The ancient history of universalism : from the time of the apostles, to its condemnation in the fifth general council, A. D. 553. With an appendix, tracing the doctrine down to the era of the reformation

Front matter

Princeton Theological Seminary Library

ANCIENT HISTORY

OF

Chapter I

Opinions entertained hy the christians, froin A. D. 90, to A. D. 150, concerning future punishment, and the eventual salvation of the world, exhibited hy means of all the relative passages in the Orthodox ivrntings extant of this period, and hy a summary statement of the doctrine of the early Gnostic sects.

A. D. SECT.

Extent, condition, and common faith of 90 the Orthodox and Heretics. 1

The Orthodox. Titles and character of their writings yet extant. - - 2

90 — 95 Epistle of Clemens Romanus. Date of 94 — 100 St. John's writings, and time of his death. 13

107 or 116 Epistles of Ignatius. Relation of his

Martyrdom. - - _ 4

108 or 117 Epistle of Polycarp. - - - 5

Corruptions introduced into the Church. 116 to 126 Papias. Aristides. The Greek Philosophy. 6 131 Epistle of Barnabas. - - 7 About 150 Shepherd of Hermas. - - 8 90 to 150 The Gnostic Christians. Their general doctrine and character. - - 9 About 120 The Basilidians. - - - 10 do. The Carpocratians. - - 11

A. D. SECT.

About 130 The Valentinians. - - 12

What notions of the Gnostics were peculiarly odious to the Orthodox. - 13

Chapter II

Opinions of the christians from A. D. 150, to A. D. 199, concerning future punislimenty and the eventual salvation of the world, illustrated hy extracts from cdlthe authors extant of this period, who have introduced the subject,

A. D. SECT.

Increase of Heretics. Gnostics. EbiloO onites. Character of the Orthodox. 1

Change in the character of the christian writings. Titles of those extant of this period. - - - - 2

— 150 — The Sibylline Oracles, containing the earliest explicit assertion of a restoration of the damned. - - - - 3

The works of Justin Martyr.

160—170

Relation of the Martyrdom of Polycarp.

Oration of Tatian.

Ecclesiastical History, by Hegesippus.

Epistle of the Churches of Lyons and

Vienna. . _ . _

Works of Athenagoras.

Treatise of Theophilus.

180—190

Works of Irenasus. - - _ Summary of the first two Chapters. Remarks. - _ . _

Necessary change in the plan of this

History. - - - - -

CONTENTS

CHAPTER in.

Clemens Alexandrinus, and Ids Cotcmporaries ; or the Opinions of the Christians from A. D. 190, to A. D. 230, concerning the future state.

A. D. SECT.

190 to 196 Clemens Alexandrinus, a Universalist. His own testimonies. His views of the future state. - . . i

His general system of doctrine. His standing in the Orthodox church. - 'Z

His life. - - - - 3

His character. - - _ 4

200 to 204 Tertullian, a believer in endless misery. 5 210 Minucius Felix. - - - 6

Common notions among the Orthodox concerning the state of the dead, and the near approach of the last judgment. - 7

Concise account of the state of Universalism among the Orthodox and Gnostics. 8

CHAPTER IV. Origen, and his Doctrine

230 Origen's renown. His books Of Principlec. (

His testimony in favor of Universalism and Pre-existence. - - - 2

" 216 " 230. 5

His first publications. The general system of doctrine taught in them. - 6 His rule for interpreting the Scriptures. 7 b CONTENTS.

His life from A. D. 230 to A. D. 245. 8

245 " 253. 9

His character. - - - 10 230 to 253 Universal ism a favorite topic with him.

Additional testimonies. - - 11

The manner in which he taught it. 12

Chapter V

Origoi's ScJwlars and Cotemporaries ; or Opinions of the christians from A. D. 230 to A. D. 270, concerning Univcrsalism.

