First published in the 18th century, this classic work of ecclesiastical history traces the evolution of Christianity from its origins in the ancient world to the rise of the Roman Catholic Church. Laurence Echard's engaging prose style and insightful commentary make this an essential read for students and scholars of religious history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.