Scope Of Chapter 15
The progress of the Christian religion, and the sentiments, manners, numbers, and condition of the primitive Christians— Importance of the Inquiry, Its Difficulties
Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity
1.—Zeal of the Jews Its gradual Increase; Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest; More liberal Zeal of Christianity; Obstinacy and Reasons of the believing Jews; TheNazarene Church of Jerusalem; The Ebionites; The Gnostics; Their Sects, Progress, and Influence; TheDaemons considered as the Gods of Antiquity; Abhorrence of the Christians for — Idolatry;Ceremonies; Arts; Festivals; Zeal for Christianity
2.—The Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul AMONG the Philosophers—Pagans of Greece and Rome—Barbarians—Jews —Christians; Approaching End of the World; Doctrine of the Millennium; Conflagration of Rome and of the World; The Pagans devoted to Eternal Punishment
3.—Miraculous Powers of the Primitive Church Their Truth contested; OurPerplexity in defining the Miraculous Period; Use of the primitive Miracles
4. —Virtues of the first Christians Effects of their Repentance; Care of their Reputation; Morality of the Fathers; Principles of Human Nature; The primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury; Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity ; Their Aversion to the Business of War and Government
5. —The Christians active in the Government of the Church Its primitive Freedom and Equality; Institution of Bishops as Presidents of the College of Presbyters; Provincial Councils; Union of the Church; Progress of Episcopal Authority; Pre-eminence of the Metropolitan Churches; Ambition of the Roman Pontiff; Laity and Clergy; Oblations and Revenue of the Church; Distribution of the Revenue; Excommunication; Public Penance; The Dignity of Episcopal Government
Recapitulation of the Five Causes; Weakness of Polytheism; The Scepticism of the Pagan World proved favourable to the new Religion; As well as the Peace and Union of the Roman Empire; Historical View of the Progress of Christianity—In the East—The Church of Antioch— In Egypt— In Rome—In Africa and the Western Provinces—Beyond the Limits of the Roman Empire; General Proportion of Christians and Pagans; Whether the first Christians were mean and ignorant; Some Exceptions with regard to Learning— Rank and Fortune; Christianity most favourably received by the Poor and Simple; Rejected by some eminent Men of the first and second Centuries; Their Neglect of Prophecy; of Miracles; General Silence concerning the Darkness of the Passion
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