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Title: The History of Christianity
Consisting of the Life and Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth;
the Adventures of Paul and the Apostles; and the Most
Interesting Events in the Progress of Christianity, from
the Earliest Period to the Present Time.
Author: John S. C. Abbott
Release Date: May 1, 2019 [EBook #59400]
Language: English
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Transcriber’s Notes
The cover image was provided by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
Punctuation has been standardized.
Most abbreviations have been expanded in tool-tips for screen-readers and may be seen by hovering the mouse over the abbreviation.
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This book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated with a Transcriber’s Note.
Footnotes are identified in the text with a superscript number and have been accumulated in a table at the end of the text.
Transcriber’s Notes are used when making corrections to the text or to provide additional information for the modern reader. These notes have been accumulated in a table at the end of the book and are identified in the text by a dotted underline and may be seen in a tool-tip by hovering the mouse over the underline.
F. T. Stuart Eng. Boston
I am yours very truly
John S. C. Abbott.
THE
HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY:
CONSISTING OF THE
LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF JESUS OF NAZARETH;
THE
ADVENTURES OF PAUL AND THE APOSTLES;
AND
The Most Interesting Events in the Progress of Christianity,
FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE PRESENT TIME.
BY
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT,
AUTHOR OF “THE MOTHER AT HOME,” “LIFE OF NAPOLEON,” “LIFE OF FREDERIC THE GREAT,” ETC.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY B. B. RUSSELL, 55 CORNHILL.
PHILADELPHIA: QUAKER-CITY PUBLISHING-HOUSE.
SAN FRANCISCO: A. L. BANCROFT & CO.
DETROIT, MICH.: R. D. S. TYLER.
1872.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872,
By B. B. RUSSELL,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
Boston:
Stereotyped and Printed by Rand, Avery, & Co.
TO THE MEMBERS OF
The Second Congregational Church and Society
IN FAIR HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,
This Volume
IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
BY THEIR FRIEND AND PASTOR,
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.
THE author of this volume has for many years, at intervals, been engaged in its preparation. It has long seemed to him very desirable that a brief, comprehensive, and readable narrative of the origin of Christianity, and of its struggles and triumphs, should be prepared, adapted to the masses of the people. There are many ecclesiastical histories written by men of genius and erudition. They are, however, read by few, excepting professional theologians. The writer is not aware that there is any popular history of the extraordinary events involved in the progress of Christianity which can lure the attention of men, even of Christians, whose minds are engrossed by the agitations of busy life.
And yet there is no theme more full of sublime, exciting, and instructive interest. All the heroism which the annals of chivalry record pale into insignificance in presence of the heroism with which the battles of the cross have been fought, and with which Christians, in devotion to the interests of humanity, have met, undaunted, the most terrible doom.
The task is so difficult wisely to select and to compress within a few hundred pages the momentous events connected with Christianity during nearly nineteen centuries, that more than once the writer has been tempted to lay aside his pen in despair. Should this book fail to accomplish the purpose which he prayerfully seeks to attain, he hopes that some one else may be incited to make the attempt who will be more successful.
In writing the life of Jesus, the author has accepted the narratives of the evangelists as authentic and reliable, and has endeavored to give a faithful, and, so far as possible, a chronological account of what Jesus said and did, as he would write of any other distinguished personage. The same principle has guided him in tracing out the career of Paul and the apostles.
It has not been the object of the writer to urge any new views, or to discuss controverted questions of church polity or theology. This is a history of facts, not a philosophical or theological discussion of the principles which these facts may involve. No one, however, can read this narrative without the conviction that the religion of Jesus, notwithstanding the occasional perversions of human depravity or credulity, has remained essentially one and the same during all the centuries. We need no additional revelation. The gospel of Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In its propagation lies the only hope of the world. Its universal acceptance will usher in such a day of glory as this world has never witnessed since the flowers of Eden wilted.
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.
FAIR HAVEN, CONN.
CHAPTER I.
THE BIRTH, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY MINISTRY, OF JESUS.
