| Scope Of Chapter XV. |
| The progress of the Christian religion, and the sentiments, manners, numbers, and condition of the primitive Christians—
Importance of the Inquiry, Its Difficulties |
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Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity |
| I. Zeal of the Jews | Its gradual Increase |
Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest |
More liberal Zeal of Christianity |
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| Obstinacy and Reasons of the believing Jews |
The Nazarene Church of Jerusalem |
The Ebionites; The Gnostics |
Their Sects, Progress, and Influence |
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| III. Miraculous Powers of the Primitive Church |
Their Truth contested |
Our Perplexity in defining the Miraculous Period |
Use of the primitive Miracles |
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| The primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury |
Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity |
Their Aversion to the Business of War and Government |
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| V. The Christians active in the Government of the Church |
Its primitive Freedom and Equality |
Institution of Bishops as Presidents of the College of
Presbyters |
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| Recapitulation of the Five Causes |
Weakness of Polytheism |
The Scepticism of the Pagan World
proved favourable to the new Religion |
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| 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, |
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| In Egypt, In Rome
In Africa and the Western Provinces |
Beyond the Limits of the Roman Empire |
General Proportion of
Christians and Pagans |
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| Christianity most favourably received by the Poor and Simple |
Rejected by some eminent Men of the first and second
Centuries |
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