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CHAPTER II.

RESPECTING THE TESTIMONY AFFORDED BY THE FIRST NICENE COUNCIL TO THE FACT OF THE POSITIVE ANTIQUITY OF THE

DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. p. 9.

The testimony to the fact of the positive antiquity of the doctrine of the Trinity, afforded by the historical declaration of the first Nicene Council A.D. 325, is full and express. p. 9. I. Some account of the constitution of the first Nicene

Council. p. 9.

II. The fact, alleged by the Nicene Fathers, was: that Their doctrine had invariably been the doctrine of the Catholic Church, from the very age, and by the very teaching, of the Apostles themselves. p. 12.

1. The historical Epistle of Eusebius of Cesarèa. p. 13. 2. Assertion of the fact in the Acts of the Council.

p. 23.

III. Remarks on the testimony of the Nicene Fathers. p. 24.

1. The historical fact asserted by them. p. 24.

2. A requisition of earlier corroborative testimony. p. 26.

IV. Remarks on the dissentions alleged to have taken place among the Nicene Fathers. p. 27.

1. General testimony of Constantine. p. 28.
2. Particular testimony of Constantine. p. 28.

3. Testimony of the historian Socrates. p. 28.

V. Summary of the testimony borne by the Nicene Fathers. p. 29.

RESPECTING

CHAPTER III.

THE TESTIMONY AFFORDED BY THE EVIDENCE OF ENEMIES TO THE FACT OF THE POSITIVE ANTIQUITY OF THE

DOCTRINE OF CHRIST'S ESSENTIAL DIVINITY. p. 32.

From the time of the Council of Nice retrogressively, it was ever, both among Jews and Pagans, a standing uncontradicted

7

topic of objection to the theology of the Gospel, that Christians venerated as God one who had been condemned and executed as a malefactor. p. 32.

I. Account of the charge, as given by Arnobius. A.D. 303.

p. 35.

II. Origen's account of the charge, A.D. 240, as made by
Celsus. A.D. 150. p. 39.

III. Justin's account of the charge, as made by Trypho and the Jews. A.D. 136. p. 48.

IV. Pliny's account of the charge, as legally deposed before him by the lapsed Christians. A.D. 103. p. 53.

1. Confirmed by the concurring testimony of Caius of Rome. A.D. 210. p. 60.

2. Confirmed by the concurring testimony of Clement of Alexandria. A.D. 194. p. 60.

3. Confirmed by the concurring testimony of Origen. A.D. 240. p. 63.

CHAPTER IV.

RESPECTING THE TESTIMONY, AFFORDED, TO THE FACT OF THE POSITIVE ANTIQUITY OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST'S ESSENTIAL DIVINITY, BY THE ADORATION WHICH HE INVARIABLY RECEIVED FROM THE EARLY CHRISTIANS. p. 65.

Divine worship implies the believed divinity of the object, to whom such worship is paid. p. 65.

I. Testimony of Lactantius. A.D. 310. p. 68.

II. Testimony of Arnobius. A.D. 303. p. 69.

III. Testimony of the Phrygian martyrs, about A.D. 308. p. 70.

IV. Testimony of Dionysius of Alexandria. A.D. 260. p. 71.

V. Testimony of Novatian. A.D. 254. p. 72.
VI. Testimony of Cyprian. A.D. 250. p. 73.

VII. Testimony of Origen. A. D. 240. p. 76.

VIII. Testimony of Tertullian. A.D. 200. p. 77.

IX. Testimony of Clement of Alexandria. A.D. 194. p. 78.

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