but persevered in making converts. The emperor was enraged, and the greatest cruelties were exercised. Magistrates had no check, and the persecution spread through the empire.

Lyons it seems was again visited with raging persecution, and Irenæus soon fell a victim to its fury. Irenæus was a man truly devoted to the service of the Christian church, be made great sacrifices to accommodate himself to the rustic manners of an illiterate people :" he though a polished Greek learned the barbarous dialect of Gaul in order to minister among that people whom he served with great fidelity till his death. But the philosophy of this learned man in some measure lowered the

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Tertullian.

Cent. 3. tone of his doctrine by mixing too many “human inventions" with the "truths of scripture." The system also he adopted among the unlearned tribes of Gaul tended greatly to promote priestly usurpation and gross superstition. He vindicated the substitution of tradition for the written word, and so placed the understandings of the people in hands of the clergy.

In the African provinces the persecution was carried on with great rage. The whole region abounded with Christians. At Carthage flourished the famous Tertullian, "the first latin writer of the church, whose works are come down to us." The dreadful persecution at this time produced that grand APOLOGY for Christianity from the pen of this man, which alone would immortalize his name. An extract will give a view of the author's mind, and of the times in which he lived. "We pray "for the safety of the Emperors to the Eternal God. "We looking up to heaven with out-stretched hands, "because they are harmless, with naked head, because ❝ we are not ashamed, without a prompter, because we "pray from the heart, constantly pray for all emperors,

that they may have a long life, a secure empire, a "safe house, strong armies, a faithful 'senate, a well"moralized people, a quiet state of the world; whatev❝er Cæsar would wish for himself in his public and pri"vate capacity. Thus then, while our hands are "stretched out to God, let crosses suspend us, let fires 66 consume us, let swords pierce our breast, let wild "beast trample on us, a praying Christian is in a frame "for enduring any thing. Act in this manner ye gene❝rous rulers; kill the soul who supplicates God for the "Emperor. Were we disposed to return evil for evil, "it were easy to revenge the injuries which we sustain. "But God forbid that his people should vindicate them