The first English volume is a reproduction without retrenchment of the original; but in the second volume an endeavour has been made to render the text-book more convenient and serviceable to British and American students by slightly abridging some of those paragraphs which give minute details of the Reformation work in various German provinces. But even there care has been taken not to omit any fact of interest or importance. No pains have been spared to give the English edition a form that may entitle it to occupy that front rank among students’ text-books of Church History which the original undoubtedly holds in Germany. JOHN MACPHERSON. FINDHORN, _July, 1888_. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. § 1. IDEA AND TASK OF CHURCH HISTORY. § 2. DISTRIBUTION OF CHURCH HISTORY ACCORDING TO CONTENTS. (1) The Various Branches Included in a Complete Course of Church History. (2) The Separate Branches of Church History. § 3. DISTRIBUTION OF CHURCH HISTORY ACCORDING TO PERIODS. § 4. SOURCES AND AUXILIARIES OF CHURCH HISTORY. (1) Literature of the Sources. (2) Literature of the Auxiliary Sciences. § 5. HISTORY OF GENERAL CHURCH HISTORY. (1) Down to the Reformation. (2) The 16th and 17th Centuries. (3) The 18th Century. (4) The 19th Century. (5) The 19th Century--Continued. (6) The 19th Century--Continued. HISTORY OF THE PREPARATION FOR CHRISTIANITY. The pre-Christian World preparing the way of the Christian Church. § 6. THE STANDPOINT OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY. § 7. HEATHENISM. (1) The Religious Character of Heathenism. (2) The Moral Character of Heathenism. (3) The Intellectual Culture in Heathenism. (4) The Hellenic Philosophy. (5) The Heathen State. § 8. JUDAISM. (1) Judaism under special Training of God through the Law and Prophecy. (2) Judaism after the Cessation of Prophecy. (3) The Synagogues. (4) Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. § 9. SAMARITANISM. § 10. INTERCOURSE BETWEEN JUDAISM AND HEATHENISM. (1) Influence of Heathenism upon Judaism. (2) Influence of Judaism upon Heathenism. § 11. THE FULNESS OF TIME. THE HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS. The Founding of the Church by Christ and His Apostles. § 12. CHARACTER OF THE HISTORY OF THE BEGINNINGS. I. THE LIFE OF JESUS. § 13. JESUS CHRIST, THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD. (1) Year of Birth and Year of Death of Jesus. (2) Earliest Non-Biblical Witnesses to Christ. II. THE APOSTOLIC AGE. A.D. 30-70.