MOSHEIM'S INSTITUTES OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, ANCIENT AND MODERN. A NEW AND LITERAL TRANSLATION FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, BY JAMES MURDOCK, D.D. Jerusalem בירושלם REVISED, AND SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ADDED. BY JAMES SEATON REID, D.D. PROFESSOR OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW. LONDON: SIMMS AND MINTYRE, 13, PATERNOSTER ROW, AND DONEGALL STREET, BELFAST. 1848. גאונים 270 MOS (IN-2) 1848 PREFACE. WHEN the enterprising publishers of this volume applied to me to edit a new edition of Maclaine's translation of these Institutes of Mosheim, I declined to undertake the task, on account of the numerous defects of that translation, and the impossibility of rectifying them without undergoing the labour of an entirely new version. At the same time, I directed their attention to this excellent translation by Dr. Murdock, which had been very favourably received both in the United States and in this country; and stated my belief that a cheap reprint of it in one volume was much wanted, in order the more effectually to supersede Maclaine's unsatisfactory translation, and to furnish English readers with an accurate version of a work which, under many disadvantages, has long been one of our most popular works on Ecclesiastical History. The publishers adopted this suggestion, and I have accordingly endeavoured to execute the task assigned me with diligence and fidelity, but without the advantage of having had time to make any special preparation before engaging in it. The first American edition of Dr. Murdock's translation was used so far as the fourth century, when the second and, I believe, last edition of 1845 was obtained from New-York, and thenceforward adopted as the basis of this edition. I have ventured to revise the translation in various places, either to bring it closer to the original text, or to correct a few inaccuracies of style. Several lengthy documents elsewhere accessible in English, and some details of inferior interest, have been occasionally omitted from the notes of the translator, lest the work might prove too bulky for a single volume; and I have supplied throughout a number of additional notes which are marked with the letter-R. In compiling these notes, my object was not so much to supply new facts or corrections overlooked by preceding editors, because it appeared to me that the text had been already rather too much overlaid by supplementary matter of this sort. My principal aim was, to point out to the student additional sources of information, and especially to direct the English reader to those works in his own language, whether original בית הספרים הלאמ והאוניברסיטאי יי ו ע ל י !!! works or translations, which illustrated the topics discussed in t.. or the accompanying notes. I was induced to keep in view the wants oí this class of readers from the conviction that this work of Mosheim had long furnished, and I have no doubt will continue to furnish, a larger number of English readers than is generally supposed, with all the knowledge they possess of the history of the church. I thought it right, therefore, to render this new edition, adapted as it is from its cheapness for general use, as profitable as possible to those who may not be conversant with ancient or modern languages. At the same time, I hope the learned reader, and especially the professional student, will derive from the notes I have supplied, some further assistance in their study of this branch of history, in addition to what the erudite translator had already so abundantly furnished in his many valuable notes, both original and selected. I cannot take leave of this work without expressing my regret that more time had not been allowed me for preparing for and perfecting this edition. The greatest care however has been taken, both by the publishers and myself, to render all the quotations and references as faithful and correct as possible; and this new edition is now offered to the public in the confident hope that, though capable of further improvement, it will be found more complete and valuable than any other which has yet appeared. J. S. R. GLASGOW COLLEGE, October, 1818. CONTENTS. PAGE Worship-11, (IV.) Heresies-12, Events must be FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST TO CONSTANTINE THE GREAT. CHAP. I.-THE CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF THE WORLD AT THE BIRTH OF OUR Sec. 1-State of the Roman empire-2, Its evils-3, Its advantages-4, Then in peace-5, Other nations -6, All were idolaters-7, They worshipped dif- ferent gods-8, They were tolerant-9, Most of their gods were deceased heroes-10, Pagan wor- ship-11, It was confined to times and places— 12, The mysteries-13, Paganism not the parent of virtue-14, Its votaries sunk in vice-15, How supported by the priests-16, The Roman and Grecian religions-17, The mixed religions of the provinces-18, Religions beyond the Roman empire classed-19, Philosophers unable to reform the world-20, The Oriental and the Grecian phi- losophy-21, Some philosophers subverted all reli- gion-22, Others debased it; e.g. Aristotelians- OF THE JEWS AT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.. 13 Sec. 1-Herod the Great then reigned-2, State of the Jews after his death-3, Their troubles and cala- mities-4, which were increased by their leading men-5, Their religion greatly corrupted, both among the common people-6, and among their teachers, who were divided into three sects-7, Their dissensions-8, Their toleration of each other-9, The Essenes-10, The Therapeuta-11, Moral doctrines of these sects-12, Low state of religion among the people-13, The Cabala, a nation-16, Yet religion not wholly extinct-17, The Samaritans-18, State of the Jews out of CHAP. III.-THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST..... 17 Sec. 1-The birth of Christ-2, His childhood and 'youth-3, His precursor, John the Baptist-4, His subsequent life-5, He appoints twelve apostles, and seventy disciples-6, Reason of this number -7, Fame of Christ out of Judea-8 Success of CHAP. V.-THE ADVERSE EVENTS OF THE Sec. 1-Persecutions of the Christians by Jews in Palestine-2, By Jews out of Palestine-3, Divine Judgments on the Jews-4, Ten persecutions by the pagans-5, Laws against the Christians-6, Causes of hostility to them. Charged with hatred to mankind-7, Other causes of persecution-8, Slanders against Christians-9, Modes of trial and punishment-10, The martyrs and confessors- 11, Number of them-12, Acts of the martyrs |