Church History - Introductory Remarks

Please note that the following is taken from a book published in 1840 which was written from a Presbyterian perspective. Therefore some of this might be outdated but nevertheless I hope this is of some benefit to Christians.

Excerpted from Chapter 1 of James Wharey Church History (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board Of Publication, 1840).

Introductory remarks

The history of the Christian church may be considered as commencing with the birth of Jesus Christ, its divine Head. The four Evangelists narrate the interesting and solemnly important transactions and events, which terminated the old, and ushered in the new dispensation. The church of the new and spiritual dispensation, or the Christian church, was not fully organized under the New Testament form until the day of Pentecost, when the promised Spirit was "poured out upon them," to "lead them into all truth." Then the apostles were "endued with power from on high," and were completely qualified for their work. After this we find them under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, who doubtless directed them in all their public official acts, and in their writings, or at least, superintended and overruled their conduct, so as to preserve them from error. And hence the Christian church is called the "ministration of the Spirit." (2 Cor 3:8) The two sacraments of the Christian church, baptism and the Lord's Supper, were instituted by Christ himself; but the particular officers of the church, its forms of worship, and modes of government and discipline, were left to be settled by the apostles, as occasion required, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The history of the church may be divided into internal and external; the former relating to the purity of its doctrines, the piety of its members, the nature of its ceremonies, its modes of worship, its discipline, and its institutions; the latter respecting its extension, outward prosperity and adversity, and the external circumstances which had influence on its character. In regard to time, the history of the church may be divided into four grand periods;

1. From the birth of Christ to Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor, about the beginning of the fourth century.
2. From Constantine to Charlemagne, king of France, in the eighth century, by whom the Papal power was greatly promoted.
3. From Charlemagne to Luther, in the beginning of the sixteenth century, by whom the Reformation was commenced.
4. From Luther to the present time. These four grand periods may also be subdivided into centuries.

 (To be continued)