148 THEOLOGY. 



to sketch in the department of Chronography. The monastic system, 

 under which monks and nuns secluded themselves, for professed lives 

 of devotion, was introduced into the Church by Antony, in Egypt, 

 about 305 ; and extended by Pachomius, his disciple. It soon spread 

 through all the Christian world ; and, in connection with papal celi- 

 bacy, has been a fertile source of crime and degradation. The wor- 

 ship of images, commenced in the sixth century, in the East; and, 

 though condemned at Constantinople in 754, it afterwards prevailed, 

 both in the Greek and Roman churches. Meanwhile, the gospel was 

 further preached, in France by St. Denis or Dionysius, about A. D. 

 290 ; in Ireland, by St. Patrick, who died there about 493 ; in Eng- 

 land by St. Jlugus'tin,* the monk, who died about 608 ; in Germany, 

 by St. Boniface, or Winfrid, who died in 755 ; in Denmark, by 

 Jlnsgarius, 'who died in 865; in Sweden, by Sigfrid ; in Prussia, 

 by Adalbert of Prague ; and in Northern Sclavonia, by Otho, in 

 1124. The Roman church was also extended into Spain in 586 ; and 

 into Poland, about 964. Russia was united to the Greek church, in 988. 

 Of modern Missions, and their vast importance, we have no room 

 here to speak ; and the history of the Reformation, we must defer to 

 the third part of the present branch ; that on Sectarian Polity. 



PART II. 

 Biblical Divinity. 



UNDER the head of Biblical Divinity, we include the immediate 

 study of the Bible, and of those works which are most serviceable 

 in defending and explaining it. These studies we regard as pre- 

 eminently important, in the whole wide range of human knowledge ; 

 and hence we recognize the necessity, that men duly qualified, by 

 talents, learning, and piety, should be relieved from secular pursuits, 

 and devoted to the especial investigation, and illustration of the 

 numerous topics herein comprehended. Among the works which 

 are deemed most valuable, as aiding to defend and explain the Scrip- 

 tures, we may mention the writings of the early Fathers, in connec- 

 tion with the more recent treatises on Natural Theology, and the 

 Evidences of Christianity. These studies, together with Biblical 

 Criticism, and Hermeneutics, will form the subjects of the present 

 division of Christianity. 



1. Biblical Criticism, comprehends an investigation of the 

 origin, and continued preservation of the sacred books ; and of their 

 exact signification or interpretation. These sacred books, collectively, 

 we call the Bible ; from the Greek, j3c/3?u>?, a book ; it being so called 

 by way of eminence. The Bible is generally recognized, by all 

 Christian sects, as a Revelation from the Deity, and therefore of 

 Divine authority. It consists of the Old and the New Testament ; 

 the former of which foretels, and the latter fully describes the Advent 

 or coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to provide the means of 

 salvation for fallen and sinful man. With this great object, it treats 

 of the creation of the world, and of mankind ; the apostacy, or fall, 



* Augustin was not the first propagator of Christianity in England : and there is 

 some ground for the opinion, that St. Paul himself preached there and in Germany. 



