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| Lecture I |
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Use of the Fathers in relation to the Evidences. Their testimony to the wide dispersion of the Gospel opposed to the statements of Gibbon. His unfairness in citing them. Argument from their incidental allusions. More direct testimony to the early establishment of Christianity on the shores of the Mediterranean and Euxine, and in the countries beyond the Euphrates. Its secret progress illustrated from the Acts, from St. Paul's Epistles, from the Fathers. Its disturbance of the soc!al relations instrumental to its propagation. Exposition of Phil. i. 12-18. Further illustrations. Effect of the public games pdf |
| Lecture II |
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The insinuation of Gibbon respecting the rank and character of the early Christians, orignally advanced by the heathen opponents of Christianity, and answered by the Apologists. The fact, that many persons of wealth and education were Christians proved, from the acquirements of the Fathers, from their specific assertion of it, from their addressing themselves to the rich and intelligent, from the fund at the disposal of the Church Variety of demands upon the pecuniary resources of the Christians.
Remarks on the Libellatici pdf |
| Lecture III |
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The insinuation of Gibbon, that the Church was recruited, 1°. By abandoned characters, suggested by Celsus, inconsistent with the primitive discipline the probation before Baptism, the responsibility attaching to the sponsors, the appeal of the Apologists to the pure morality of the Christians their charges of laxity against the heretics and the philosophers
the treatment of the lapsed, the frequency of excommunication:
2°. By mercenary persons, repudiated by Origen, inconsistent with the
precautions used against mercenary motives and the maladministration of
the Church fund, and with a passage in the Constitutions: 3°. By foundlings, incapable of being substantiated by any positive evidence. Probability that it might happen occasionally. Negative proof that it did not happen systematically. How the Church fund was really expended pdf |
| Lecture IV |
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The opinion of Sir James Mackintosh on Gibbon's sixteenth chapter. The statements of the latter to be corrected by a review of the Early Fathers. Their testimony, 1°. To the extent of the persecutions of the Christians. The classification into ten great persecutions untenable. Inquiry whether the edicts of Nero and Domitian were repealed. Effect of those of Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus. Christianity a capital offence from the time of Nero downwards. Martyrdom of Ignatius. Remarks of Tertullian on Trajan's edict. Subsequent activity of persecution. That at Lyons and Vienne a sample of others. The assertion of Origen respecting the number of martyrs relative, not positive. Motives in various quarters for setting persecution on foot pdf |
| Lecture V |
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Testimony of the Fathers, 2°. To the intensity of the persecutions, unduly extenuated by Gibbon. Reflections on his account of the Letter of Pliny and of the martyrdom of Cyprian. Early narratives of martyrdom not to be confounded with the fictions of later times. The sources of information as reliable as those from which Gibbon drew his history. Explanation of a passage in Eusebius unfairly used by him. 3°. To the nature of the persecutions. Domestic as well as official ones foretold by Christ. Verification in the effect of Christianity on the relations of husband and wife, parent and child, master and servant. Its inconsistency with many trades and occupations. Consequent pecuniary losses to the converts. Their embarrassment in legal and commercial proceedings pdf |
| Lecture VI |
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Review of passages in the Early Fathers bearing witness to the exercise of miraculous powers in their times. Unanimity of this testimony. Estimate, which ought to be formed of it; and difficulty of resisting it. The powers of exorcism and healing diseases more decidedly asserted than others. Correspondence of this with the terms in which the powers were conferred,
and with the record of their exercise in the Acts. The same correspondence between the Scriptural and Ecclesiastical records observable in another particular. The exercise of miraculous powers by those on whom the Apostles laid their hands established by inspired authority. The theory of the cessation of all miracles with their lives unsatisfactory pdf |
| Lecture VII |
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Use of the Fathers in the inquiry concerning the nature and construction of the Church. The outline of it, which may be inferred from the Acts and the Apostolical Epistles, filled up by them. A standing ministry deriving it a authority from the Apostles, and consisting of three Orders, included in their definition of it. Direct proof of this from the :Fathers themselves: indirect, from the practice of heretics. Incidental character of the evidence. Variety of quarters from which it is drawn. Conclusion in the words of Hooker pdf |
| Lecture VIII |
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Use of the Fathers in settling the Canon of the New Testament; Appeal to them in the sixth Article. Method of establishing the Canon stated by Jones. Illustration of this method with reference to the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles, the Revelation. Discussion of questions, whether the autographs of the Apostles existed in the time of Tertullian; whether any Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians is missing; whether the Epistle to the Ephesians is rightly so entitled; whether St. Paul was the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Use of the Fathers in proving that the substance of the Canonical books, the beginnings and endings of the Gospels, the incidents of our Lord's ministry, the circumstances recorded in the Act.a, the t.enour of the Epistles, were the same in their times as they are now pdf |
