Third Century. A. D. 230. "ORIGEN was a pupil of Clement of Alexandria, and a prodigy of intellectual powers. He was the only primitive writer of the times who was educated a christian. He wrote commentaries on every book of scripture, and his testimony is justly deemed of great importance in supporting the present canon of the New Testament: he writes in a figurative and allegorical style. An ancient author has said of him, Where he is in the right, he has not an equal, since the days of the apostles; and where he is in the wrong, no man errs more shamefully."-Collinson. "After all, he was guilty of great mistakes and rash propositions, which the largest charity cannot excuse.”—Cave. A. D. 250. CYPRIAN, BISHOP OF CARTHAGE, "A man of eminent abilities and flowing eloquence. His works breathe such a noble and pathetic spirit of piety, that it is impossible to record them without the warmest feelings of enthusiasm.”—Mosheim. "The authority of this Father has been more appealed to than that of any other writer in the three first centuries; and there have been fourteen editions of his works, which are considered, both by Roman catholies and protestant episcopalians, as a bulwark against schism and dissent in the church."-Collinson. MINUTIUS FELIX. "His dialogue, under the name bf Octavius, effaces with judgement, spirit, and force, the calumnies and reproaches that were cast upon the primitive christians."-Mosheim. THIS short abstract of an account of these primitive Fathers may serve as a specimen of the other well-known writers, whose works illustrate, and whose characters adorn the history of the ancient church. "It cannot be doubted," says Archbishop Wake, in his preface to The genuine Epistles of the apostolical Fathers,' "that the discourses were truly written by those whose names they bear, that the writers lived near the apostolic times, and that they represent the doctrine, government, and discipline of the church, as they received it from the apostles, the apostles from Christ, and that blessed Spirit, who directed them both in what they taught, and in what they ordained." CONTENTS. PART FIRST. PAGE CHAPTER I. Things charged upon the primitive christians, respecting their religion 1 CHAPTER II. Of the novelty that was charged upon christianity 6 CHAPTER III.-Things charged upon the christians, respecting their outward condition 10 CHAPTER III.-Continued 15 CHAPTER IV. The charges brought upon the chris- 20 24 29 CHAPTER VII. Of the Lord's-day, and the fasts PAGE CHAPTER I. Of the humility of the primitive chris- CHAPTER II. Of the heavenly-mindedness of the PAGE CHAPTER V.-Of the singular continence and chastity of the primitive christians CHAPTER V.-Continued 107 113 CHAPTER VI. Of the readiness and constancy of the primitive christians, in professing their religion 119 CHAPTER VII.-Of the exemplary patience under sufferings of the primitive christians 124 PART THIRD. CHAPTER I.—Of the justice and honesty of the primitive christians CHAPTER II. Of the admirable love and charity of the primitive christians CHAPTER II.-Continued CHAPTER III. Of the unity and peaceableness of the primitive christians 132 140 148 155 CHAPTER IV.-Of the obedience and subjection to civil government of the primitive christians 160 CHAPTER V. Of the penance enjoined the primitive christians, and the discipline of the ancient church 166 |