Difficulty in ascertaining the extent to which Universalism prevailed. Origen's influence. - - - - 1

Eastern Churches. Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem ; and Theoctistus, bishop of Cesarea in Palestine. - - 2

Heraclas, bishop of Alexandria. - 3

Ambrosius, Origen's patron. - 4

Firmilian, bishop of Cesarea in Cappadocia.5 Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Athenodorus, bishops of Pontus. . _ g

Heretics, of all kinds. - - 7

249 to 258 Western Churches. Cyprian bishop

of Carthage. - - - - 8

250 to 270 Character, condition, and general doc-

trine of the Orthodox. - - 9

Appendix to Chapter v. The Manicheans

Extensive and lasting consequences of their heresy. Its author, Mani's Life. 1

265 His general system of doctrine. - 2

A. D. SECT.

Its reception among the Persians and Greeks, and its first appearance within the limits of the Roman Empire. - 3

Chapter VI

History of Origen's doctrine from A. D. 254 to A. D 390; and of the opinions entertained hy the christians, in the meantime, concerning the future state.

Design and plan of this Chapter. Nepos

revives in Egypt the doctrine of the Mil-

257 to 263 lennium, against Origen ; but is refuted. 1

Origen's popularity. He is imitated by

some Egyptian writers. His doctrine at-

280—290 tacked by Methodius, bishop of Tyre. He

290—300 is imitated by Victorinus. - 2

About 300 Peter, bishop of Alexandria, reproaches

his memory. _ _ _ 3

305, 306 Arnobius, and Lactantius. Their opinions concerning the future state. - 4 Complaints in the East against Origen's 307 to 310 doctrine. Pamphilus and Eusebius's Apology for him. - - - - 5

Evidence that Universalism was not unpopular, and that Pamphilus and Eusebius were favorably disposed towards it. - 6

Livesof Pamphilus and Eusebius. - 7 Arian controversy. Origen's name and 32P'to 360 doctrine somewhat involved. - 8

Origen's notions attacked by Eustathius, bishop of Antioch, and by Apollinarius, ' bishop of Laodicea. - - -9

A. D. SECT.

347 to 370 Opinions of the fathers concerning future punishment. Athanasius, Cyrill of Jerusalem, Ephraim the Syrian, and Hilary of Poitiers. - - - - 10

360 to 370 Titus, bishop of Bostra, a Universalist. 11 370 Basil the Great, bishop of Cappadocia. 12

Gradual rise, and permanent establishment of the monastic institution. The Origen- 370 to 376 ists. Their chief retreat at Nitria. - 13 376 They are attacked by Epiphanius, bishop

of Cyprus. - - - - 14

370 to 383 Many of the Orthodox fathers in the East, are Universalists. Gregory Nazianzen's indecision. - - - 15

His life, eloquence and character. 16

Gregory Nyssen's testimony in favor of Universalism. - - - 17

His general system of doctrine. His works, life, and reputation among the Orthodox. - - - - 18

Didymus of Alexandria a Universalist.

His life, character, and works. - 19

380 to 390 Jerome a Universalist. His early life.

His friendship with Rufinus. - 20

390 Evagrius Ponticus a Universalist. His

Most of the leading Origenists perhaps

Universalists. Palladius of Galatia. Isi-

dorus of Alexandria. John, bishop of

Jerusalem. - - - - 22

Western Fathers. Ambrose, bishop

384 to 390 of Milan. Ambrosiaster, or Hilary deacon

CONTENTS. y

A. D. SECT.

384to390of Rome; their opinions of the future

Heretics. The Arians of this century.

SabelHans. Novatians, and other schismaticks. The Manicheans ; their opinions concerning Universalism. - - 24

Chapter VII

The Contest icith the Origenists, from A. D. 391 to A. D. 404 ; in ichich Universalism is for the first time censured^ and in part condemned.

