Pogonatus development
of Eutychianism.

Section 4. _Intellectual Development in the Church._

[Sidenote: Christian learning developed in peace.]

This portion of the History of the Church, comprising as it does the
first period in which the master-minds within her fold were left free
by the cessation of outward persecution to resist the increasing
attacks of heresy, may be looked upon as offering to our view the
greatest intellectual development which the Church has experienced
since the times of the Apostles. [Sidenote: The Fathers.] Learned and
eloquent men abounded, "mighty in the Scriptures" and "steadfast in the
Faith," and their commentaries and sermons have come down to us as an
abiding heritage and a continual witness to the teaching of the Church
in early times. St. Athanasius, St. Ambrose, St. Chrysostom, and St.
Augustine, are but a few out of many whose writings are still held in
honour by our own as well as by every other branch of the Catholic
Church.

[1] A General Council is the highest possible way in which the voice of
the Church can be heard. But its authority is much increased by the
fact that to become really a _general_ Council its decrees must be
generally received by the Christian world. This was the case with the
first six General Councils, but has not been entirely so with any
similar gatherings of later ages.

[2] That part of the Creed which follows the words, "I believe in the
Holy Ghost," was added later.

[3] The subsequent addition in the clause, "Who proceedeth from the
Father and the Son," will be noticed later.

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CHAPTER VII

The Early History of Particular Churches.

A.D. 67-A.D. 500

Section 1. _The Church of England._

[Sidenote: St. Paul's visit to England.]

The CHURCH OF ENGLAND is believed, with good reason, to owe its
foundation to the Apostle St. Paul, who probably came to this country
after his first imprisonment at Rome. The writings of Tertullian, and
others in the second and third centuries speak of Christianity as
having spread as far as the islands of Britain, and a British king
named Lucius is known to have embraced the Faith about the middle of
the second century. [Sidenote: Martyrdom of St. Alban.] The Diocletian
persecution made itself felt amongst the British Christians, the
conversion of the proto-martyr St. Alban (A.D. 303) being followed by
that of a l