as an ecclesiastical history of the first four centuries, and his "Historia Literaria" is even still the best and most convenient complete work on the literary history of the church. For extent and variety of learning he stands high among the scholars of his time. But his re p ct for antiquity sometimes degenerates into mere credulity; he is not altogether free from protestant prejudices; and we look in vain in his works for comprehensive views or independent opinions. Yet his well-directed industry deserves everlasting gratitude. Few writers on these subjects have composed works which have been more permanently useful; and at a time when a false liberality was becoming every day more common, he distinguished himself by his firm adherence to the principles of the catholic church.

The contributions which were made by HENRY WHARTON to Cave's "Historia Literaria," as well as some of his other works, have secured for that indefatigable and precocious scholar a place among the English writers of church-history. And the "Ecclesiastical History" of LAURENCE ECHARD, though a compilation of little value, deserves notice as one of the first works of the kind written in our own language. The history of our own church was illustrated, or obscured, by Burnet, Strype, Collier, and a host of other writers. But from the beginning of the eighteenth century the English school of church-his

most Eminent of the Primitive Fathers for the first three hundred years. To which is added, a Chronology of the three first Ages of the Church. By William Cave, D.D., London, 1677.

Ecclesiastici: or, the History of the Lives, Acts, Death, and Writings of the most Eminent Fathers of the Church, that flourish'd in the Fourth Century. Wherein among other things an Account is given of the rise, growth, and progress of Arianism, and all other Sects of that Age descending from it. Together with an Introduction, containing an Historical Account of the State of Paganism under the first Christian Emperours. By William Cave, D.D., London, 1683.

Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Historia Literaria à Christo nato usque ad Sæculum XIV. facili methodo digesta. Qua de Vita illorum ac Rebus' gestis, de Secta, Dogmatibus, Elogio, Stylo; de Scriptis genuinis, dubiis, supposititiis, ineditis, deperditis, Fragmentis; deque variis Operum Editionibus perspicuè agitur. Accedunt Scriptores Gentiles, Christianæ Religionis Oppugnatores; et cujusvis Sæculi Breviarium, Inseruntur suis locis Veterum aliquot Opuscula et Fragmenta, tum Græca, tum Latina hactenus inedita. Præmissa denique Prolegomena, quibus plurima ad Antiquitatis Ecclesiasticæ studium spectantia traduntur. Opus Indicibus necessariis instructum. Autore Guilielmo Cave, SS. Theol. Profes. Canonico Windesoriensi. Accedit ab alia Manu Appendix ab ineunte Sæculo XIV. ad annum usque MDXVII. Londini, 1688. The Oxford edition of 1740 is greatly improved, and augmented by a large quantity of additional matter. We can look only to Oxford for a new edition adapted to the present state of ecclesiastical knowledge. Such a book would be invaluable to the students of church-history.

† Appendix ad Historiam Literariam Cl. V. Gulielmi Cave, in quâ De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis ab anno мccc. ad annum мDXVII. pari methodo agitur. Authore Henrico Wharton, A. M. Rmo. in Christo Ptri. ac Dno. Archiepiscopo Cantuarensi a Sacris Domesticis. Londini: 1689.

A general Ecclesiastical History from the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour to the first Establishment of Christianity by Humane Laws, under the Emperour Constantine the Great. Containing the space of about 313 years. With so much of the Jewish and Roman History as is necessary and convenient to illustrate the work. To which is added a large Chronological Table of all the Roman and Ecclesiastical Affairs included in the same Period of Time. By Lawrence Echard, A.M., Prebendary of Lincoln, and Chaplain to the Right Reverend James, Lord Bishop of that Diocese. London, 1702.

tory rapidly declined. It withered under the chilling influence of the latitudinarians. The primacy of Tillotson was to genius and learning like the touch of the torpedo. Though his three immediate successors* were all admirable scholars, there was no staying the fatal malady which quickly destroyed this noble school of learning.

