The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-28
New Publications.
THE LATIN FATHERS (rosr N1cENn).

The LATIN FATHERS (POST NICENEls
This is the fourth volume of the Early Chris.
tian Literature Primers edited by Prof. Geo
P. Fisher, LII. D., of Yale College. The first
of the series included the Apostolic Fathers
!. g. those who had seen the Apostles. The
second volume included the Fathers of the
third century, and the third, the Greek Fa-
theirs of the church. This fourth volume re-
lates to the Latin Fathers who came after the
Council of. Nice, jerome, Hilary, Augustine,
Pelagius and others These volumes may be
read separately, but much more proitably in
connection with each other, and in the order
numbered and published. Taken together
they will be found far more interesting and in
structiye than is generally thought by our
protestant people and pastors. Judging by the
impression made on ourselves, we should say
that the candid reading of these Fathers would
both tend to correct our prejudices and confirm
our faith. They disclose the fundamental ar
ticles of the Christian faith and, at the same
time show how the ecclesiastical institutions
and usages of the church arose. The gradual
rise of the papal power is easily accounted for
by the primacy conceded to the Roman bish-
ops in those stormy times. This primacy was,
perhaps, a necessity of that age, and certainly
served many useful purposes But at first II
was only partial and conditioned. Not till af-
ter the fifth century and the decline Of civil
government in Italy did the popes attain the
position which they had long coveted and often
claimed.
Again, it is interesting and suggestive to
trace the course of Christian history, doctrine
non ~.
The Greek Church became greater power for
good than the Syrian was. Indeed for the first
five centuries the Church was chiefly Greek,
i. O. the Greek influence predominated. Then
the centre of gravity was shifted to Italy snd
the Latin Church, which retained it for 8
thousand years. And with all its faults, Latir
Christianity was an advance upon Greek Chris.
tianity. After fifteen centuries of Greek and
Latin Christianity came the Reformation, Civ
ing us nearly four centuries of Protestant
Christianity as the most active aud dominant
force in modern history. We shall soon enter
on the fifth century of Professionalism, which
We doubt not will surpass all that has gone be.
fore it. Christianity in the next century will
enter more fully into all our institutions and
will leaven civil society.
All along, there has been progress from the
East to the West. Antioch gave the name
Christian to the disciples and also a higher
type of Christianity than Jerusalem, the cradle
of it, had exhibited. Alexandria surpassed
Antioch. Constantinople gave as Chrysostom,
the Greek Fathers and the Great Councils
Rome distanced Constantinople and gave
northern and western Europe better type OF
Christianity than the East would or could
have done. The Gallo, or French Church, in
its best age was superior to the italian. In
like manner, the English Church is great ad-
vance on the French. And we New England.
ers may be pardoned for thinking that the
Church of the Puritans, or the Religion of New
England, with all its divisions and heresies, il
decidedly preferable to any previous form Of
Christianity.