The Roman Empire.—​Moral Influence of Jesus.—​John.—​The Annunciation.—​The Birth of Jesus.—​Visit of the Magi.—​Wrath of Herod.—​Flight to Egypt.—​Return to Nazareth.—​Jesus in the Temple.—​John the Baptist.—​The Temptation.—​The First Disciples.—​The First Miracle.—​Visit to Jerusalem.—​Nicodemus.—​The Woman of Samaria.—​Healing of the Nobleman’s Son.—​Visit to Capernaum.—​Peter and Andrew called.—​James and John called.—​The Demoniac healed.—​Tour through Galilee.
CHAPTER II.
TOUR THROUGH GALILEE.
The Horns of Hattin.—​The Sermon on the Mount.—​Jesus goes to Capernaum.—​The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.—​Healing the Leper; the Paralytic.—​Associates with Publicans and Sinners.—​The Feast of the Passover.—​The Cripple at the Pool.—​The Equality of the Son with the Father.—​Healing the Withered Hand.—​Anger of the Pharisees.—​The Twelve Apostles chosen.—​Inquiry of John the Baptist.—​Jesus dines with a Pharisee.—​The Anointment.—​Journey through Galilee.—​Stilling the Tempest.—​The Demoniacs and the Swine.—​The Daughter of Jairus.—​Restores Sight to the Blind.—​Address to his Disciples.
CHAPTER III.
THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, AND MIRACLES OF HEALING.
Infamy of Herod.—​Jesus in the Desert.—​Feeds the Five Thousand.—​Walks on the Sea.—​Preaches to the People.—​Visits Tyre and Sidon.—​The Syro-Phœnician Woman.—​Cures all Manner of Diseases.—​Feeds the Four Thousand.—​Restores Sight to a Blind Man.—​Conversation with Peter.—​The Transfiguration.—​Cure of the Lunatic.—​Dispute of the Apostles.—​Law of Forgiveness.—​Visits Jerusalem.—​Plot to seize Jesus.—​The Adulteress.—​Jesus the Son of God.—​The Blind Man.—​Parable of the Good Shepherd.—​Raising of Lazarus.
CHAPTER IV.
LAST LABORS, AND FAREWELL TO HIS DISCIPLES.
Journey to Jerusalem.—​Mission of the Seventy.—​Jesus teaches his Disciples to pray.—​Lament over Jerusalem.—​Return to Galilee.—​The Second Coming of Christ.—​Dangers of the Rich.—​Promise to his Disciples.—​Foretells his Death.—​Zacchæus.—​Mary anoints Jesus.—​Enters Jerusalem.—​Drives the Traffickers from the Temple.—​The Pharisees try to entrap him.—​The Destruction of Jerusalem, and the Second Coming.—​Judas agrees to betray Jesus.—​The Last Supper.—​The Prayer of Jesus.
CHAPTER V.
ARREST, TRIAL, AND CRUCIFIXION.
Anguish of Jesus.—​His Prayers in the Garden.—​The Arrest.—​Peter’s Recklessness.—​Flight of the Apostles.—​Jesus led to Annas; to Caiaphas.—​Jesus affirms that he is the Messiah.—​Frivolous Accusations.—​Peter denies his Lord.—​Jesus is conducted to Pilate.—​The Examination.—​Scourging the Innocent.—​Insults and Mockery.—​Rage of the Chief Priests and Scribes.—​Embarrassment of Pilate.—​He surrenders Jesus to his Enemies.—​The Crucifixion.—​The Resurrection.—​Repeated Appearance to his Disciples.
CHAPTER VI.
THE CONVERSION AND MINISTRY OF SAUL OF TARSUS.
The Baptism of the Holy Ghost.—​Boldness of the Apostles.—​Anger of the Rulers.—​Martyrdom of Stephen.—​Baptism of the Eunuch.—​Saul’s Journey to Damascus.—​His Conversion.—​The Disciples fear him.—​His Escape from the City.—​Saul in Jerusalem.—​His Commission to the Gentiles.—​The Conversion of Cornelius.—​The Vision of Peter.—​Persecution of the Disciples.—​Imprisonment of Peter.—​Saul and Barnabas in Antioch.—​Punishment of Elymas.—​Missionary Tour.—​Incidents and Results.
CHAPTER VII.
MISSIONARY ADVENTURES.