391 Principal bishops in Christendom. Prin-

cipal writers. Persons mentioned in the preceding chapter. Banishment of the Arians. Quiet of the Church. - 1

Epiphanius's attack upon John of Jerusalem in his church. His ordination of

393 Paulinianus, Jerome's brother. Complaints

of John. - - - - 2

394 Epiphanius's Letter to John, with his catalogue of Origen's errors, in which Universalism is for the first time censured. 3

The disturbance in Palestine. Jerome

395 sides with Epiphanius against John and Rufinus. - _ - - 4

Letter of Isidorus. Attempt of Archelaus to reconcile the parties in Palestine. Mission of Isidorus from Theophilus, archbishop of Alexandria. His partiality to John. _ - - - 5

396 He assists John in composing an Answer

to Epiphanius, or Apology to Theophilus. 6

A. D. SECT.

396 Tlie christians at Rome are variously affected by these publications ; and some of them request information from Jerome.

397 He writes them an Answer to John's Apol - ogy. He receives a letter from Theophilus, and replies. His influence, and application to Augustine. - - - 7

Reconciliation between Jerome and Rufinus. Rufinus goes to Rome with Melania, translates and publishes the first book of the Apology for Origen, and Origen's books Of Principles, and covertly attacks Jerome. Spread of Origenism at 397, 398 Rome. - ... 8

Jerome receives those works, writes to 398 or 399 Rufinus, and composes a Defence of himself, in which he denies a restoration from hell, and states Origen's chief errors. - 9

Theophilus is assailed by the Anthropomorphites of Egypt, quarrels with Isidorus and the Nitrian monks, and takes up against the Origenists. Assembles a council at Alexandria, in which Origen's doc-

399 trine and books are, for the first time, formally condemned. Description of Nitria. Theophilus enters the place with a band of soldiers; before whom the Origenists flee to Palestine. Conduct of John of Jerusalem. Exultation of Theophilus, Epiphanius and Jerome. Council at Cy-

400 prus, and decree of the Roman Pontiff against Origen's works. - - 10

CONTEXTS.

A. D. SECT.

Points of his doctrine condemned in 400 these proceedings. How his condemnation was received by the orthodox in general. - - - - 11 Deputation sent by Theophilus against 400 the Origenists to Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople. The Origenists proceed thither, and are favorably received. Perto secution and exile of Chrysostom. Death of Epiphanius, Isidorus, and the leaders of the Origenists. Reconciliation of The-

403 ophilus with the rest. - - 12

Paschal Epistles of Theophilus to the 401 to 404 Egyptian churches against Origen's doctrine. - - - - 13 Italy. The Roman Pontiff cites Rufi- 400 to 404 nus to appear before him on a charge of heresy; rejects the Apology which Rufinus sends; and condemns him, Runnus's secret Invective against Jerome. Extracts of it privately sent to Jerome. - - 14

Jerome, in answer, writes his Apology against Rufinus ; in which he defends himself, accuses Rufinus, denies Universdism, and gives a catalogue of Origen's principal errors. Rufinus is exasperated, and threatens. Jerome adds the conclusion to his Apology against Rufinus. - 15

404 End of the Contest. Review of its character. - - - - 16

Chapter VIII

History of Univei^salism from A, D. 405 to A. D. 500.

A. D. SECT.

Division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western. Disorders and weakness 405 of the State. Progress of the Church towards supreme power. Contest with the Donatists. . - - -

405 The Origenists find repose. Rufinus,

Melania, John of Jerusalem, Evagrius Ponticus, and Palladius of Galatia. Theophilus grows attached again to Origen's to works. His death. Jerome avails himself of Origen's authority, though he inveighs against the Origenists. His present professed views of future punishment. 412 Perhaps, in secret, a Universalist still. 2

The orthodox of this age divided into five classes with regard to their notions of future punishment, and of the final extent of salvation. - - - - 3

Universalists in Spain, under the two 410 to 415 Avituses, Basil, &c. Their peculiar opinions. Augustine, by request of the Spanish bishops, writes against them. His criticism on the Greek word translated everlasting. His arguments against Universalism. - . _ _ 4

His influence, talents and character.