But, like the tropical sun, it set in a blaze of light. The immortal work of JOSEPH BINGHAM, though it cannot be called a church-history,† is one of the most valuable contributions which has ever been made to ecclesiastical knowledge. But the treatment which the author met with from his contemporaries shews how little they appreciated his labours. He was enabled to complete his great undertaking only by private munificence. In England it had to encounter the neglect of nearly a century. But we are doing justice to Bingham now; and it is matter for sincere rejoicing that the theological students and clergy of the church of England have at last learned to value the "Christian Antiquities."

We return to the Continent, and find that the protestants have now received the impulse which in the latter part of the seventeenth century had been communicated to ecclesiastical studies, and are warmly pursuing researches in the field so diligently cultivated by the other scholars of Europe. I observed in my last paper that the writers of the reformed communion had, before the time of Hottinger, produced no important work on the general history of the church. During the period with which we are now concerned we cannot complain of their silence. In the year 1674, JEAN LE SEUR, of Geneva, commenced a work, intended to exhibit a popular view of the subject, which he continued to the end of the tenth century. And a few years later, FREDERIC SPANHEIM, of Leyden, a writer of great acuteness and learning, also composed a history of the church.§ But the work of the latter is rather a common-place book of the polemics of ecclesiastical history than a connected narrative. It was written to refute the misrepresentations of the Romanists, and breathes throughout a controversial spirit utterly inconsistent with the calmness and gravity which ought to prevail in historical composition.

The controversial warfare which was occasioned by the persecuting measures adopted by Louis XIV. towards his Calvinistic subjects, was carried on with more than common bitterness and animosity. The protestant writers who took part in it had many of

* Tenison, 1694; Wake, 1715; Potter, 1736.

+ Origines Ecclesiastica: or, the Antiquities of the Christian Church. London, 1708-22. A Latin translation by J. H. Grischovius, has been twice printed in Germany; 1724, and 1751.

Histoire de l'Eglise et de l'Empire, depuis la Naissance de Jesus Christ jusqu'à la fin du x. Siecle. A Genève, 1674 et seq. vol. 8. 12mo. See Walch, Bibl. Theol. iii. 140.

§ Friderici Spanhemii F. Historia Ecclesiastica à nato Christo ad coeptam superiore Sec. Reformationem. Inseruntur Mutationes insigniores in Republica. I copy this title from the folio Edition of his works, tom. i. p. 480. (Lugduni Batavorum, 1701.) But I find from Walch, (Bibl. Theol. iii. 55,) that the different editions published by the author himself had different titles. The first part seems to have appeared in 1683.

them suffered from the tyranny of the oppressor. They were themselves the victims of injustice; and they were indignant to find insult added to injury, in the affected mildness and moderation of the writings in which some of their most inveterate enemies appealed to the world. Influenced as they were by the feelings natural to their peculiar circumstances, they were not in a condition to pursue, with success, the study of church-history. Irritation and resentment ill prepared them for a work which may well be called sacred. It would have been but pious if, like the hero of the Æneid, they had regarded themselves as polluted, even when combating for their homes, and scrupled to handle a hallowed thing till they were able to think and write with calmness.

Me, bello e tanto digressum et cæde recenti,
Adtrectare nefas; donec me flumine vivo

Abluero.

But their very unfitness acted as a stimulus to their activity. They were eager to wrest from their antagonists every weapon which they could wield with effect. They were more anxious to obtain a victory, than scrupulous about the means by which it might be achieved, or solicitous about consequences by which it might be followed. And accordingly, we find them boldly assailing the most venerable facts, and calling in question the most sacred principles.

The most important work on church-history-which was produced under the circumstances to which I allude-was the "Histoire de l'Eglise"* of the celebrated JACQUES BASNAGE. It was professedly

* Histoire de l'Eglise, depuis Jesus-Christ jusqu'à present, divisée en quatre parties. La premiere contient l'histoire du Gouvernement de l'Eglise dans ses dioceses d'Alexandrie, d'Antioche, d'Afrique, des Gaules, de Constantinople, et de Rome. La seconde, l'histoire de ses principaux Dogmes, du Canon des Ecritures, des Traditions, des huit Conciles Oecumeniques, de la Justification, de la Grace, et de l'Eucharistie. La troisième contient celle de l'adoration du Sacrement, du Culte des Anges, de la Vierge, des Saints, de leurs Reliques, et de leurs Images, depuis Jesus-Christ jusqu'à la naissance des Albigeois. Et la quatrième, l'histoire des Albigeois, et de la Succession de l'Eglise, jusqu'à present. Par Monsr. Basnage A Rotterdam, 1699. 2 vols. fol.

