30
IV. FINAL SETTLEMENT OF THE CHURCH BY ST. JOHN . . . . . 45
V. THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
VI. THE CHURCH UNDER THE ROMAN EMPIRE . . . . . . . . . . 66
VII. THE EARLY HISTORY OF PARTICULAR CHURCHES . . . . . . 73
VIII. THE INROADS OF MAHOMETANISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
IX. THE DIVISION BETWEEN EAST AND WEST . . . . . . . . . 94
X. THE CHURCH OF THE MIDDLE AGES . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
XI. THE MEDIAEVAL HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL CHURCHES . . . . 120
XII. THE MEDIAEVAL CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND . . 142

INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

{1}

CHAPTER I

The foundation of the Church among the Jews

A.D. 33-A.D. 38

Before entering upon an account of the Foundation and After-History of
the Christian Church, it may be well to consider what that Church
really is.

Section 1. _Definition of the Church._

[Sidenote: Twofold nature of the Church.]

The Church may be regarded in a twofold aspect, as an external
Corporation, and as a spiritual Body.

[Sidenote: 1. An external Kingdom.]

In the first light it is a Kingdom, in the world, though not of the
world, extending through different and widely-separated countries,
often seemingly divided by outward circumstances, but, in reality,
having all its parts subject to the same Invisible King, governed by
laws which He has given, and by means of those whom He has appointed to
be His representatives on earth.

[Sidenote: 2. A spiritual Body.]

In its spiritual sense the Church is the One Mystical Body of Christ,
of which men are made members by Holy Baptism, and in which they are
nourished and built up by the Holy Eucharist, and the other means of
grace. These means of grace {2} are dispensed by Priests, who receive
authority and power to execute their ministerial functions from
Bishops, successors of the Apostles, and are assisted in their ministry
by the inferior order of Deacons.

[Sidenote: Future destiny of the Church.]

The members of this Mystical Body, after passing through their
appointed probation in this world, and being built up more and more, if
they continue faithful, into Christ their Head, are removed to join the
Church at rest in Paradise. There they await the Resurrection and
Final Judgment, after which the "Church Militant here on earth" will
become the Church Triumphant in Heaven.

[Sidenote: The Church exists