Why Study Church History

The idea has too generally prevailed, that church history belongs only to theologians, and that it could be neither important nor interesting to the common reader. Hence there is perhaps no branch of knowledge, of which the mass of people are more ignorant, than the history of the Church of Christ in the world. Most of our church histories are too voluminous for the generality of readers: and this is one reason, perhaps, why the subject has been so much neglected.

Few branches of study would be found more interesting as an amusement; certainly none, fuller of affecting and important incident. Even the lover of romantic subjects would find many events recorded in the history of the Church, of quite as powerful interest, as any of the dreams of fiction. And how much better would it be for our youth, to employ their leisure hours, and their seasons of recreation, in storing their minds with the interesting facts developed in the history of the Church of God in the world, than in feeding their imaginations with ideal fancies. How much more profitable and rational to be employed in laying up knowledge in regard to the history of the Church, that has so direct a bearing upon the happiness of man here, and his hopes and prospects hereafter, than to spend so much time, as many do, in pursuing the mere vagaries of a wild imagination, that have no real existence either in the present or the future world; and that often tend only to corrupt the heart, and disqualify the person, as well for living in this world, as for dying and going to a better!

But the study of church history would be found, not only interesting and amusing, but highly profitable, in guarding and fortifying the mind against those errors that are so often introduced under the pretence of being some new discovery; but which, on examination, will be found to be only some exploded notion of a former day, brought forward with some little modification, perhaps, and under a new name. Scarcely a new notion is broached, or a new sect springs up, but they will be found to have their prototypes in some opinion, or sect of antiquity. How much a correct knowledge of the past history of the Church would be calculated to guard the minds of people from being ensnared and led away by such errors, it is easy to see. And hence we discover the importance of this knowledge, to every individual, and especially to every member of the Church.

But there is another reason why the study of church history should be encouraged and promoted in this Protestant country, as far as practicable: and that is, to guard against the influence and proselytism of the Roman Catholic Church. Great efforts are making by that body to gain an extensive influence, and establish a permanent footing in the United States. What can be calculated more effectually to guard our people against the insidious approaches and pretensions of that apostate communion, than to have a general knowledge of the past history of the Church, diffused through society? It is there we learn what have been the spirit and practice of that Church, ever since she first assumed to be the only catholic and infallible church on earth; and claimed the right, as the vicar of Christ, and the representative of God himself upon earth, to exercise spiritual dominion over every nation. There we learn how the nations of Europe have suffered under her domineering influence, and how she has ever waged a war of extermination against all that are not of her communion, whenever and wherever she has had the power to do so And in this she is the same that she ever was. She has not given up her claim to infallibility, and therefore cannot change. The history of the Church develops to our view the whole rise, increase, and consummation of this mystery of iniquity. Let our people be well acquainted with the history of the Church, and we shall have but little to fear from Roman Catholic influence.

Finally: The Church is the kingdom of God in this world; and would anyone be willingly ignorant of the history of this kingdom? The histories of the kingdoms of this world are eagerly sought and read, although we may have no connexion with them; shall we not, then, seek an acquaintance with the kingdom of God in the world, with which we do hold a most important connexion? The history of the Church, as an interesting branch of general knowledge, ought not to be neglected; but when it is considered as that Church or kingdom of God in the world, in which each individual is regarded as a subject, or a rebel; and in which each one is, finally, to be saved or lost: surely its history ought to be eagerly sought, and diligently studied.


Taken from the Preface of James Wharey Church History (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board Of Publication, 1840).