A compendious abstract of the history of the Church of Christ, from its first foundation to the eighteenth century. [electronic resource] : With a faithful and circumstantial account of the acts of the apostles-of the lives of the prinitive Christians-of the general persecutions raised against them by the pagan emperors-of the oecumenical councils-of the chief castors-of the condemnation of ancient heresies-of the defective systems of pagan philosophy-of the despersion of the Jews, the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem, and the vain attempt of the Emperor Julian to rebuild it-of the downfall of idolatry-of the suppression of schisms-of the conversion of nations-of the rise of mahometanism-of the crusades-with several other remarkable events and occurrences. Illustrated with a brief detail of the eminent virtues and apostelic labours of the Holy Fathers, learned doctors, ecclesiastical writers, renowned martyrs, and other great saints, who have flourrished in every age down to the present, &c. By the Rev. William Gahan, O.S.A.