He was the author of the doctrine of total depravity, irresistible grace, and sovereign^ partial election. - - 5

CONTEINTS. 13

A. D. SECT.

Unfavorable influence of that doctrine against Universalism. - - 6

412 Account of its introduction. Pelagius

and Celestius teach their heresy ; and Auto gustine, in opposing them, runs to the opposite extreme. Other opposers of the 418 Pelagians. - - - - 7

413 to 420 Pelagius patronized by John of Jerusalem. Death and character of the latter.

Death of Jerome. - - . 8

420 to 429 Theodorus of Mopsuestia, a Universal-

ist. His life, character, and works. - 9 430 to 450 Universalism prevails around Cesarea in Palestine ; but no traces of the doctrine afterwards can be discovered, till the end of this century. - - - 10

450 to 500 Probable cause of this silence may be found in the civil and ecclesiastical commotions which engrossed the public attention. Fall of the Western Empire. Nestorian controversy in the East. - 11

Manicheans and Gnostics of this century. 12

Chapter IX

Revival and progress of Origenism in Palestine ; and final condemnation of Universalism in the Fifth General Council.

View of (he Solitude between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. - - - 1

Lauras and monasteries in that region, 500 Character of Sabas. Renewal of a dis- 2

A. D. SECT.

501 to 507 affection in his Laura ; and the founding

of Nova Laura. - - - 2

514 Nonnus, Leontius, and other Origenists

admitted into Nova Laura. Their tenets.

Their expulsion; and re- admission. Their to doctrine spreads in the country. The affair introduced, by Sabas, to the notice of

531 the emperor Justinian. - - 3

Death of Sabas ; and the prosperity of the Origenists. Domitian and Theodorus

532 Ascidas, Universalists. They go to Constantinople, and are appointed archbishops, the former of Galatia, and the latter of Cappadocia. Their influence at Court ; and their patronage of their friends in Palestine. - - _ . 4

537 Gelasius, abbot of St. Sabas, orders the Treatise of Antipater to be read in public, and expels the leading Origenists from the

538 great Laura ; but is obliged to drive away, in turn, some of his orthodox monks.

These go to Antioch, and lay the matter before Ephraim, patriarch of that city ; who calls a council of the bishops, and anathematizes the heresy. The Origenists in revenge, attempt to procure the excommunication of Ephraim. Peter, bishop of Jerusalem, withstands them, and sends an account of their heresy and conduct to Justinian. - - - - 5

539 — 540 Justinian publishes an edict, addressed to Mennas, patriarch of Constantinople,

A. D. SECT.

commanding Origen's errors, among which is Universalism, to be condemned, together with their author and advocates. The bishops at Constantinople meet in council and approve the edict ; and the patriarchs of the eastern and western churches subscribe it. - - - - G 540 But in Palestine, Alexander, a bishop, refuses to subscribe ; and the partizans of Nonnus prefer banishment from their cells. Peter of Jerusalem is soon compelled to compromise and restore them. Their to quarrels and combat with the orthodox monks. Gelasius goes to Constantinople to lay a complaint against them, before the emperor ; but is driven away by Theodorus Ascidas. The orthodox in Palestine are

546 dispersed, and the Origenists take possession of the Lauras and monasteries. Death of Nonnus and Leontius. The Laura of Sabas falls into the hands of the orthodox ; while the Origenists gain the election of Macarius to the bishopric of Jerusalem.

547 Dissention among themselves. - 7 546 Artful plan of Theodorus to revenge the

late condemnation of Origen. He proto cures an edict from Justinian against the

Three Chapters. Commotions which fol- 553 lowed in the church. - - - 8

553 Meeting of the Fifth General Council,

in which certain writings of Theodorus

of Mopsuestia, Theodoret of Cyrus, and

A. D. SECT.

Ibas of Edessa, are condemned. The subject of Origenism is brought before the council; anathemas pronounced against the doctrine ; and the works of Didymus of Alexandria, and of Evagrius Ponticus in favor of Universalism condemned. 9

553 — 554 Execution of the Council's decrees io Palestine ; and consequent dispersion of the Origenists. - - - 10

Appendix

TO THE ANCIENT HISTORY OF UNIVERSALISM.

