1170. Rise of the Waldenses.

1190. The Waldenses, after having been excommunicated in 1184, spread themselves in the south of France, north of Italy, and Germany; purify their system, and "proclaim the Bible as its own Interpreter, and the only infallible source of Christian knowledge." 1198. Innocent III., Pope: height of papal power. He described himself as "the Successor of St. Peter, set up by God to govern not only the Church, but the whole world."

Thirteenth Century.

1207. Rise of the Franciscan order of Mendicants.

1208. Persecution of the Albigenses, during the next twenty

years.

1215. Throughout this century, the papacy remains at the height of power to which it had attained under

Innocent III.

Origin of the Dominican Order.

1220. Superstition was at its height.

Adoration of relics,

belief in fabulous miracles, and legends, pilgrimages,

&c., were universal.

1229. The council of Thoulouse decreed that laymen should not possess copies of the Scriptures.

1260. The clergy of this period offered to the people little more than dead forms in a dead language: but some individuals laboured for their improvement.

1264. The doctrine of human merit, and of supererogatory works, was now carried to an extreme height.

1268. The Papal Dominion at its utmost height.

1294. Roger Bacon. As a biblical divine, he contended for the authority of Scripture as the fountain of truth,

in opposition to all other authorities.

1299. Controversy between the Thomists and Scotists.

Fourteenth Century.

1308. Elements of decay in the scholastic theology become apparent.

Removal of the seat of the Papacy to Avignon, till 1376. 1309. Precursors of the Reformation: the Waldenses in Bo

hemia.

1325. The Schoolmen began to differ among themselves as to the mode of treating theological questions.

1340. Study of the Greek and Hebrew languages begins to be cultivated. Some approach toward a critical in

terpretation of Scripture.

1343. The pope issues a bull confirming the doctrine of a treasure of supererogatory merits of the saints in the keeping of the Church.

1350. Mystics: they not only opposed the dead ceremonial worship of the Church, but the metaphysical theology of the Schools.

1356. John Wickliffe denounces the avarice of the ecclesiastics. 1380. He undertakes his English translation of the Bible. Died 1384.

1392. A call for a reformation of the Church in its head and members begins to be heard; and the paramount authority of Councils to be asserted.

1394. Precursors of the reformation. Matthias of Jannow; Nicholas de Clemangis.

1399. John Huss, Professor of Theology at Prague.

Fifteenth Century.

1403. Literature begins to revive.

1415. General Council of Constance. No real reformation

effected by it. Huss condemned and burnt: Jerome

condemned, and in 1416 burnt.

1422. Princes begin to vindicate successfully their rights against the tyranny of the pope.

1457. Formation of the Church of the Bohemian and Moravian brethren, from the remnant of the Hussites.

1467. Erasanus, born; 1483, Martin Luther, born; 1484, Ulrich Zwingle, born; 1497, Melancthon, born; 1491, Ignatius Loyola, founder of the order of Jesuits, born.

1495. The

power of the papacy is now very much impaired.— General corruption of morals continues to prevail : but the labours of many faithful witnesses in this century had succeeded to a certain extent in correcting many prevalent errors.

Sixteenth Century.

1502. Revival of literature and the study of the classics in Germany.

1508. Luther professor of philosophy in the university of Wittemberg.

1509. Appointed preacher there.

1512. Created Doctor in Divinity: he frees himself more and more from the scholastic system, &c.

1517. October 31st. Luther publishes ninety-five Theses, against abuses connected with Indulgences, and challenges disputants.

Thus, as far as a sketch of this sort would permit, we have seen the History of the Church during more than a thousand years. As to the next 300 years, from the reformation to the present age, I can only notice a very few points.

1521. Luther before the Diet of Worms.

1530. The Confession of Augsburg.

1534. The Reformation began in England. The King supreme Head of the Church.

1555. Religious Peace of Augsburg: the Protestant Churches of Germany confirmed in their rights, and their independence of the pope recognized.

1563. Close of the Council of Trent: condemnation of the Protestants and of their doctrines; final ratification

and establishment of the peculiar tenets of the Romish Church.

1567. Rise of the Jansenist controversy in the Church of Rome. 1592. Faustus Socinus in Poland.

1598. Edict of Nantes: it secured to the French Protestants the free exercise of their religion. It had been preceded by seven religious wars.

Seventeenth Century.

1609. Public conference between Arminius and Gomarus. 1618, 19. Synod of Dort: the Calvinistic scheme approved. 1649. The society of Friends (Quakers) formed by George Fox. 1685. Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

1686. The great influence of the excellent Spener in the Lutheran Church.

1689. The Act of Toleration, in England.

Eighteenth Century.

1704. The School of Spener degenerates, in Germany.

1709, 10. The Convent of Port Royal in France destroyed by Louis XIV.

1731. John Wesley and George Whitfield preached in various parts of England.

1732. Voltaire begins to scoff at Christianity.

1752. Christian Frederic Schwartz; East Indies; died 1798. 1755. The foundation of Pseudo-rationalism begins to be laid in Germany.

1782. Semler at Halle, promotes the progress of Rationalism in the Lutheran Church.

1785. American Episcopal Church: Seaburg, Bishop of Connecticut.

This century has been distinguished by the publication of many new translations of the Scriptures; by new editions and revisions of former translations; and by critical revisions of the original Hebrew and Greek text.

II. SECULAR OR CIVIL HISTORY.

THE EASTERN WORLD.

1. The Greek Empire.

We have noticed the 12 Cæsars; to A.D. 96.

Then followed about 28 Emperors to Constantine, A.D. 96. Then 11 Emperors to Augustulus, A.D. 476.

We

may now divide the subsequent Emperors into four classes. 1. From 476 to 641, to Heraclius (who reigned 610— 641,) 7 emperors.

2. Then 60 inglorious and short reigns, full of weakness and crime, nearly 600 years; from Heraclius to to Isaac Angelus, 641–1185.

3. The Latin Emperors of Constantinople, 1204-1261: fourth Crusade.

4. The Greek Emperors, 1261-1453; from Michael Palæologus, the first of them, to Constantine Palæologus, the last of them.

The second of these series gives us the following Dynasties: i. Heraclian; 610-718. It bore the brunt of the Saracen woe. Rev. ix. 1-12.

ii. Isaurian; 718-813. Iconoclastic controversy.

iii. Phrygian; 813-867.

iv. Macedonian; or Basilian 867-1027.

scene: several emperors: 1027-1057.

A broken