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 BOOK III

THE INNER LIFE OF THE CHURCH

PART I

A.D. 64-A.D. 180

INTRODUCTORY

The early Church remained continually under the veiled shadow of persecution—This state of things we learn, not from the "Acts of the Martyrs," which, save in a certain number of instances, are of questionable authority, but from fragments which have come down to us of contemporary writings—Extracts from two groups of the more important of these are quoted       163

I

QUOTATIONS FROM APOSTLES, ETC.

First Group.—From writings of apostles and apostolic men, including the Epistle to the Hebrews—1 Peter—Revelation of S. John—First letter of S. Clement of Rome—The seven genuine letters of S. Ignatius       166

II

QUOTATIONS FROM WRITINGS OF THE SECOND CENTURY

Second Group.—Early writings, dating from the time of Trajan to the death of Marcus Antoninus ( 180); including—"Letters of Pliny and Trajan"—"Letter to Diognetus"—"The Shepherd of Hermas"—"1st Apology of Justin Martyr"—"Minucius Felix"—"Writings of Melito of Sardis"—"Writings of Athenagoras"—"Writings of Theophilus of Antioch"—"Writings of Tertullian"—the last-named a very few years later, but bearing on same period       177

PART II

TRAINING FOR MARTYRDOM

INTRODUCTORY

The sight of the martyrs' endurance under suffering had a marked effect on the pagan population. This was noticed and dreaded by the Roman magistracy. Efforts were constantly made by the Government to arrest or at least to limit the number of martyrs       193