THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: AN EPITOME OF SACRED HISTORY. THE Church of Rome has only to relate her history, in order to instruct man according to the will of God, and to lead him to a knowledge of the truth. The dogmas to be received, the precepts to be observed, the worship to be practised, have all been successively revealed and developed; these communications being always proportioned to the requirements of each succeeding generation. There is no instruction more important or more reliable than a knowledge of events. It is impossible to be deceived when proofs rest upon facts. Moreover, the history of leading events, from the beginning up to the present time, is the history of the Catholic Church, and it is thus named because it extends from all times and to all places. The substance of this little work is taken from a French book, entitled, "L'Echelle Catholique," by M. L'Abbé J. B. A. A., and the Bishop of Oregon, which was first brought under our notice, and highly recommended as a useful epitome, by the Sisters of Notre Dame. 1 Universal. viii THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. As a short, plain work of this description is much wanted at the present day, and nothing of the kind appears to exist in English, it has occurred to us that it might be useful to the faithful and others, to present it in an English dress, with such alterations and additions as were demanded in order to make it better adapted for circulation in Great Britain and Ireland. Etymological foot-notes have been added for the use of teachers, and as an aid to those who wish to improve themselves in the knowledge of the derivation of English words. CONTENTS. PERIOD I., OR ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD, 1656 YEARS. FROM B.C. 4004 PERIOD V., OR TIME OF THE KINGDOM OF ALL ISRAEL, 120 YEARS. PERIOD VI., OR TIME OF THE TWO KINGDOMS, 254 YEARS. FROM PERIOD VIIL, BEGINS WITH THE RETURN FROM CAPTIVITY, AND ENDS WITH THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST. FROM B.C. 536 TO PERIOD IX., FROM THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST-A.M. 4004 TO A.D. 101—TO THE DEATH OF THE LAST OF THE APOSTLES, |