Though he appears to disclaim writing with this object, it is impossible to peruse his work without being convinced that it was the case. It will be but fair, however, to transcribe what he says himself. "On peut dire que l'Histoire des Variations a produit celle-ci, et qu'elle en a fait naître le dessein. Nous n'avons pas entrepris cet ouvrage afin d'y étaler les variations de l'ancienne Eglise, et les contradictions des Docteurs particuliers, à Dieu ne plaise! Pourquoi chercher dans un beau visage toutes les taches qui le deshonorent, et travailler avec effort pour diminuer le respect et l'estime qu'on a pour les Peres? Ces divisions des Theologiens et des Peres de l'ancienne Eglise ne sont entrées dans notre Histoire, que quand la chose etoit inevitable, et que la sincerité dont nous faisons profession, nous empêchoit de les dissimuler. Mais enécrivant contre Mr. de Meaux nous trouvâmes dans son livre une longue digression, chargée d'accusations contre les Albigeois et les Vaudois, que les Reformez regardent comme leurs ancêtres, et comme ceux qui ont fait passer la verité jusqu'à nous. Cet incident parut plus important que le principal, et nous crûmes dès lors qu'il etoit absolument necessaire de faire l'Histoire entière de la succession de l'Eglise, et de montrer le cours de la Religion de siecle en siecle, depuis Jesus-Christ jusqu'à nous.

On execute aujourd'hui ce qu'on ne pouvoit faire alors, et on donne une Histoire du Gouvernement de l'Eglise, de ses principaux Dogmes, et de son Culte. Quoi

written in reply to the "Histoire des Variations des Eglises Protestantes" of Bossuet. By way of meeting the argument of that noted book, he followed his countryman Jurieu in plying the invidious task of exposing the inconsistencies of the ancient church. Anxious to gain an advantage over his eloquent opponent, he traces the history of the government, the doctrine, and worship of the church, carefully pointing out the variations which have prevailed in different times and countries. His extensive learning and great acuteness well fitted him for historical researches; and I am not aware that there is any reason to suspect his personal orthodoxy. But the pertness and flippancy, not unfrequent in French writers, and an unfortunate tone of levity and satire, greatly detract from the value of his work, and compel me to assign him a place among the writers who have dared to desecrate ecclesiastical history.

The "Annals" of SAMUEL BASNAGE, which appeared in 1706, deserve to be described as a work of learning-too much distinguished, however, by the same polemical tone, and the same unsatisfactory principles.

The domestic differences which exercised the industry and learning of the Lutheran divines, appear to have been the chief cause which prevented their taking an early part in the cultivation of church history. The Syncretistic controversy,† which raged so violently in the middle of the seventeenth century, and the disputes with the Pietists, which were carried on some years later, engrossed the energy of protestant Germany; and it was not till near the beginning of the following century that we discover in that country the general prevalence of a taste for church-history. During the long interval between the publication of the "Magdeburg Centuries" and this period, the evangelical church had done scarcely anything for ecclesiastical studies. Compendiums, indeed, appeared in abundance; but little disposition was evinced for original research. The national temper had found a congenial pursuit in the subtilties of philosophical theology. During this season of barrenness, the celebrated GEORG

qu'on ait vu paroître plusieurs Histoires Ecclesiastiques, et que divers Savans de l'une et de l'autre Communion ayent donné des Traitez historiques sur certains dogmes, et sur quelque partie du Culte, celle-ci ne laissera pas d'avoir quelque chose de nouveau, parceque le dessein en est plus étendu, qu'on y rassembla des parties separées, dont on a fait un corps, tellement qu'on peut voir d'un coup-d'œil ce qui s'est dit et fait de plus considerable sur chaque matiere de siecle en siecle.-Préface, p. vi., vii.

Annales politico-ecclesiastici annorum DCXLV. a Cæsare Augusto ad Phocam usque, in quibus res Imperii Ecclesiæque observatu digniores subjiciuntur oculis, erroresque evelluntur Baronio. Roterodami, 1706.

