I have to acknowledge the kind assistance of the Rev. H. W. Burgess, LL.D., who has patiently read all my proofs, and called my attention to many a solecism or mistake which might have otherwise disfigured my pages; and of Mr. W. Etienne Phelps, B.A., deputy keeper of Primate Marsh's Library, who has compiled the index.
ALL SAINTS' VICARAGE, BLACKROCK, _May 27th, 1891_.
ACTS i. 1, 2.
Title--Apocryphal Acts--Paul and Thecla--Evidence of Tertullian--His Chronological Position--Modern Analogies--Muratorian Fragment and Bobbio--Epistle from Lyons--Pothinus an Apostolic Man--Marcion and St. Luke--Defects of German Criticism--Growth of New Testament Canon--Newly-discovered Second Century Documents-- Scillitan Martyrs--Primitive Christians and Biblical Criticism--Advantages of Uncertainty on Theology-- Theological Accuracy of St. Luke 1-22
ACTS i. 6-9.
Subject-Matter Revealed in the Acts--Our Lord's Post-Resurrection Appearances--Apostolic Curiosity-- Messianic Idea among Jews--Books of Enoch and of Jubilees--Evidence for Inspiration of New Testament-- Christianity a Practical Religion--Contrast with Paganism--Mithraism--Spiritual Blessing of Christ's Reticence concerning the Future--Antinomies in Scripture--Bad Effects of Human Curiosity--At Thessalonica--In the Middle Ages--In Last and Present Centuries--Irvingism--Holy Ghost alone the Source of Spiritual Power 23-42
ACTS i. 9.
Position of Doctrine of Ascension in Epistles--And in Apostolic Teaching--Curious and Foolish Questions about it--_The Unseen Universe_--Fitness of the Doctrine--And Necessity if the Church was to rise out of Judaism into Christianity--Illustrations, London and the Papacy--Rénan's Theory--The Ascension Glorified Human Nature--Paganism Degraded It--Gladiatorial Shows and Story of the Monk Telemachus--Tacitus and Slavery--Cato the Censor and the Treatment of Slaves--The Ascension and Darwinism 43-60
ACTS i. 24-26.
Expectation Days--Principle of Divine Delay--Christian Seasons and Judaism--Pentecost and Sinai--Continuity of the Divine Purposes--Christian Chronology--Tatian's _Oration_--The Apostles and the Upper Room--Narratives of Epiphanius and Cyril of Jerusalem--Christianity Supra-local--Last Notice of the Blessed Virgin--Doctrine of the Assumption--Self-restraint of Scriptural Writers-- Choice of New Apostle--St. Peter's Proposition--His Character--_Privilegium Petri_--Reasons for the Election-- The Christian Ministry and the Resurrection--C. Leslie's _Short and Easy Method_--History of St. Matthias-- Apocryphal Gospels--Papias on Fate of Judas Iscariot 61-81