RELIGION OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS IN THE FIRST AGES OF THE GOSPEL. TO WHICH IS ADDED A DISSERTATION CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ANCIENT CHURCH BY BISHOPS, METROPOLITANS, AND PATRIARCHS. BY WILLIAM CAVE, D.D. A NEW EDITION, CAREFULLY REVISED, BY HENRY CARY, M.A. WORCESTER COLLEGE, AND PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. PAUL'S, OXFORD, FOR THOMAS TEGG, 73, CHEAPSIDE, LONDON. 1840. PREFACE. I KNOW not whether it may be any satisfaction to the curiosity of the reader, to understand the birth and original of these papers; if it be, let him take this account. No sooner did I arrive at years of capable discerning, but I began to inquire into the grounds of that religion into which I had been baptized ; which I soon found to be so noble and excellent, in all its laws so just and rational, in all its designs so divine and heavenly, so perfective of the principles, so conducive to the happiness of human nature; a religion so worthy of God, so advantageous to man, built upon such firm and uncontrollable evidence, backed with such proper and powerful arguments, that I was presently convinced of the divinity that resided in it, and concluded with myself, (and I thought I had reason so to do,) that surely the disciples of this religion must needs be the most excellent persons in the world. But, alas! a few years experience of the world let me see, that this was the conclusion of one that had conversed only with books, and the reasonings of his own mind. I had not been long an observer of the manners of men, but I found them generally so debauched and vicious, so corrupt and contrary to the rules of this holy religion, that if a modest and honest heathen was to estimate Christianity by the lives of its professors, he would certainly proscribe it as the vilest religion in the world. Being offended hereat, I resolved "to stand in the ways and see, and inquire for the good old way, the paths wherein the ancient Christians walked." For I could not think that this had always been the unhappy fate and portion of Christianity; and that if the footsteps of true Christian piety and simplicity were any where to be found, it must be in those |
