They are a selection from a group known as the Apostolic Fathers, so-called because several of the authors were most likely disciples of the Apostles themselves. Like much of the New Testament, their writings take the form of letters, and for the most part deal with practical problems of the life of the early Church, as it struggled in the face of persecution to establish itself in the Roman world. They give us a picture of Christianity still drawing on the theology and traditions of its parent religion, Judaism.

    The Great Church, as the Greeks called the Orthodox Patriarchate, was the spiritual centre of the Byzantine world. The Church's survival during the four centuries of Turkish rule which followed the fall of Constantinople bore witness to its strenght and to the unquenchable vitality of Hellenism. Sir Steven Runciman's history of the Great Church in this period is written with scholarship, sympathy and style.

    By age twenty-two he was the most popular sermonizer of his age, dubbed the "Prince of Preachers." Spurgeon's sermons are notable not merely for their quantity, but also for their quality. His sermons combine keen intellect, scriptural truth, and a passionate love for God. Gems of insight and truth shine form the pages of this book, as penetrating and relevant today as they were a century ago. Spurgeon wrote his Sermon Notes to aid other preachers whose duties left them pressed for time. Originally released as four books, Spurgeon's Sermon Notes are gathered here into one convenient volume for the first time. Features: - 264 sermon outlines, complete with illustrations and commentary- Based on selected texts from almost every book of the Bible- Organized in biblical sequence, for easy reference- Newly typeset version with punctuation modernized for easier reading Spurgeon's Sermon Notes is a classic which provides fresh inspiration and understanding for preachers, study group leaders, or any heart that craves a devotional overview of the greatest book of all time penned by one of its greatest students.

    

    Previously published in two separate volumes entitled A history of Christian thought and Perspectives on 19th and 20th century Protestant theology.