Schism of Novatian, 356 Controversy respecting rebaptism of heretics, and rashness of Stephen, bishop of Rome, ib.  Misinterpretation of Matt. xvi. 18, 357 Increasing power of Roman bishop, 359 The bishop of Rome becomes a metropolitan, and is recognized by the Emperor Aurelian, 360 Early Roman bishops spoke and wrote in Greek, ib.  Obscurity of their early annals, ib.  Advancement of their power during the second and third centuries, 361 Causes of their remarkable progress, ib.

SECTION II.

     The literature and theology of the church.

CHAPTER I.

The ecclesiastical writers.

The amount of their extant writings, 364
The Epistle of Polycarp, 365
Justin Martyr, his history and his works, ib. 
The Epistle to Diognetus, 367
Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Hermas, ib. 
The Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas, ib. 
Papias and Hegesippus, ib. 
Irenaeus and his Works, 368
Tertullian, his character and writings, 370
Clement of Alexandria, 373
Hippolytus, 374
Minucius Felix, 375
Origen—­his early history and remarkable career—­his great learning—­
    his speculative spirit—­his treatise against Celsus and his
    “Hexapla”—­his theological peculiarities, ib. 
Cyprian—­his training, character, and writings, 381
Gregory Thaumaturgus, 383
The value of the Fathers as ecclesiastical authorities, 384
Their erroneous and absurd expositions, 385
The excellency of Scripture, 387

CHAPTER II.

The Ignatian epistles and their claims—­the external evidence.