amalgamated into a single sidenote and positioned near where
their first section was. If a multi-part sidenote had
sections in adjacent paragraphs, those sections were treated
as if they belonged to their host paragraph. Sidenotes inside
paragraphs are always placed between sentences. All sidenotes
have been enclosed in square brackets, and preceded with
"Sidenote:".

A KEY TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHURCH HISTORY

[Ancient]

Edited by

JOHN HENRY BLUNT, M.A.

Editor of
"The Dictionary of Theology,"
"The Annotated Book of Common Prayer;"
Author of
"Household Theology," Etc. Etc.

_"This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations._"--St. Matt. xxiv. 14

Rivingtons
Waterloo Place, London
Oxford, and Cambridge
MDCCCLXXVII
[New Edition]

PREFACE

This Volume offers to the reader a short and condensed account of the
origin, growth, and condition of the Church in all parts of the world,
from the time of our Lord down to the end of the fifteenth century, the
narrative being compressed into as small a compass as is consistent
with a readable form.

In such a work the reader will not, of course, expect to find any full
and detailed account of so vast a subject as Pre-Reformation Church
History. Its object is rather to sketch out the historical truth about
each Church, and to indicate the general principles on which further
inquiry may be conducted by those who have the opportunity of making it.

It is hoped that those whose circumstances do not admit of an extended
study of the subject will find in the following pages a clear, though
condensed, view of the periods and Churches treated of; and that those
whose reading is of a less limited range will be put in possession of
certain definite lines of thought, by which they may be guided in
reading the statements of more elaborate histories.

It may be added, that the writer's stand-point throughout has been that
of a loyal attachment to the Church of England, as the authorized
exponent and upholder of Catholic doctrine for English people.

M. F. B. P.

_July_, 1869.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH AMONG THE JEWS . . . . . 1
II. THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH AMONG THE HEATHEN . . . 25
III. THE EXTENSION OF THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD . .