Produced by Al Haines
1906
[Transcriber's note: Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbersenclosed in curly braces, e.g. {99}. They have been located where pagebreaks occurred in the original book, in accordance with ProjectGutenberg's FAQ-V-99. For the book's Index, a page number has beenplaced only at the start of that section.]
[Transcriber's note: Footnotes have been renumbered sequentially andmoved to the end of their respective chapters. The book's Index has anumber of references to footnotes, e.g. the "96 n." entry under"Assyrians." In such cases, check the referenced page to see whichfootnote(s) are relevant.]
[Transcriber's note: The original book had side-notes in its pages'left or right margin areas. Some of these sidenotes were at or nearthe beginning of a paragraph, and in this e-text, are placed to precedetheir host paragraph. Some were placed elsewhere alongside aparagraph, in relation to what the sidenote referred to inside theparagraph. These have been placed into the paragraph near where theywere in the original book. All sidenotes have been enclosed in squarebrackets, and preceded with "Sidenote:".]
While there is a general agreement among the writers as to principles,the greatest freedom as to treatment is allowed to writers in thisseries. The volumes, for example, will not be of the same length.Volume II., which deals with the formative period of the Church, is,not unnaturally, longer in proportion than the others. To Volume VI.,which deals with the Reformation, will be allotted a similar extension.The authors, again, use their own discretion in such matters asfootnotes and lists of authorities. But the aim of the series, whicheach writer sets before him, is to tell, clearly and accurately, thestory of the Church, as a divine institution with a continuous life.
It has seemed to me impossible to deal with the long period covered bythis volume as briefly as the scheme of the series required withoutleaving out a great many events and concentrating attention chieflyupon a few central facts and a few important personages. I think thatthe main results of the development may thus be seen, though there ismuch which is here omitted that would have been included had the bookbeen written on other lines.
Some pages find place here which originally appeared in The Guardianand The Treasury, and a few lines which once formed part of anarticle in The Church Quarterly Review. My thanks are due for thecourtesy of the Editors. I have reprinted some passages from myChurch of the Sixth Century, a book which is now out of print and notlikely to be reissued.
I have to thank the Rev. L. Pullan for help from his wide knowledge,and Mr. L. Strachan, of Heidelberg, of whose accuracy and learning Ihave had long experience, for reading the proofs and making the index.