Traces of the doctrine from the time of the Fifth Gefieral Council to the Era of the Reformation. 649 to 869 The first Lateran Council, and the seventh and eighth General Councils repeat the condemnation of Origen, Didymus and Evagrius. Germanus writes against the Universalists. - - 1

744 Clement, perhaps a Universalist, in

France. - - - - 2

850 to 1050 No new heresies arose in the church during this age of midnight darkness.

Character of the clergy, and state of religion. - - - - 3

660 The Paulicians perhaps the remote

occasion of the Reformation. Their to character, manners, and doctrine. - 4

Their History. Their dispersion over 1 100 Europe, where they appeared under various denominations. _ - 5

A. D. SECT.

1190 Rainold, abbot of St. Martin's, at

Nevers, in France, accused of Universalism. _ _ - - 6

1200 to 1210 Amalric, or Amauri, perhaps a Universalist. His sentiments condemned at Paris and Rome. Persecution of his followers. - - - - 7

1230 to 123.4 Du Pin's account of the Stadings, in

Germany. _ _ . 8

1315, &LC. Lollards in Germany, Universalists,

according to Du Pin. _ - 9

1368 Universalism amongr the tenets taught

in England, an<i condemned by a Council at Canterbury. - - 10 1400 to 1412 Men of Understanding, in Holland, Universalists. ^gidius Cantor, and William of Hildenissen. - 11 1480 to 1494 John Picus, an Italian prince, denies the infinite demerit of sin ; is accused of heresy, and makes his peace with the Pope. - - . . 12 1490 to 1498 Peter D'Aranda, a Spanish bishop, denies purgatory and hell ; is deposed on a false charge of Judaism, and condemned to perpetual imprisonment. 12

Preface

The reader will perceive, in the commencement of the following work, what he may at first regard as a defect, that I have not introduced, like others, a statement of the scripture doctrine upon the subject of my History. For the omission, I submit these reasons : it seemed to me that such a statement would prove useless, as each one would form his own opinion from other authority ; and that a satisfactory discussion of the important question, belonged rather to the Polemic than to the Historian. Accordingly, for the commencement of my undertaking, I fixed on a date posterior to the publication of most of the New Testament ; and yet, as it was desirable to take into view every other christian production extant of the first ages, I was obliged to begin as early as A. D. 90, before some, if not all of St. John's writings were composed.

The attentive reader will also discover, as he proceeds, that the Ancient History of Uni-

PREFACE. 1 9

versalism is naturally distinguished, by certain peculiarities, into three successive Periods : — the First, extending to the year 190, and embraced in the first two chapters, affords but few indisputable traces either of that doctrine, or of its opposite ; the Second, running through the third, fourth, fifth and sixth chapters, to the year 390, or 394, is distinguished by the prevalence both of Universalism and of the doctrine of endless misery, without producing the least disturbance or uneasiness in the church ; the Third, reaching to the Fifth General Council, in A. D. 553, is marked with continual censures, frequent commotions, and some disgraceful quarrels, on that subject.

And as I have endeavored to vary my general plan, so as to suit the peculiar character and circumstances of each of these periods, I would here bespeak the reader's attention to the method I have pursued. In the first Period, then, I have been careful to state, in his own words, the opinion of every christian author extant, concerning future punishment, and the eventual salvation of the world ; and down to the year 150, I have, with still more particularity, inserted every passage which I thought belonged to either of those subjects. Accordingly, it

20 PREFACE.

may be expected that, to many, the first two chapters will prove more tedious than the rest of the work. In the second Period, while it has been my principal object to give a full account of all those fathers, who, during that time, advocated or favored Universalism, I have also aimed to present a correct view of the opinions entertained, the meanwhile, by the christian world at large, on that point. In the third Period I have pursued, nearly the same course ; leaving, however, the common sentiment of the church concerning the doctrine in question, to be gathered from the controversies and quarrels w^hich then occurred, and which I have minutely described. Thus far, I may venture to pronounce the History complete, in one sense : it contains an account of every individual of note, whom we have now the means of knowing to have been a Universalist.

