Tracts Theological and Ecclesiastical (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 Excerpt: ... Egypt; the countries especially illuminated, in the middle of the fourth century, by Basil and Gregory Nazianzen of the school of Origen, who took up the work which Athanasius had so long carried on before them. The writers of those countries, prior to their time, are such as these: --Ignatius, Polycarp, the writer to Diognetus, Justin, Irenaeus, Tatian, Theophilus, Methodius, and Eusebius. To these may be added, as a witness to the doctrine taught him, (whether by Asiatics or Latin ecclesiastics, certainly not by Egyptians, for he seems never to have known them, ) the Emperor Constantine. Of these I put aside St. Ignatius, St. Polycarp, and St. Irenaeus from my inquiry. Neither Ignatius nor Polycarp assert the eternity of the Son; Irenaeus does, and his assertion of it, considering his relation to Polycarp, may fairly be taken to speak both for the latter and for Ignatius. It would be strange, indeed, if they could be supposed to hold any contrary doctrine, since they are rightly included in what may be called the Apostolic family; and that is why I exclude them from the main body of Fathers whether of the East or the West. They are historically connected with each other; they have not the like historical connexion with others. While, then, it is fair, or a duty, to use the statements of one of them to interpret or to complete the statements of another, it would not be right to bring them in aid or for the support of any but themselves. That Ignatius and Polycarp should not give expression to the doctrine in question is not wonderful, considering how little we have of their writing, and that neither of them wrote about the Holy Trinity. Of Irenaeus it might be expected, because he writes at great length, and on a variety of heresies relating to the Object of