Excerpt from Lectures Upon the Ecclesiastical History of the First Three Centuries, Vol. 1 of 2: From the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, to the Year 313 I am not aware of any ecclesiastical historian, who has followed the same plan. Most writers appear to me to have made this part of their history too short and superficial. My own work will perhaps be considered too minute and circumstantial: but having stated the twofold plan, which I had in view, I have to hope that criticism will be confined to the execution only. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Lectures Upon the Ecclesiastical History of the First Three Centuries, Vol. 2 of 2: From the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, to the Year 313 T has been usual with the writers of ecclesiastical history to divide their work according to the cen turies of the Christian era. The division may appear at first not unnatural, and may serve in some respects to assist the memory. It has however its disadvantages: and, like other historical divisions, which depend upon dates rather than upon facts, it must often terminate a period, while several subjects which have been handled remain unfinished. I do not therefore intend to adhere rigidly to the division of centuries. My former Lectures were upon the ecclesiastical history of the first century, and the present course will embrace the second century. It will however be found convenient to pay some attention to the periods which are marked by the reigns of the Roman emperors. These have not any necessary connexion with the centuries of the Christian era: and, since the death of Commodus happened eight years before the end of the second century, I shall continue the present Lectures to the death of Severus, which carries us into the twelfth year of the third century. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.