CHURCH-HISTORY, or Ecclesiastical history, is, as the name itself implies, the history of that spiritual society founded by Jesus Christ," in which the pure word of God is preached, and the sacraments are duly administered according to Christ's ordinance;" and which, in conformity with the Saviour's promise, must exist till the end of the world. The name, however, has often been made to bear a much wider meaning. It has sometimes been so applied as to include God's dealings with his people under the Old Testament, as well as the New: and, in its common application, it is understood to comprehend the history of heretical and schismatical communities as well as that of the Orthodox and Catholic Church. When the idea to be expressed is thus extended, it would undoubtedly be more correct and scientific to use, as the case might require, the terms, history of revealed Religion," and "history