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 tolerated in the days of the Antonines must be abandoned—Their sufferings under the rule of these great Emperors, especially in the days of Marcus, can scarcely be exaggerated       91

BOOK II

THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE FAITH

INTRODUCTORY     101

I

NUMBERS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE EARLY DAYS

Certain reasons to which the rapid acceptance of Christianity was owing—The great numbers of the early converts is borne witness to by pagan authors, such as Tacitus and Pliny, and by Christian contemporary writers such as Clement of Rome, Hermas, Irenæus, and others—The testimony of the Roman catacombs described in detail in Fourth Book is also referred to       102

II

THE ASSEMBLIES OF CHRISTIANS

These "assemblies" constituted a powerful factor in the acceptance and organization of the religion of Jesus—Their high importance is recognized by the great teachers of the first days—Quotations from these are given       107

III

OF WHOM THESE PRIMITIVE "ASSEMBLIES" WERE COMPOSED

Information respecting these early meetings of Believers is supplied by leading Christian teachers—Quotations from these are given       110

IV

WHAT WAS TAUGHT AND DONE IN THESE "ASSEMBLIES"

A general picture of one of them by Justin Martyr—(A) Dogmatic teaching given in these meetings—(B) Almsgiving—Is shown to be an inescapable duty—Is pressed home by early masters of Christianity on the faithful—All offerings made were, however, purely voluntary—No communism was ever