CHAPTER VII.

INDEPENDENCE OF THE ANTE-NICENE CHURCH SHOWN IN HER MODE OF POSITIVE TEACHING AND IN HER MODE OF RESISTING ERROR.

Germ of the Church in the missionary circuits of our Lord, 340 The mission carried on by the Apostles, 341 Its two parts: work of positive teaching and defence against error, 343 As to the first-- 1. The system of catechesis, 344 2. The employment of a Creed, 347 3. The dispensing of Sacraments, 349 4. The system of Penance, 351 5. The Scriptures carried in the Church's hand, 352 This mode of promulgation continued during fifteen centuries, 355 Substitution of a private interpretation of Scripture by the individual attempted in the sixteenth century, 356 Summary of the mode in which the Church promulgated the faith, 358 As to the second, the Church's defence against error lay in the principle of her own authority, 360 The first conflict with unbelieving Judaism, 362 Three incidents of it-- The proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ, 362 The receiving the Gentiles without Circumcision, 363 The protection of being Jews enjoyed by the first preachers of Christ, 364 Gradual severance of the Christian Church from the Synagogue, 369 Circumstances and peculiar difficulties of the Ante-Nicene Church, 371 The first condition of Christians one of simple faith, 376 The two opposed principles of orthodoxy and heresy, 378 Contest between them indicated in the Apostolic writings, 380 Character of the first writings after the Apostles, 381 Christian learning in the second century; conversions of heathens who became Christian apologists, 382 Extension of education given in great catechetical schools, 385 The defence against error lodged in the Magisterium, 387 The Magisterium lies in the Church's divine government and concrete life, 388 Athanasius as the expounder of it; his fundamental idea, 389 His Statement as to the authority of Scripture, 391 As to the Rule of Faith, 392 As to private judgment, 393 His tests of heresy, 393 Definitions, 394 How the Magisterium embraces Scripture and Tradition, and employs them as a joint rule, 395 Testimony of the Council of Arles to the above principles, 397 And Constantine's public recognition that the Magisterium of Christ is lodged in the Bishops, 398