Four discourses upon the excellency and usefulness of ecclesiastical history: Viz. I. Of the subject matter of ecclesiastical history; the stile, chronology, doctrine, discipline, manners, and method of writing it. II. Of the government of the church, and of the superiour and inferiour clergy. The method of studying divinity and antiquity. Of the knowledge and eloquence of the fathers, and of the doctrine of the trinity. III. Of the rise and decay of learning; of relicks, pilgrimages, superstitions, temporalities of the clergy, riches of churches, the corruption of manners, incontinence of the clergy, simony, penances, censures, the deposing of kings, succession of bishops, councils, schools, monasteries, ceremonies, propagation of the faith, with an apology for the five first centuries. IV. Of the authority of bishops, translations, erections, appeals, extension of the pope's authority, immunities of the clergy, temporal power of the church, and inconveniences from thencearising. Of legates, pecuniary subventions, rigour against hereticks, indulgencies, and the necessity of telling the whole truth. By the Abbot Fleury, sub-preceptor to the King of Spain, and to the Dukes of Burgundy and Berry. Made English from the French original.

Date:

1721