Three Introductory Lectures on the Study of Ecclesiastical History

by Arthur Penrhyn Stanley

THREE INTRODUCTORY LECTURES

ON THE

Study of Ecclesiastical History.

BY

ARTHUR PENRHYN STANLEY, M.A.,

REGIUS PROFESSOR OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY; CANON OF CANTERBURY.

OXFORD,
AND 377, STRAND, LONDON:
JOHN HENRY and JAMES PARKER.
M DCCCLVII.

CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.— THE PROVINCE OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
		PAGE
	Description of Ecclesiastical History	1
I.	Its first beginning	2
	The History of Israel, the first period of the History of the Church	4
	Its peculiar interest	5
	Its religious importance	6
II.	The History of Christendom, the second period of the History of the Church	10
	Relations of Civil and Ecclesiastical History	11
	Points of contact between them	15
	Points of divergence	17
	Stages of the History of the Christian Church	20
	1. The Transition from the Church of the Apostles to the Church of the Fathers	ib.
	2. The Conversion of the Empire. The Eastern Church	22
	3. The Invasion of the Barbarians. The Latin Church	23
	4. The Reformation	ib.
	The German, French, and English Church	26
	Conclusion. The late Professor Hussey	28
LECTURE II.— THE STUDY OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
	Dryness of Ecclesiastical History	33
	Remedy to be found in an Historical View of the Church	34
I.	History of Doctrines	35
II.	History of Creeds and Articles	35
III.	History of Events and Persons	37
	General Study	38
	Detailed Study of great Events	39
	The Councils	ib.
	Detailed Study of great Men	40
	Neander and his History	41
	Distinction of Characters	42
	Uses of this Method:—
	I. Gradation of Importance in Ecclesiastical Matters	44
	II. Combination of Civil and Ecclesiastical History	45
	III. Caution against Partiality	46
	IV. Reference to Original Authorities	48
	Graves of the Covenanters	50
	The Catacombs	51
Special Opportunities for this Study:—
	I. In the Church of England	52
	II. In the University of Oxford	54
	III. In active Clerical Life	56
	Conclusion	59
LECTURE III.— THE ADVANTAGES OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
I.	Importance of Historical Facts in Theological Study	62
II.	Importance of a General View of Ecclesiastical History	65
III.	Use of the Biography of good Men	67
IV.	Use of the general Authority of the Church	69
V.	Better Understanding of Differences and of Unity	72
VI.	Evidence rendered to the Truth of Christianity	74
VII.	Lessons from the Failings of the Church	75
VIII.	Comparison of Ecclesiastical History with the Scriptures	76
IX.	Future Prospect of the History of the Church	80
	Indications in History	81
	Indications in Scripture	82
	Conclusion	85