The First Controversy.—​Views of the Two Parties.—​Council at Jerusalem.—​Results of Council.—​The Letter.—​Vacillation of Peter.—​Rebuked by Paul.—​The Missionary Excursion of Paul and Barnabas.—​They traverse the Island of Cyprus.—​Land on the Coast of Asia Minor.—​Mark returns to Syria.—​Results of this Tour.—​Paul and Silas set out on a Second Tour through Asia Minor.—​Cross the Hellespont.—​Introduction of Christianity to Europe.—​Heroism of Paul at Philippi.—​Tour through Macedonia and Greece.—​Character of Paul’s Preaching.—​Peter’s Description of the Final Conflagration.—​False Charges.—​Paul in Athens; in Corinth.—​Return to Jerusalem.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CAPTIVE IN CHAINS.
The Third Missionary Tour.—​Paul at Ephesus.—​The Great Tumult.—​The Voyage to Greece.—​Return to Asia Minor and to Jerusalem.—​His Reception at Jerusalem.—​His Arrest, and the Riot.—​Speech to the Mob.—​Paul imprisoned.—​Danger of Assassination.—​Transferred to Cæsarea.—​His Defence before Festus and Agrippa.—​The Appeal to Cæsar.—​The Voyage to Rome.—​The Shipwreck.—​Continued Captivity.
CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST PERSECUTION.
The Population of Rome.—​The Reign of Tiberius Cæsar.—​His Character and Death.—​The Proposal to deify Jesus.—​Caligula.—​His Crimes, and the Earthly Retribution.—​Nero and his Career.—​His Crimes and Death.—​The Spirit of the Gospel.—​Sufferings of the Christians.—​Testimony of Tacitus.—​Testimony of Chrysostom.—​Panic in Rome.—​The Sins and Sorrows of weary Centuries.—​Noble Sentiments of the Bishop of Rome.
CHAPTER X.
ROMAN EMPERORS, GOOD AND BAD.
Character of the Roman Army.—​Conspiracy of Otho.—​Death of Galba.—​Vitellius Emperor.—​Revolt of the Jews, and Destruction of Jerusalem.—​Reign of Vespasian.—​Character of Titus; of Domitian.—​Religion of Pagan Rome.—​Nerva.—​Anecdotes of St. John.—​Exploits of Trajan.—​Letter of Pliny.—​Letter of Trajan.
CHAPTER XI.
MARTYRDOM.
The Martyrdom of Ignatius.—​Death of Trajan.—​Succession of Adrian.—​Infidel Assaults.—​Celsus.—​The Apology of Quadrat.—​The Martyrdom of Symphorose and her Sons.—​Character and Death of Adrian.—​Antoninus.—​Conversion of Justin Martyr.—​His Apology.—​Marcus Aurelius.—​Hostility of the Populace.—​The Martyrdom of Polycarp.
CHAPTER XII.
PAGAN ROME.
Infamy of Commodus.—​His Death.—​The Reign of Pertinax.—​The Mob of Soldiers.—​Death of Pertinax.—​Julian purchases the Crown.—​Rival Claimants.—​Severus.—​Persecutions.—​Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas.—​The Reign of Caracalla.—​Fiendlike Atrocities.—​Elagabalus, Priest of the Sun.—​Death by the Mob.—​Alexander and his Mother.—​Contrast between Paganism and Christianity.—​The Sin of Unbelief.
CHAPTER XIII.
SIN AND MISERY.
Maximin the Goth.—​Brutal Assassination of Alexander.—​Merciless Proscription.—​Revolt of the Army on the Danube.—​Rage of Maximin.—​His March upon Rome.—​Consternation in the Capital.—​Assassination of Maximin.—​Successors to the Throne.—​Popular Suffrage unavailing.—​Persecution under Decius.—​Individual Cases.—​Extent of the Roman Empire.—​Extent of the Persecution.—​Heroism of the Christians.
CHAPTER XIV.
INVASION, CIVIL WAR, AND UNRELENTING PERSECUTION.
Æmilianus and Valerian.—​Barbaric Hordes.—​Slavery and its Retribution.—​Awful Fate of Valerian.—​Ruin of the Roman Empire.—​Zenobia and her Captivity.—​The Slave Diocletian becomes Emperor.—​His Reign, Abdication, Death.—​Division of the Empire.—​Terrible Persecution.—​The Glory of Christianity.—​Characteristics of the First Three Centuries.—​Abasement of Rome.
CHAPTER XV.
CONSTANTINE.—THE BANNER OF THE
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