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THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
Transcriber’s Notes The cover image was provided by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. Punctuation has been standardized. Most abbreviations have been expanded in tool-tips for screen-readers and may be seen by hovering the mouse over the abbreviation. This book has illustrated drop-caps at the start of each chapter. These illustrations may adversely affect the pronunciation of the word with screen-readers or not display properly in some handheld devices. This book was written i
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
CHAPTER I. THE BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY MINISTRY, OF JESUS. The Roman Empire.—Moral Influence of Jesus.—John.—The Annunciation.—The Birth of Jesus.—Visit of the Magi.—Wrath of Herod.—Flight to Egypt.—Return to Nazareth.—Jesus in the Temple.—John the Baptist.—The Temptation.—The First Disciples.—The First Miracle.—Visit to Jerusalem.—Nicodemus.—The Woman of Samaria.—Healing of the Nobleman’s Son.—Visit to Capernaum.—Peter and Andrew called.—James and John called.—The Demon
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CHAPTER I. THE BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY MINISTRY, OF JESUS.
CHAPTER I. THE BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY MINISTRY, OF JESUS.
All this is changed since the coming of Christ. Eighteen centuries ago a babe was born in the stable of an inn, in the Roman province of Judæa. The life of that babe has stamped a new impress upon the history of the world. When the child Jesus was born, all the then known nations of the earth were in subjection to one government,—that of Rome. The Atlantic Ocean was an unexplored sea, whose depths no mariner ever ventured to penetrate. The Indies had but a shadowy and almost fabulous existence.
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CHAPTER II. TOUR THROUGH GALILEE.
CHAPTER II. TOUR THROUGH GALILEE.
“Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect, that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to shine upon the evil and the good, and sendeth his rain upon the just and upon the unjust.” The p
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CHAPTER III. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, AND MIRACLES OF HEALING.
CHAPTER III. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, AND MIRACLES OF HEALING.
But soon they were re-assured by hearing the well-known voice of Jesus saying unto them, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” The impulsive Peter immediately exclaimed, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And, when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But, when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and
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CHAPTER IV. LAST LABORS, AND FAREWELL TO HIS DISCIPLES.
CHAPTER IV. LAST LABORS, AND FAREWELL TO HIS DISCIPLES.
“I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” A lawyer, one whose profession was to study the Jewish law, feigning a desire to be instructed, and yet probably seeking to entrap him, asked, “Master, what shall I do to
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CHAPTER V. ARREST, TRIAL, AND CRUCIFIXION.
CHAPTER V. ARREST, TRIAL, AND CRUCIFIXION.
After this scene of anguish and prayer, which probably occupied an hour, he returned to his three disciples, and found them asleep. He gently reproached them, saying to Peter, “Could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing; but the flesh is weak.” Again he retired the second time, and the same scene of inexpressible and unimaginable mental suffering was re-enacted. Jesus recoiled not from the physical pain of the cross; never
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CHAPTER VI. THE CONVERSION AND MINISTRY OF SAUL OF TARSUS.
CHAPTER VI. THE CONVERSION AND MINISTRY OF SAUL OF TARSUS.
The timidity of Peter seemed to vanish. He became truly heroic in his boldness. His eloquence, fearlessness, and zeal gave him prominence above the other disciples. Having healed a lame man at the gate of the temple in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the excitement in the city became so great, that the priests and the Sadducees, with the captain of the temple, came upon Peter and John, arrested them, and thrust them into prison, “being grieved,” it is written, “that they taught the people,
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CHAPTER VII. MISSIONARY ADVENTURES.
CHAPTER VII. MISSIONARY ADVENTURES.
“Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: and they wrote letters by them after this manner:— “The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting y
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CHAPTER VIII. THE CAPTIVE IN CHAINS.
CHAPTER VIII. THE CAPTIVE IN CHAINS.
A man named Tyrannus, a school-teacher, who was either a convert, or was favorably affected towards the new doctrine, opened his schoolroom for the preaching of Paul. In that room, and from house to house, the zealous and persevering apostle preached, for the space of two years, “repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.” A large church was organized. Paul himself, and other disciples, made many excursions into the surrounding region, “so that all they which dwelt in Asia
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CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST PERSECUTION.
CHAPTER IX. THE FIRST PERSECUTION.
