S.H.1826 PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY; OR, THE RELIGION OF THE Ancient Christians IN THE FIRST AGES OF THE GOSPEL. IN THREE PARTS. BY WILLIAM CAVE, D. D. ABRIDGED, AND ADAPTED TO MODERN USE, WITH Additional Reflections, BY JOHN BREWSTER, M. A., RECTOR OF EGGLESCLIFFE, IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM. 66 ANTIQUAM EXQUIRITE MATREM."-VIRG. PRINTED FOR C. AND J. RIVINGTON, LONDON, BY EDW. WALKER, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, 1825. "In the early ages, it was not by preaching alone, even after the cessation of the miraculous powers, that paganism was induced to take up the cross of Christ. It was by observing the surprising effects produced by the gospel in the hearts and lives, not merely of eminent saints and preachers, but of the lowest among those who had embraced it. The christians had a distinguishing character: they believed in Christ, and they bore in their habits the impress of their faith."-Bishop Middleton's (of Calcutta) Sermon at Bombay. THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. A RE-PERUSAL of DR. CAVE'S "Primitive Christianity" has convinced me of its utility in answering many objections of modern unbelievers; of those especially, who, being ignorant of the beneficial effects of the gospel, in the earliest periods of its history, accommodate their reasonings concerning it to the unsound principles, or degenerate practices, of professing christians of the present day. In the original work there is, if I may so say, a superfluity of evidence, extracted from the Fathers of the church, on every topic, more than sufficient to answer the purpose of selection; at least, with any view of making the book a manual of information. The re duction of this, without detracting either from the evidence or illustration, has been attempted by the present Editor. Thus the valuable materials are brought within a narrower com |