The History of the Church of Christ to A. D. 313

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ...face the storm, as before wisely to bend before it. According to his own principle, he had abode God's time; and now that time was come. His end was calm and grand. If there was at times a tinge of theatrical display in his Chapter words, there was not a shadow of this in his last and 1 greatest deed. "Thanks be to God!" were his simple and solemn words, as the fatal sentence fell from the lips of the judge; and then, taking his way amid weeping crowds to the place of execution--an open field outside the city, surrounded with trees--he prepared himself to die. He laid aside his mantle, directed his deacon to give twentyfive pieces of gold to the executioner; then kneeling down, amid calm and silent prayer, laid his head beneath the fatal axe, and passed away It was on the 14th of August 258 that, by a death in both respects befitting him, that true Roman and true Christian fell. If the Carthaginian congregation had differed in feeling and opinion in regard to their good bishop once, they are all united now in reverent affection and tears. A goodly church soon rose over the spot where the martyr died, in which, a century and a half after, Augustine preached, and commemorated with befitting honour the martyr's name. The character, and still more the career of Cyprian, will be estimated differently, according to the differing views and ecclesiastical position of those who judge him. He was, alike by natural bent and rooted principle, emphatically a High Churchman--the founder, indeed, of High Dogma Churchism, and the father of all High Churchmen in church, every age and all the world over. His master-principle and cherished ideal was the unity of the Church--a unity, not of spiritual life alone, but of outward visible organization....