: James Aitken Wylie
: The History of Protestantism ALL 24 Books
: Madison& Adams Press
: 9788026897668
: 1
: CHF 1.30
:
: Neuzeit bis 1918
: English
: 3239
: Wasserzeichen
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
'The History of Protestantism, which we propose to write, is no mere history of dogmas. The teachings of Christ are the seeds; the modern Christendom, with its new life, is the goodly tree which has sprung from them. We shall speak of the seed and then of the tree, so small at its beginning, but destined one day to cover the earth.' Content: Progress From the First to the Fourteenth Century Wicliffe and His Times, or Advent of Protestantism John Huss and the Hussite Wars Christendom at the Opening of the Sixteenth Century History of Protestantism in Germany to the Leipsic Disputation, 1519 From the Leipsic Disputation to the Diet at Worms, 1521. Protestantism in England, From the Times of Wicliffe to Those of Henry Viii. History of Protestantism in Switzerland Froma.d. 1516 to Its Establishment at Zurich, 1525. History of Protestantism From the Diet of Worms, 1521, to the Augsburg Confession, 1530. Rise and Establishment of Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark. Protestantism in Switzerland From Its Establishment in Zurich (1525) to the Death of Zwingli (1531) Protestantism in Germany From the Augsburg Confession to the Peace of Passau From Rise of Protestantism in France (1510) to Publication of the Institutes (1536) Rise and Establishment of Protestantism at Geneva. The Jesuits Protestantism in the Waldensian Valleys Protestantism in France From Death of Francis I (1547) to Edict of Nantes (1598) History of Protestantism in the Netherlands Protestantism in Poland and Bohemia Protestantism in Hungary and Transylvania The Thirty Years' War Protestantism in France From Death of Henry IV (1610) to the Revolution (1789) Protestantism in England From the Times of Henry VIII Protestantism in Scotland

James Aitken Wylie (1808-1890) was a Scottish historian of religion and Presbyterian minister. He was a prolific writer and is most famous for writing The History of Protestantism. #13;

CHAPTER 2
DECLENSION OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH


Early Triumphs of the Truth — Causes — The Fourth Century — Early Simplicity lost — The Church remodeled on the Pattern of the Empire — Disputes regarding Easter-day — Descent of the Gothic Nations — Introduction of Pagan Rites into the Church — Acceleration of Corruption — Inability of the World all at once to receive the Gospel in its greatness.

ALL through, from the fifth to the fifteenth century, the Lamp of Truth burned dimly in the sanctuary of Christendom. Its flame often sank low, and appeared about to expire, yet never did it wholly go out. God remembered His covenant with the light, and set bounds to the darkness. Not only had this heaven-kindled lamp its period of waxing and waning, like those luminaries that God has placed on high, but like them, too, it had its appointed circuit to accomplish. Now it was on the cities of Northern Italy that its light was seen to fall; and now its rays illumined the plains of Southern France. Now it shone along the course of the Danube and the Moldau, or tinted the pale shores of England, or shed its glory upon the Scottish Hebrides. Now it was on the summits of the Alps that it was seen to burn, spreading a gracious morning on the mountain-tops, and giving promise of the sure approach of day. And then, anon, it would bury itself in the deep valleys of Piedmont, and seek shelter from the furious tempests of persecution behind the great rocks and the eternal snows of the everlasting hills. Let us briefly trace the growth of this truth to the days of Wicliffe.

The spread of Christianity during the first three centuries was rapid and extensive. The main causes that contributed to this were the translation of the Scriptures into the languages of the Roman world, the fidelity and zeal of the preachers of the Gospel, and the heroic deaths of the martyrs. It was the success of Christianity that first set limits to its progress. It had received a terrible blow, it is true, under Diocletian. This, which was the most terrible of all the early persecutions, had, in the belief of the Pagans, utterly exterminated the"Christian superstition" So far from this, it had but afforded the Gospel an opportunity of giving to the world a mightier proof of its divinity. It rose from the stakes and massacres of Diocletian, to begin a new career, in which it was destined to triumph over the empire which thought that it had crushed it. Dignities and wealth now flowed in upon its ministers and disciples, and according to the uniform testimony of all the early historians, the faith which had maintained its purity and rigor in the humble sanctuaries and lowly position of the first age, and amid the fires of its pagan persecutors, became corrupt and waxed feeble amid the gorgeous temples and the worldly dignities which imperial favor had lavished upon it.

From the fourth century the corruptions of the Christian Church continued to make marked and rapid progress. The Bible began to be hidden from the people. And in proportion as the light, which is the surest guarantee of liberty, was withdrawn, the clergy usurped authority over the members of the Church. The canons of councils were put in the room of the one infallible Rule of Faith; and thus the first stone was laid in the foundations of"Babylon, that great city, that made all nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." The ministers of Christ began to affect titles of dignity, and to extend their authority and jurisdiction to temporal matters, forgetful that an office bestowed by God, and serviceable to the highest interests of society, can never fail of respect when filled by men of exemplary character, sincerely devoted to the discharge of its duties. The beginning of this matter seemed innocent enough. To obviate pleas before the secular tribunals, ministers were frequently asked to arbitrate in disputes between members of the Church, and Constantine made a law confirming all such decisions in the consistories of the clergy, and shutting out the review of their sentences by the civil judges. Proceeding in this fatal path, the next step was to form the external polity of the Church upon the model of the civil government. Four vice-kings or prefects governed the Roman Empire under Con