In the Appendix the plan is very different, as a regular and connected history of Universalism, from the Fifth General Council to the Reformation, is, with me, utterly impracticable. Here, therefore, nothing but a sketch is attempted, pointing out those traces of the doctrine, which I have happened to discover in the course of reading.

PREFACE. 21

I would also take this opportunity, once for all to apprize my readers of the sense in which they will find certain terms and phrases used in the following work. The title, bishop^ is supposed to have signified, at first, only the chief minister of a city, or territory ; though afterwards it became confined in its application to a distinct and superior order of clergy. By the popular terms orthodox and heretic^ I mean, not the true and the false creed, but the predominant, or catholic, and the dissenting, or anathematized. To conclude, I have frequently spoken of the Western or Latin Churches^ in distinction from the Eastern or Greek ; though they were not actually separated from each others' communion, till the ninth century.

Roxbunj, Oct. 22d, 1828.

ANCIENT HISTORY

UNIYERSALISM.

Chapter I

A. D. 90.] I. At the date with which this history begins, none of the apostles are supposed to have been alive, except the venerable St. John, who then resided, at a very advanced age, in the great city of Ephesus. St. Peter and St. Paul suffered martyrdom at Rome, more than twenty years before ; and St. James the Great, and St. James the Less, at Jerusalem, still earlier. Of the deaths of the other apostles, nothing can be pronounced with confidence, notwithstanding the accounts of their martyrdom, given by some ancient writers, and adopted by many of the moderns.

Nor must we pretend to define tlie extent to which Christianity had now spread ; as, on this subject, it is often impossible to distinguish the true from the fabulous accounts of early historians. It is, however, probabie that some churches were established in most of the Roman provinces, especially in the eastern. But the number oi professed christians must still have been very small in proportion to the whole mass of community, and composed, with some exceptions, of the lower classes of people. The rich and the noble were, for the most part, attached to the ancient forms and institutions ; and the men of great learning, and those of refined genius, did not wander, as indeed they seldom do, from the Hmits of that popular course where they might find reward, or at least hope for admiration.

The Christians were, nevertheless, not an obscure sect. Their religion was so novel, so different from every other, and they were so zealous and successful in its cause, that it drew much attention wherever it was established. It was not, indeed, very well understood by the public at large ; nor did it escape considerable misrepresentations among its particular enemies^. These injurious misrepresentations operated, undoubtedly, to countenance the complaints of the heathen priests, who felt their long unmolested repose disturbed by the growing desertion of their temples, and neglect of their services. Still it must be remarked, that the christians had suffered very little persecution, except slander, since the death of the cruel Nero, more than twenty years before. But the time drew near when they were

a. Plinii Epist. 97. Lib. x. and Taciti Annal. Lib. xv. cap. 44. Afterwards, or towards the year 150, we find the most outrageous calumny heaped upon the christians : they w^ere commonly called Atheists; and all sorts of licentiousness, even such as cannot, for decency's sake, be mentioned in the present age, were charged upon them. To refute and expose these slanderous falsehoods, was a grand object with several of the early christian writers.

i] OF UNIVERSALIS3I. ;^^

to encounter proscription, danger, and even death, from the civil authorities : It was only four or five years after this, that the jealousy of the emperor Domitian revived the storm, which raged, with some considerable intervals, till after the lapse of more than two centuries, the inauspicious conversion of Constantine, gave to the Church the kingdoms of this world, and the glory of them.