| Lecture IX |
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Use of the Fathers in ascertaining the text of the New Testament. Their motives for accuracy in this particular. Importance of their testimony in establishing the genuineness of whole passages. The impression produced by it increased, when the occasion of it is known. Its use further exemplified, where the genuineness of the passage is doubtful, as 1 John v. 7, and the subscription of the first Epistle to the Corinthians. The same testimony of still greater value in the criticism of single words; opposed to the reading of Griesbach and Wetstein in Acts xx.28, and to that of the "Improved Version" in Rom. ix. 5. Some other examples pdf |
| Lecture X |
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Use of the Fathers in unfolding the meaning of Scripture: I. Their testimony opposed to the Socinian scheme, 1 °. In the spirit of their expositions, which is evangelical, not rationalistic. Extent to which the Old Testament is applied by them to Jesus Christ. Concurrence of our
Church and of our standard divines in this principle of. interpretation. The proof of it from the Fathers independent of the ment of their particular expositions. Actual uncertainty as to the extent of symbolical teaching in Scripture. 2°. On the doctrine of the Trinity. Statement of the Racovian Catechism. The Creed of ih:e early Church shown to have
been Trinitarian from the exposition of particular texts; from the opinions of early heretics; from primitive practices and formularies; and from the
correspondence of the Athanasian Creed with the writers of the first three centuries. Unguarded language of these writers, especially of Origen,
accounted for pdf |
| Lecture XI |
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The testimony of the Fathers opposed to the Socinian scheme, 3°. On the doctrine of the Atonement. Statement of the Racovian Catechism. The death of Christ, according to the Fathers, a sacrifice-expiatory, vicaious, univenally necessary. nreasonableness and hardihood of rejecting a doctrine thus guaranteed. 4°. On the nature and effect of baptism. Statement of the Racovian Catechism. Unanimity of the Fathers on aptismal Regeneration. Variety of forms in which they assert it. The effect of :Baptism, according to them, the work of the Holy Ghost. Their account of it meant to apply to infants as well as to adults. Evidence for Infant Baptism. The office of sponsors recognised. The benefit not ascribed to the opus operatum, but represented as contingent on the observance
of the Baptismal promises. Strictness of the Early Church in this particular pdf |
| Lecture XII |
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The testimony of the Fathers opposed to the Socinian seheme, 5°. On the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Statement of the Racovian Catechism. Sentinlents of the Fathers. The Eucharist contemplated by them, first as a sacrifice, not material (except as including an oblation of the fruits of the earth), but commemorative of the Sacrifice of Christ; and secondly, as the spiritual food of his Body and Blood. Their testimony unfavourable to the Romish as well as to the Socinian views. The benefit not ascribed to the opus operatum, but represented as dependent on the fitness of the recipient. Strictness in this particular pdf |
| Lecture XIII |
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Use of the Fathers in unfolding the meaning of Scripture: II. Their testimony opposed to the Calvinistic scheme, 1°. On the freedom of the will The assertion of it by the Fathers distinct and emphatic. 2°. On the
degree of human corruption. The consequences of the Fall recognised by the Fathers, but not in a manner satisfactory to the Calvinist. Their language upon this point dubious and conflicting. Cause of their embarrassment. Illustrations. Vindication of the Fathers from the charge of Pelagiamsm. Their teaching on the necessity of Divine grace for the recovery and restoration of man pdf |
| Lecture XIV |
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The testimony of the Fathers opposed to the Calvinistic scheme of interpretation, 3°. On the nature of spiritual influence; The language of the Fathers incompatible with the Calvinistic doctrine of irresistible grace. 4°. On election and reprobation. What the Fathers understood by the terms, foreknown, ·elect, predestined, saints. Their exposition of passages of Scripture relating to this subject. Prophecy, according to them, an evidence of the Divine Foreknowledge, yet not so as to control the contingency of events. Tenets akin to the Calvinistic ascribed by Origen to the Valentinians. His exposition of Rom. ix. pdf |
| Lecture XV |
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Use of the Fathers in unfolding the meaning of Scripture: III. Prevailing mistake. of applying a modern -standard of interpretation to passages which should be explained by reference to an ancient one. The information, which the Fathers give, on early heresies, the true key to much of the New Testament. The method of Dr. Hammond substantially correct. Succession of heresies. Observation of Tertullian. Illustration of it from the writings of St. John. St. Paul explained with reference to the Gnostic heresy by Irenreus. Application of the same method by Tertullian. Further allusions to the doctrines and phraseology of the Gnostics discoverable in the Apostolical Epistles. IV. Interpretation of individual texts by the Fathers. Their comments not always to be relied on; yet often 'Superior to those of modern days. Illustrations pdf |
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Passages of Scripture explained or referred to pdf |
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Index pdf |
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Complete Text in one file pdf |
