The progress of the Christian religion, & the sentiments, manners, numbers, & condition of the primitive Christians
Importance of the Inquiry — Its Difficulties
| Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity |
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| 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; The Daemons 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 & Luxury; Their Sentiments concerning Marriage & Chastity; Their Aversion to War & 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 1st & 2nd Centuries; Their Neglect of Prophecy; of Miracles; General Silence concerning the Darkness of the Passion |