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tolerated in the days of the Antonines must be abandoned—Their
sufferings under the rule of these great Emperors,
especially in the days of Marcus, can scarcely be exaggerated 91


BOOK II

THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN IN THE EARLY
DAYS OF THE FAITH


INTRODUCTORY 101


I

NUMBERS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE EARLY DAYS

Certain reasons to which the rapid acceptance of Christianity was
owing—The great numbers of the early converts is borne
witness to by pagan authors, such as Tacitus and Pliny, and
by Christian contemporary writers such as Clement of Rome,
Hermas, Irenæus, and others—The testimony of the Roman
catacombs described in detail in Fourth Book is also referred
to 102


II

THE ASSEMBLIES OF CHRISTIANS

These "assemblies" constituted a powerful factor in the
acceptance and organization of the religion of Jesus—Their
high importance is recognized by the great teachers of
the first days—Quotations from these are given 107


III

OF WHOM THESE PRIMITIVE "ASSEMBLIES" WERE COMPOSED

Information respecting these early meetings of Believers is supplied
by leading Christian teachers—Quotations from these
are given 110


IV

WHAT WAS TAUGHT AND DONE IN THESE "ASSEMBLIES"

A general picture of one of them by Justin Martyr—(A) Dogmatic
teaching given in these meetings—(B) Almsgiving—Is shown
to be an inescapable duty—Is pressed home by early
masters of Christianity on the faithful—All offerings made
were, however, purely voluntary—No communism was ever