ed to which
was addressed the Book of the Revelation, vouchsafed to the aged
Apostle S. John (Rev. i. 4). From Asia the Church extended into
Europe, the Apostles being called thither by the vision at Troas of
the "man of Macedonia saying, Come over unto Macedonia and help us"
(Acts xvi. 9). The first victories of the Cross in Europe were gained
at Philippi and Thessalonica, and thence the good news passed on to
Greece, and the rich city of Corinth became the Apostle Paul's
headquarters for "a year and six months," the Lord having "much
people" there (Acts xviii. 10, 11). From Greece the Gospel spread to
Rome, the capital of the ancient world. So that we learn from Holy
Scripture, that, within the lifetime of the Apostles, the mustard-seed
of the Gospel had sprung up and grown into a tree, whose branches
overshadowed well nigh the whole of the then civilised world, as it
was known to the Romans.

The answer to the question, What is the Holy Catholic Church? is thus
provided for us in the Bible, whether we regard it as an article of
the faith, or as a matter of historical fact. The Holy Catholic Church
is "The Kingdom of Heaven," which was described beforehand by our Lord
in His parables, which was set up on the Day of Pentecost, and then
gradually developed into an organised body, under laws and ministers
duly ordained by the Lord Himself, or under the guidance of the Holy
Ghost; and which then spread from one land to another through the
exertions of the holy Apostles. The Holy Catholic Church is that
Kingdom whose founding is described, and whose history is commenced,
in Holy Scripture.

But the history of the Church is only commenced in Holy Scripture, and
for a full explanation of the Holy Catholic Church, regarded as a
historical fact, we need to have this history continued down to our
own days. Within the limits of this little book, nothing but a very
brief outline of the history of the Church is possible. But without
doubt every Christian in this country ought to have such a general
knowledge of this history, as will enable him to understand clearly
how the Church of England of to-day is united with the Church of
Apostolic times.

The history of the further extension of the Church of Christ is
contained in the writings of various Christian authors whose books
have been preserved to us. Some few of these, such as Polycarp and
Clemens of Rome, were contemporaries with the Apostles, and were
ordained by them. The