ticular; but the Christian consists of every kindred, tongue, and people; and offers unto the name of God in every place, from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, incense and a pure offering. The Catholic Church then is the Universal Church, spread through the world; and the catholic faith is the universal faith; that form of doctrine, which the apostles delivered to the whole Church, and it received. What that faith was, we may learn from their writings contained in the New Testament; aud, at so great a distance of time, we can learn it with certainty nowhere else. Every Church or Society of Christians, that preserves this catholic or universal faith, accompanied with true charity, is a part of the Catholic or Universal Church. And in this sense, churches, that differ widely in several notions and customs, may, notwithstanding, each of them be truly Catholic Churches *.” Dissenters from the Church of England, and from the Church of Scotland, as by law established," are, therefore, included in this History of the Church in Britain as they hold the catholic, the apostolic faith and while they appeal exclusively to the Scriptures as the divine warrant for their faith and practice, their piety, charity, and intelligence, demonstrate that their Societies are true Churches of Christ. General History, how carefully soever and impartially written, cannot be expected to be satisfactory to all parties. Church History also, how faithful soever its details may be, is not likely to give perfect satisfaction, except to the candid among the different denominations of Christians. Selfish sectarianism, which exists more or less in every communion, makes its advocates blind to all the excellencies which do not shine among their own friends, and requires the entire omis. sion of their commendation from the records of public in * Lectures on the Church Catechism, Lect. XIV. struction. Sacred truth, however, demands that the Christian history should record the divine virtues, and the benevolent labours, of all who profess the faith and bear the image of God our Saviour. The Author of this Volume has endeavoured to prosecute his work " as one that must give account," agreeably to his profession as a minister of Jesus Christ. His chief design in this labour has been to serve the interests of pure Scriptural Christianity among his countrymen: but while fidelity to truth required the record of some things which may offend the fastidious, and he is not unconscious of many imperfections, he is not aware of any of its statements or representations on which he cannot continue to implore the blessing of God. Reflecting upon the encouraging manner in which the public have received his "Church History through all Ages," the Author offers his most grateful acknowledgements. And, laying the present volume at the feet of HIM, whose name is "IMMANUEL," the triumphs of whose gospel and grace, in the British Churches, it briefly records, he commends it to his respected Brethren in "the ministry of reconciliation," in the hope of it being, through the influence of the Holy Spirit, instrumental in promoting the edification of our inquisitive youth, and of advancing the saving doctrine of Protestant, Scriptural Christianity. CONTENTS. BOOK I. To the Arrival of the Saxons, A.D. 449. Chap. I. Importance of British Ecclesiastical History .... .... II. Condition of Britain before the Introduction of Chris tianity III. Religion of the Ancient Britons IV. Introduction of Christianity into Britain V. Christianity in Britain to the Conversion of Lucius, VI. Constitution and Doctrine of the Primitive Churches ... VIII. Christianity in Britain from the Conversion of Constantine to the Arrival of the Saxons, A.D. 449......... 29 BOOK II. From the Arrival of the Saxons in Britain, A.D. 449, to their Conversion to Christianity, about A. D. 700. Chap. I. The Saxon Conquest of Britain II. Religion of the Saxons III. Christianity in Britain from the Arrival of the Saxons to the Mission of Augustin, A.D. 597 IV. Christianity in Scotland to the Seventh Century V. Conversion of the Saxons to Christianity VI. Character of Pope Gregory VII. The Rise and Progress of the Popedom. VIII. Mission of Augustin. IX. Augustin's Ministry and Successors X. Conversion of the Northern Saxons 37 40 44 49 XI. Establishment of Roman Uniformity in the English Churches BOOK III. From the Conversion of the Saxons, A. D. 700, to the Death of Bradwardine, A.D. 1349. Chap. I. Review of the Causes and Effects of the Conversion of the Saxons 96 II. From the time of Bede to the Dissolution of the Hep tarchy, A. D. 827 102 Page III. From the Beginning of the English Monarchy to the ..... 112 IV. From the Time of Alfred to the Establishment of the V. From the Conquest to the Death of Bradwardine, A. D. 121 129 1349.......... BOOK IV. From the Birth of Wycliffe to the Reign of Henry VII, A.D. 1509. IV. From the Martyrdom of Cobham, A.D. 1417, to the BOOK V. ... 176 From the Death of Henry VII, to the Establishment of the Reforma tion under Elizabeth. Chap. I. Henry VIII, to his being acknowledged the Supreme Head From the Establisment of the Reformation to the Death of Charles I. Chap. I. From the Reformation to the Death of Grindal II. Elizabeth and Archbishop Whitgift III. Scotland, to the Reformation IV. James I, England ...... V. Scotland under James I VI. England under Charles I VII. Scotland under Charles I VIII. Ireland 229 239 248 257 267 271 282 286 BOOK VII. From the Death of Charles I, to the Revolution under William and Mary. Chap. I. England during the Commonwealth II. Scotland during the Commonwealth III. England under Charles II VII. Ireland under the Commonwealth, Charles II and James II 333 BOOK VIII. From the Revolution to the Close of the Eighteenth Century. Chap. I. England under William and Mary..... II. Dissenters in England under William and Mary III. Scotland under William and Mary IV. Ireland under William and Mary and Anne V. Church of England under Queen Anne VI. Dissenters under Queen Anne Page 337 ... ....... 348 357 356 359 373 VII. Church of England under George I and George II...... 380 VIII. Dissenters under George I and George II IX. Rise of the Methodists ....... X. Wesleyan or Arminian Methodists to the Death of 387 398 412 XI. Calvinistic Methodists to the Death of Whitefield...... 417 XII. Calvinistic Methodists in Connection with the Countess of Huntingdon ..... XIII. Church of England under George III, to the Close of the XIV. Dissenters under George III, to the Close of the 425 429 439 .... XV. Wesleyan Methodists, to the Close of the Eighteenth Century 451 XVI. Calvinistic Methodists to the Close of the Eighteenth XIX. Scotland during the Eighteenth Century XXI. Dissenters in Ireland in the Eighteenth Century II. High Church, or Orthodox Party Chap. II. Dissenters from the Church of England ...... II. General Character of Dissenters 495 496 507 516 523 .... III. Dissenting Colleges and Seminaries Chap. III. Denominational State of Dissenters Sect. I. Congregational Independents II. Baptists III. General Baptists |