The Doctrine, Discipline, Practices, and History of the Church, and the Tenets and Practices of the Gnostic Heretics, During the Second Century.
And Curate of Leigh, in the County of Stafford.
Preface. Subscribers' Names. Chapter I. Life of S. Irenæus, and General Account Of His Writings. Chapter II. Testimony of Irenæus to Certain Facts of Church History. Chapter III. On The Nature, Office, Powers, and Privileges Of The Church. Chapter IV. On The Doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Chapter V. The Origin of Evil. Chapter VI. The Evil Spirits. Chapter VII. The Divine Dispensations. Chapter VIII. On The Canon, Genuineness, Versions, Use, And Value Of Holy Scripture. Chapter IX. On The Nature And Use of Primitive Tradition. Chapter X. On The Creed. Chapter XI. Freewill, Predestination, And Election. Chapter XII. On Baptism. Chapter XIII. The Eucharist. Chapter XIV. On Justification. Chapter XV. On Ceremonies, Usages, And Forms Of Words. Chapter XVI. On The Sabbath. Chapter XVII. On The Typical Interpretation Of Scripture. Chapter XVIII. On The Intermediate State. Chapter XIX. On Unfulfilled Prophecy. Chapter XX. The Virgin Mary. Chapter XXI. Account of the Gnostic Teachers and Their Tenets. Section I. Simon Magus, Nicolas, and the Ebionites. Section II. Menander, Saturninus, And Basilides. Section III. Carpocrates And Cerinthus. Section IV. Cerdon, Marcion, Tatian, And The Cainites. Section V. The Barbeliots, Ophites, And Sethites. Section VI. Valentinus. Section VII. Secundus, Epiphanes, Ptolemy, Colorbasus, And Marcus. Section VIII. Gnostic Redemption. Section IX. Reflections Upon Gnosticism. Footnotes
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Late Regius Professor Of Divinity In The University Of Oxford,
Was First Led To Study, With Care And Attention,
As A Humble Acknowledgement Of His Extensive Learning,
And The Cordial Assistance He Ever Rendered
In The Same Path Which He Himself Pursued.
It was, perhaps, somewhat presumptuous in a person occupying so humble a station in the sacred ministry to offer to the Church a work which would necessarily induce comparisons between itself and the similar productions of a Prelate of the Church--a Divine of the highest rank and character. The author can, however, at least say, that it was no foolish ambition which led to his employing himself on such a work. Having been led by circumstances to a repeated perusal and study of the writings of S. Irenæus, he saw the great value of his testimony to the leading principles and doctrines of the Church of England. He had himself derived much benefit from the works of Bishop Kaye on others of the Fathers; he thought that if he could do nothing more than to draw out the substance of the doctrine and opinions of Irenæus for the use of the student in theology, in a more accessible form than that in which he himself had to look for it, accompanied by the text of the portions from which he had formed his statements, and with a little illustration of the meaning in passages liable to misunderstanding,--he should have rendered a service to his younger brethren: and if it should so happen that that distinguished Prelate or any other writer did anticipate him, it would be so much clear gain to himself to have been so employed. When he had completed his first preparations, and had learnt by proper inquiry that the Illustrator of Justin, Clement, and Tertullian was not engaged on Irenæus, he endeavoured to put the work somewhat into form: and being afterwards encouraged by one upon whose judgment and acquirements public opinion had set its stamp, and who had seen portions of the work, to believe that it possessed a certain degree of value,--he ventured to bring it into public notice in the only way which appeared open to him.