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circumstance that even yet the whole is not completely brought down to its intended conclusion. The delay in question arose from different causes, such as the difficulty of expediting the proofs through the press, where each was to be forwarded twice for revision, by post, to a place very inconveniently situated with regard to post office arrangements; constant ministerial occupation, and other unavoidable circumstances.

The extension of the work to a larger size than originally contemplated, which has made it necessary to reserve part for another supplementary volume, has been adopted with a hope of increasing its usefulness; space being thus afforded for entering more largely into some very interesting particulars less fully noticed elsewhere, without at the same time too much altering the character and scope of the present work. The value of this arrangement will it is hoped be more fully understood from inspection of the contents of the Appendix which is intended shortly to accompany the two volumes now published.

With sincere acknowledgment of gratitude to Almighty God for your grace's continued health

vi.

and strength, and heartfelt prayer that you may long be continued in His divine mercy as a blessing to the Church and people of Ireland, and finally be received unto the portion of a faithful pastor of our Lord Christ's flock.

I have the honour to be

Your grace's very obedient humble servant,

ROBERT KING.

CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

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CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

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CHURCH HISTORY OF IRELAND.

BOOK III.

THE DECAY OF TRUE RELIGION IN IRELAND
FOLLOWED BY ECCLESIASTICAL AND

NATIONAL CALAMITIES.

CHAP. I.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE DANISH INVASIONS-ACCOUNT OF THE
HORRIBLE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY TURGESIUS AND HIS
FOLLOWERS.

A. D. 800.

The scourge

on a degene

unfaithful

OUR Blessed Saviour has warned us against rashly forming an uncharitable judgment of the spiritual estate of others, in consequence of the of war a temporal calamities which befal them.* But He judgment has in the same place also taught us not to rate and regard the visitations which overtake them as Church. the effect of chance; but to look on them rather as the just reward of sin, to which we ourselves are equally liable, if we be not led to repentance. Bearing in mind this consideration when we contemplate the state of the Irish Church at the commencement of the ninth century, we may

* S. Luke, xiii. 1–5.

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