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BOOK III

THE INNER LIFE OF THE CHURCH


PART I

A.D. 64-A.D. 180

INTRODUCTORY

The early Church remained continually under the veiled shadow of
persecution—This state of things we learn, not from the "Acts
of the Martyrs," which, save in a certain number of instances,
are of questionable authority, but from fragments which
have come down to us of contemporary writings—Extracts
from two groups of the more important of these are quoted 163

I

QUOTATIONS FROM APOSTLES, ETC.

First Group.—From writings of apostles and apostolic men,
including the Epistle to the Hebrews—1 Peter—Revelation
of S. John—First letter of S. Clement of Rome—The seven
genuine letters of S. Ignatius 166

II

QUOTATIONS FROM WRITINGS OF THE SECOND CENTURY

Second Group.—Early writings, dating from the time of Trajan to
the death of Marcus Antoninus (A.D. 180); including—"Letters
of Pliny and Trajan"—"Letter to Diognetus"—"The
Shepherd of Hermas"—"1st Apology of Justin Martyr"—"Minucius
Felix"—"Writings of Melito of Sardis"—"Writings
of Athenagoras"—"Writings of Theophilus of
Antioch"—"Writings of Tertullian"—the last-named a
very few years later, but bearing on same period 177

PART II

TRAINING FOR MARTYRDOM

INTRODUCTORY

The sight of the martyrs' endurance under suffering had a marked
effect on the pagan population. This was noticed and
dreaded by the Roman magistracy. Efforts were constantly
made by the Government to arrest or at least to limit the
number of martyrs 193