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PERIOD II.

FROM THE DEATH OF THE APOSTLE JOHN
TO THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE,
A.D. 100 TO A.D. 312.

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SECTION I.

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.

The dawn of the second century was full of promise to the Church.  On the death of Domitian in A.D. 96, the Roman Empire enjoyed for a short time [275:1] the administration of the mild and equitable Nerva.  This prince repealed the sanguinary laws of his predecessor, and the disciples had a respite from persecution.  Trajan, who succeeded him, [275:2] and who now occupied the throne, seemed not unwilling to imitate his policy, so that, in the beginning of his reign, the Christians had no reason to complain of imperial oppression.  All accounts concur in stating that their affairs, at this period, presented a most hopeful aspect.  They yet displayed a united front, for they had hitherto been almost entirely free from the evils of sectarianism; and now, that they were relieved from the terrible incubus of a ruthless tyranny, their spirits were as buoyant as ever; for though intolerance had thinned their ranks, it had also exhibited their constancy and stimulated their enthusiasm.  Their intense attachment to the evangelical cause stood out in strange and impressive contrast with the apathy of polytheism.  A heathen repeated, not without scepticism, the tales of his mythology, and readily passed over from one form of superstition to another; but the Christian felt himself strong in the truth, and was prepared to peril all that was dear to him on earth rather than abandon his cherished principles.  Well might serious pagans be led to think favourably of a creed which fostered such decision and magnanimity.

The wonderful improvement produced by the gospel on the lives of multitudes by whom it was embraced, was, however, its most striking and cogent recommendation.  The Christian authors who now published works in its defence, to many of which they gave the designation of apologies, and who sought, by means of these productions, either to correct the misrepresentations of its enemies, or to check the violence of persecution, always appeal with special confidence to this weighty testimonial.  A veteran profligate converted into a sober and exemplary citizen was a witness for the truth whose evidence it was difficult either to discard or to depreciate.  Nor were such vouchers rare either in the second or third century.  A learned minister of the Church could now venture to affirm that Christian communities were to be found composed of men “reclaimed from ten thousand vices,” [276:1] and that these societies, compared with others around them, were “as lights in the world.” [276:2] The practical excellence of the new faith is