i. =Patrology and History of Theolog. Literature.=-- Dupin, “New History of Ecclesiastical Writers.” Lond., 1696. Cave, “Script. Eccl. Hist. Lit.” 2 vols., Lond., 1668. Fabricii, “Biblioth. Græca.” 14 vols., Hamb., 1705; “Biblioth. Mediæ et infinæ Latin.” 6 vols., Hamb., 1734. Teuffel, “Hist. of Rom. Lit.” 2 vols., Lond., 1873.
k. =History of the Theological Sciences.=-- Buddæus, “Isagoge Hist. Theol. ad Theol. Univ.” Lps., 1727. Räbiger, “Encyclopædia of Theology.” 2 vols., Edin., 1884. Dorner, “Hist. of Prot. Theol.” 2 vols., Edin., 1871.
=History of Exegesis.=-- Davidson, “Sacred Hermeneutics; including Hist. of Biblical Interpretation from earliest Fathers to Reformation.” Edin., 1843. Farrar, “Hist. of Interpretation.” Lond., 1886.
=History of Morals.=-- Wuttke’s “Christian Ethics.” Vol. I., “Hist. of Ethics.” Edin., 1873.
l. =Biographies.=-- “Acta Sanctorum.” 63 vols. fol., Ant., 1643 ff. Mabillon, “Acta Ss. ord. S. Bened.” 9 vols. fol., Par., 1666 ff. Flaccius [Flacius], “Catalog. Testium Veritatis.” 1555. Piper, “Lives of Leaders of Church Universal.” 2 vols., Edin. Smith and Wace, “Dict. of Chr. Biog.” etc., 4 vols., Lond., 1877 ff.
§ 3. DISTRIBUTION OF CHURCH HISTORY ACCORDING TO PERIODS.
In the history of the world’s culture three historical stages of universal development succeed each other: the Oriental, the Franco-German, and the Teutono-Romanic. The kingdom of God had to enter each of these and have in each a distinctive character, so that as comprehensive a development as possible might be secured. The history of the preparation for Christianity in the history of the Israelitish theocracy moves along the lines of Oriental culture. The history of the beginnings of Christianity embraces the history of the founding of the church by Christ and His Apostles. These two together constitute Biblical history, which, as an independent branch of study receiving separate treatment, need be here treated merely in a brief, introductory manner. This holds true also of the history of pagan culture alongside of and subsequent to the founding of the church. Church history, strictly so-called, the development of the already founded church, begins therefore, according to our conception, with the Post-Apostolic Age, and from that point pursues its course in three principal divisions. The ancient church completes its task by thoroughly assimilating the elements contributed by the Græco-Roman forms of civilization. In the Teutono-Romanic Church of the middle ages the appropriation and amalgamation of ancient classical modes of thought with modern tendencies awakened by its immediate surroundings were carried out and completed. On the other hand, the development of church history since the Reformation has its impulse given it by that Teutono-Christian culture which had maturity and an independent form secured to it by the Reformation. This distribution in accordance with the various forms of civilization seems to us so essential, that we propose to borrow from it our principle for the arrangement of our church history.