The Evolution of the Monastic Ideal From the Earliest Times Down to the Coming of the Friars - A Second Chapter in the History of Christian Renunciation #270886

The reader will notice that I have called this study, A Second Chapter in the History of Christian Renuncia tion. Some explanation is due for this sub-title. Some ten years ago, in the enthusiasm of youth and ignorance, I set out to write a short history of Christian Renuncia tion, intending, if I remember rightly, to compress it into one volume. But as I wrote the matter grew, and I was driven to alter my plans. In August 1906 I published a First Chapter in the History of Renuncia tion, 1 in a book entitled Persecution in the Early Church. The favour with which critics of all schools, in diflerent countries, received this work led me to hope that a similar welcome might be given to a further instalment of the original scheme. After six years of work, sadly broken by the ever-increasing pressure of official duties, during the most part of which the manuscript has lain upon my desk, oftentimes, alas! Reproaching me for my unavoidable neglect, I have ventured to publish A Second Chapter in the History of Christian Re nunciation. If it meets from the critic the favour which was bestowed upon my Persecution in the Early Church I shall feel that the delay has not been in vain. It has certainly enabled me to make use of some valu able works oi but recent publication. The Third Chapter of my original design — the history of early missions — will shortly be published, in an abbreviated form, by the Student Volunteer Christian Union.