AN The Rife, Progrefs, and Variations of Church Power are confidered in their Connection with the State of Learning and Philosophy, BY THE LATE LEARNED JOHN LAURENCE MOSHEIM, D.D. CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GOTTINGEN. Tranflated from the Original Latin, And illuftrated with Notes, Chronological Tables, and an Appendix, A NEW EDITION IN SIX VOLUMES, CONTINUED, TO THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY, AND FURNISHED WITH AN ADDITIONAL APPENDIX TO THE FIRST BOOK, Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies; F. C. and J. Rivington; Wilkie and Robinson; F. Wingrave; J. Walker; R. Lea; J. Cuthell; J. Nunn; Clarke and Sons; J. Kearley; Longman and Co.; E. Jeffery; B. Crosby; W. Stewart; Lackington, Allen, and Co.; S. Bagfter; J. Afperne; R. Floyer; R. H. Evans; J. Richardfon; J. Mackinlay; P. and W. Wynne; J. Johnfon and Co.; and J. Faulder. INTRODUCTION. 1. THE HE order and method, that have been Change of followed in the former part of this Work, method. cannot be continued, without the greatest inconveniences, in this Fourth Book, which relates to the modern history of the church. From the commencement of the fixteenth century, the face of religion was remarkably changed; the divifions, that had formerly perplexed the church, increased confiderably; and the Chriftian focieties, that relinquifhed the established forms of divine worship, and erected themselves into feparate affemblies, upon principles different from thofe of the Roman hierarchy, rapidly multiplied. This circumstance renders it impoffible to prefent in one connected feries, or, as it were, in one continued tablature, the events, viciffitudes, and revolutions, that happened in the church, divided its members, and enfeebled the dominion of its tyrants. From the period on which we now enter, the bond of union among Chriftians, that had been formed by a blind obedience to the Roman pontiff, was, in almost every country, either diffolved, or at least relaxed; and confequently this period of our history must be divided into a multitude of branches, into as many parts, as there were famous fects that arofe in this century. of the II. Ít is however proper to obferve here, that The history many of the events, which diftinguish this century, church in had a manifeft relation to the church in general, and this century not to any Chriftian fociety in particular. And as may be thefe events deferve to be mentioned feparately, on two general divided into heads. |