The wretched emperor, reclining upon his couch, was taken with a fainting-fit. His physician, feeling his pulse, said, “His life is ebbing fast.” All thought him dying. The courtiers abandoned the powerless monarch, who had no longer any favors to grant, and gathered tumultuously with their congratulations around Caligula, declaring him to be emperor. In the midst of their hilarity, Tiberius, to the consternation of all, revived; but he was weak and helpless, and could be easily put out of the w
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CHAPTER X. ROMAN EMPERORS, GOOD AND BAD.
CHAPTER X. ROMAN EMPERORS, GOOD AND BAD.
“If you wish for my head, here it is. I am willing at any time to surrender it for the good of the Roman people.” Scarcely had he uttered these words ere a sinewy soldier, with one blow of his heavy broadsword, struck off his head, and it rolled upon the pavement. Another soldier seized it by the hair, and thrust a pike into the palpitating flesh; and, with the shoutings of tumultuous thousands, the gory trophy was paraded through the streets. Such were the scenes which were witnessed in pagan R
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CHAPTER XI. MARTYRDOM.
CHAPTER XI. MARTYRDOM.
Trajan replied, “Do you speak of him who was crucified under Pontius Pilate?” “Yes,” responded Ignatius: “he has made atonement for my sins, and has put all the malice of Satan under their feet who carry him in their hearts.” “Do you, then, carry in your heart him who was crucified?” “I do,” was the response; “for it is written, ‘I will dwell in them, and walk with them.’” Trajan was irritated, and angrily replied, “Since Ignatius confesses that he carries in his heart him that was crucified, we
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CHAPTER XII. PAGAN ROME.
CHAPTER XII. PAGAN ROME.
The army had loved Commodus. He allowed the soldiers unlimited license; he filled their purses with gold; he crowded their camp with male and female slaves. Pertinax wished to introduce reforms. The army hated Pertinax because he was good, as devils hate angels. “Away with him!” was the cry which resounded through the whole encampment. Three hundred burly wretches, from the encampment outside the walls of Rome, marched to the palace. Deliberately they cut off the head of Pertinax. Parading it up
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CHAPTER XIII. SIN AND MISERY.
CHAPTER XIII. SIN AND MISERY.
Gunpowder has equalized strength. A small man can pull a trigger as well as a large one. The bullet shot from a rifle will accomplish equal execution, let the rifle be held by a dwarf or a giant. But in those days, before the invention of gunpowder, when men fought with clubs and battle-axes, with massive swords and heavy cross-bows, agility and strength were essential to the successful warrior. The emperor gazed upon the feats of Maximin with astonishment and admiration. The giant was an unmiti
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CHAPTER XIV. INVASION CIVIL WAR, AND UNRELENTING PERSECUTION.
CHAPTER XIV. INVASION CIVIL WAR, AND UNRELENTING PERSECUTION.
Gloriously the religion of Jesus beams forth amidst all these horrors. “God hath made of one blood all nations.” 176 “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” 177 “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 178 The Emperor Valerian pressed on with his Roman legions to attack the barbarians in the Far East. He crossed the Euphrates, and encountered the Persian host, drawn up in defiant battle-array on the plains of Mesopotamia. A terrible battle was fought, and the Ro
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CHAPTER XV. CONSTANTINE.—THE BANNER OF THE CROSS UNFURLED.
CHAPTER XV. CONSTANTINE.—THE BANNER OF THE CROSS UNFURLED.
Helena, the mother of Constantine, was so consistent in her Christian character, that her family were constrained to recognize her superiority, and to admire her spirit. It was doubtless her example which mainly influenced her illustrious son to embrace the gospel. Through her long life she was the munificent friend of the Christians,—travelling from place to place to aid them with her money and her personal influence. She died at the age of eighty years, a true mother in Israel. In the palace,
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CHAPTER XVI. THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE.
CHAPTER XVI. THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE.
Licinius gathered around him the magicians of Egypt and the idolatrous priests. The most imposing sacrifices were offered to the pagan gods. He assembled all his officers in a grove filled with idols, and thus addressed them:— “Behold, my friends, the gods of our fathers, whom we honor as we have been taught to do by them! Our adversary has abandoned them for I know not what strange God, whose infamous standard profanes his army. This battle will decide which of us is in error. “Should the stran
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CHAPTER XVII. JULIAN THE APOSTATE.
