Heresy and Christian Doctrine by Edmond De Pressense and published by Classics.
This book “Heresy and Christian Doctrine”, which was introduced for the first time to the English public, in the late 1800’s is the third in a consecutive series, intended to present a complete picture, from the Author’s point of view, of the spiritual life and history of the Church during the first three centuries of the Christian era.
The history of primitive Christianity is the history of a desperate struggle between the old world and the new faith just cradled in Judaea. This warfare was not confined to any one sphere; it was universal. Persecution was the first and inevitable manifestation of this deadly hostility. Not only was the new religion opposed to all the constituent principles of Pagan society, and repugnant to the prejudices of degenerate Judaism, but it was essentially an aggressive and victorious power. It was not content to be an alien in the midst of the brilliant and corrupt civilisation into which it was born, and to pass upon it only the silent condemnation of its own pure presence; it lifted up its voice in protest against its vileness and deceptive lustre. It did not merely refuse to offer incense to the idol; it unmasked the false god and denounced the abominations of the idol-worship.