The most complete account of this controversy, which, as far as I am aware, has appeared in English, is to be found in Maclaine's Translation of Mosheim. Cent. xvii. Sect. ii. Part. ii; Chap. i. xxi-xxv.; Vol. iv. p. 29-37. Edit. 1826. It is treated at greater length by Schröckh. Kirchengeschichte seit der Refor. mation. iv. 688, u. f.

I describe it thus merely in reference to the subject on which I am now writing. I do not forget the remarks of one who has exerted himself to save his country from the moral plague which devastated the continent.-See the State of Protestant Religion in Germany, p. 31. ed. 1825.

CALIXTUS* is almost the only writer who can be mentioned as having contributed to the advancement of church history; and the Gotha Compendium,t as it is called, is the only one which is distinguished among the compilations. At the end of the century, however, the Germans betook themselves to the study of church-history with characteristic industry. CHRISTIAN KORTHOLT, ADAM RECHENBERG, § THOMAS ITTIG, and JOHANN ANDREAS SCHMID,¶¶ distinguished themselves by works of extensive erudition, and opened a new career for the enterprise and perseverance of their countrymen.

But the work which excited the greatest attention, and produced the greatest and most permanent effect, was written by a person in learning and accomplishments very inferior to these eminent men. Revolutionists have rarely been men of extensive information, or the highest order of talents: and it was nothing less than a revolution which GOTTFRIED ARNOLD attempted in church history. The excitement caused by the opinions and conduct of the Pietists, important as it has been in its effects to Christianity in Germany, produced at the time nothing perhaps more remarkable than the writings of this extraordinary man. He had, early in life, become connected with that party; and he appears to have surpassed them all in hostility to the prevailing methods of studying divinity, and in attachment to the visionary principles of the mystical theology. With all his inconsistencies, he seems to have been a disinterested and pious man; and it is not unlikely that the irritating disease which brought him to the grave at the age of eight-and-forty produced the most unsatisfactory points in his character. Regarding the conduct of the clergy as the chief obstacle to the attempts made by Spener and his associates to procure a reformation of the Lutheran church, and provoked by the charges of heresy with which those indefatigable, and, many of them,

• Historia de Statu rerum in Ecclesia Occidentali seculis viii., ix., x., et deinceps, quando Pontificius dominatus et corruptelæ invaluerunt. Appended to his AdpaWalch. Bibl. Theol. iii. 174. ratus Theologicus. Helmstadii, 1657.

+ Compendium Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ, in usum Gymnasii Gothani compositum. Walch. Bibl. Theol. iii. 53. Gotha, 1666-70.

↑ Liber de vita et moribus, Christianis primævis per Gentilium malitiam afflictis. Kilonii, 1683. And several other works on the primitive church.

§ Summarium Historia Ecclesiasticæ. Lipsiæ, 1697. But Schröckh speaks of his Dissertationes Historico politica as the most valuable of his works.

Dissertatio de Hæresiarchis Ævi Apostolici et Apostolico proximi; seu primi et secundi a Christo nato seculi. Lipsiæ, 1690.

De Bibliothecis et Catenis Patrum, Variisque veterum Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Lipsia, 1707. An exceedingly valuable book. collectionibus Tractatus. Historiæ Ecclesiastica primi a Christo nato seculi Selecta Capita, delineata studio D. Thomæ Ittigii, Superint et Theologiæ Professoris in Ecclesia et Academia Patria Lipsiensi. Præmissa est ejusdem de Scriptoribus Historiæ Ecclesiastica recentioribus Dissertatio. Lipsia, 1709. A posthumous volume, containing the history of the second century, and a dissertation on the ancient ecclesiastical historians, appeared in 1711. Several of his other works are also important. Compendium Historiæ Ecclesiasticæ. Helmstadii, 1701. Sagittarianæ Introductionis in Historiam Ecclesiasticam Tomus II. exhibens Supplementa Tomi primi et ejusdem Continuationem de Conciliis et Colloquiis. Curante Jo. Andr. Schmidio. D. PP. Ord. Theol. in Academia Julia Seniore et Abbate Mariævallensi. Jenæ, 1718.