CHAPTER XVII. JULIAN THE APOSTATE.
Constantine the father, with his vigorous arm, had held the barbarians in check. God had apparently heard his prayers, and had given him the victory over his enemies. His death was the signal for a general war. Constantius, in the East, was soon struggling against an inundation of Tartar tribes. The usual scenes of blood and misery ensued, as the hostile armies, now in surging waves of victory, now in the refluent billows of defeat, swept the doomed land. While Constantius was thus engaged strug
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CHAPTER XVIII. THE IMMEDIATE SUCCESSORS OF JULIAN.
CHAPTER XVIII. THE IMMEDIATE SUCCESSORS OF JULIAN.
When troubles come, nearly all men are disposed to look to God for aid. The whole army was at that time in imminent peril of annihilation from famine, pestilence, and the sword. The officers in a body gathered around Jovian, and earnestly entreated him to accept the crown. “We will all,” they said, “be Christians. The reign of idolatry has been too short to efface the teachings of the good Constantine. Lead us, and we will return to the worship of the true God.” This noble young man was but thir
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CHAPTER XIX. THE FIFTH CENTURY.
CHAPTER XIX. THE FIFTH CENTURY.
Singeric enjoyed his elevation but seven days, when assassination terminated his earthly being. Wallia, who by the suffrages of the Goths succeeded to the throne, restored Placidia to her brother Honorius. The reign of the barbarians in Gaul, with their wars and their plunderings, caused for a time the ruin of those once opulent provinces. Attila the Hun, to whom we have alluded, with an innumerable horde of the ferocious warriors, invaded Italy, everywhere perpetrating atrocious acts of cruelty
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CHAPTER XX. CENTURIES OF WAR AND WOE.
CHAPTER XX. CENTURIES OF WAR AND WOE.
“Ah! those shrewd old monks had a keen eye to creature-comforts. They loved the banks of the well-filled stream sparkling with salmon and trout: they sought out luxuriant meadows, where their herds could roll in fatness amidst the exuberant verdure; or the wooded hills, where the red deer could bound through the glade, and snowy flocks could graze, and yellow harvests, sheltered from the northern winds, could ripen in the sun.” Indeed they did. This was all right,—Christian in the highest degree
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CHAPTER XXI. THE DARK AGES.
CHAPTER XXI. THE DARK AGES.
Henry, the Emperor of Germany, entered the Abbey of St. Vanne as a monk. The holy father in charge, who was truly a good man, enlightened and conscientious, received the emperor reluctantly. After much remonstrance, he, however, administered the oath by which the monarch vowed implicit obedience to the authority of his spiritual superior. “Sire,” said this good monk to the emperor, “you are now under my orders: you have taken a solemn oath to obey me. I command you to retire immediately from th
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CHAPTER XXII. THE REFORMATION.
CHAPTER XXII. THE REFORMATION.
The Bishop of Rome, claiming to stand in God’s stead, with power to admit to heaven or to consign to hell, became, in many cases, a conspirator with kings and princes to inthrall mankind. As an illustration of this infamous perversion of Christianity, it may be mentioned, that, early in the fourteenth century, Pope Boniface designed to get up a magnificent celebration in honor of the popedom. He appointed a jubilee at Rome. As an inducement to lead an innumerable band to cluster in homage around
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CHAPTER XXIII. THE MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW.
“In Bohemia, no persuasion, no argument, no violence, not even arms and war, have succeeded in abolishing the use of the wine as well as the bread in the sacrament. If this is granted, they may be re-united to the Church; but, if refused, they will be driven into the party of the Protestants. So many priests have been degraded by their diocesans for administering the sacrament in both kinds, that the country is almost deprived of priests. Hence children die or grow up to maturity without baptism
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CHAPTER XXIV. THE CHURCH IN MODERN TIMES.
CHAPTER XXIV. THE CHURCH IN MODERN TIMES.
Fearing the rising power of the Guises, who were the devoted partisans of the Papacy, Henry secured the assassination of the Duke of Guise, and of his brother the cardinal. This exasperated the pope. Henry was stabbed by a fanatic monk. The Pope, Sixtus V. , in full consistory, applauded the deed. He apparently wished to encourage the assassination of all sovereigns who were not obsequiously obedient to the Papacy. The regicide he pronounced, in declamatory phrase, “to be comparable, as regards
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