As to the system of doctrine held by the christians at this period, we can determine few of its particulars, if indeed it be proper to say that such a system then prevailed. Their religion had not yet been taught on any regular plan, like that of a Body of Divinity. Its fundamental truths, that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of the only true God, and the Saviour of men, and that he rose from the dead, necessarily engrossed the chief attention of its professors, as these were the important facts the}' were obliged, almost continually, to urge on the people, and to defend against opponents. It is extremely difficult for us, who are brought up in a state of society where Christianity is the original and universal religion, and where our disputes extend only to its particular tenets, to conceive of the simplicity in which the first preachers taught their faith, when, not the doctrine, but the truth itself, of that religion, was the principal point in dispute. When people were brought to acknowledge the mission of Christ, they were considered christians ; and if their conduct became their profession, they were gladly received into the churches ; though further instructions were then given, or afterwards added, just as 3 opportunities offered, and circumstances permitted''. Such being the liberal conditions on which "the churches were gathered, they, of course, admitted persons of different, and even opposite sentiments, on many points of doctrine. Both the Jewish and Gentile converts retained some of their respective prejudices and notions. This circumstance had already occasioned disputes among them, particularly concerning the obligation of the Mosaic rituals, on one hand, and the heathen schemes of philosophy on another. The apostles themselves had, years before, interposed to decide these controversies ; but even their authority was not able to remove the prejudices of the parties. Some of the Gnostic believers, in particular, had, perhaps, gone so far, even at this early period, as to separate from the other churches, and to form themselves into distinct bodies, which, however, must have been small and obscure. After all, we cannot suppose that the christians in general had so soon obliterated from their faith the prominent features of the apostolic doctrine ; especially when we consider that most of the books of the New Testament were now in circulation, and that St. John still lived to be consulted, and to give instructions *'.

II. Proceeding, now, to the particular subject of our history, we shall, in the present chapter, produce all

^- This was the practice of the apostles. See the abstracts and accounts of those discourses which they aclclres.<5ed to imbelierers : Acts ji. ]4— 41 . iii.J2— 2G. iv. 8—12. v. 2!'— 32. viii. 30—38. ix. 20—22. x.34 — 48.xiii.](i— 41.xvi.30— 33. xvii.2— 4. 18. 22^34. xxiii.fi.xxv. 18, 19. xxvi. xxviii. 23. c- The principal facts in this section are illustrated at l^irge by Mosheim, Eccl. Hist. Cent, i ; and more particularly in his Connncntaries on the Affairs of the Cliristians, before the Time of Constantine, &c. Vol. i. VidaVs Translation.

that can be known, with any degree of certainty, of the views entertained by the christians from this time till A. D. 150, in relation to a future state of punishment and the eventual salvation of the world. The only direct hght that gleams, at intervals, through the general obscurity of the course we now attempt, is derived from the few christian writings of this period, which are still extant. These are the productions of those commonly called the Apostolical Fathers, the first christian authors, whose works have reached us, after the Apostles themselves. They are the following : The First Epistle of Clemens Romanus ; seven Epistles of Ignatius ; The Epistle of Polycarp ; The Epistle of Barnabas ; and The Shepherd of Hennas. Among these, we should perhaps insert a Relation of the Martyrdom of Ignatius^. These writings, composed by men of little learning, and, forlhe most part, of as little judgment, are still valuable as they afford us some notion of the state of the early christians, and of the sentiments avowed by them ; but whoever expects to find them instructive or edifying in other respects, will rise from their perusal in disappointment, if not with disgust.

d- Of the Second Epistle of Clemens K^rmnus, so called, the genuineness is considered doubtful by Eusebius, Jerome, Du Pin, Mosheim, &c. and wholly denied by Photius, Archbishop Usher, Lardner, Brucker, Le Clerc, and otiiers. Scarcely one admits it. There are other writings extant, ascribed to Clemens Romanus, but which are now universally considered forgeries, and of a much later date. I omit The Acts of Paul and Thecla, a forgery of the First Century, because our present copy is either a forgery upon that original one, or else so much interpolated that we cannot determine what is ancient. See Lardner 's Credibility, &.c. Chap. S?ipposititioiis Writings of M Centurij. The reason why I place The Epistle of Barnabas, and The Shepherd of Hernias last in this catalogue, will be given under the accounts of those works.