Chapter M: LAFFON DE LADEBAT, of France, computes the number of Christians, in

each century, since the Christian era, as follows:—

1st century 500,000 2d 2,000,000 3d 5,000,000 4th 10,000,000 5th 15,000,000 6th 30,000,000 7th 25,000,000 8th 30,000,000 9th 40,000,000 10th 50,000,000 11th 60,000,000 12th 70,000,000 13th 75,000,000 14th 80,000,000 15th 100,000,000 16th 125,000,000 17th 155,000,000 18th 200,000,000

Since the commencement of the nineteenth century, the number of Christians has increased, with great rapidity, in all parts of the world.

FOOTNOTES

1 The 21st of the former Articles is omitted, because it is partly of
a local and civil nature, and is provided for, as to the remaining
parts of it, in other Articles.

2 “As far as it respects civil affairs, we believe it the duty of
Christians, and especially all Christian ministers, to be subject to
the supreme authority of the country where they may reside, and to
use all laudable means to enjoin obedience to the powers that be;
and therefore it is expected that all our preachers and people, who
may be under the British or any other government, will behave
themselves as peaceable and orderly subjects.”

3 “The question is, not whether God, all things considered, has
purposed the existence of sin rather than to prevent it; but for
what _reason_ has he purposed it? Some affirm this _reason_ to be,
_that sin is the necessary means of the greatest good_. Now, what I
claim, and all that I claim, is, that _no one can prove this to be
the reason_ why God has purposed the existence of sin, and that some
other may be _the true reason_, without affirming what the true
reason is.”

4 The Exode did not begin until Terah’s death; then Abraham left
Haran, and the Exode began, as is clearly proved by Acts 7:4.

5 Exode in Egypt from Abraham to wilderness state.

6 Joshua was a young man when he came out of Egypt, (Exod. 33:11;)
could not have been more than 45 years old then; 85 when he entered
Canaan, and 110 when he died, leaves 25 years.

7 Judges begin. See Judges 2:7-15.

8 This ends the Judges,—448 years. Acts 13:20; also, chap. 8.

9 Samuel could not have been more than 38 when Eli died. Then, Israel
was lamenting the loss of the ark more than 20 years. Samuel judged
Israel some years after, and became old, and his sons judged Israel.
He must have been 62 or 63 when Saul was made king.

10 See 2 Kings, chapters 14 and 15.

11 See Ferguson’s Astronomy; also, Prideaux’s Connection.

12 See BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

13 17 churches, 16 ministers, and 2236 members, in this state, are
included in the New York Association.

14 9 churches, 7 ministers, and 526 members, in this state, are
included in the Mississippi Association.

15 Archbishop Cranmer was the first in this succession, at and after
the Reformation; and Bishop White was the connecting link between
the English and American successions.

16 The reader will perceive some difference in the dates, and also in
the spelling between this list and the list of Bishops, p. 315. This
difference arises from the following of different authorities in the
chronology and spelling by the compilers of the two lists. It will
be seen that they agree in the order of succession, with one or two
exceptions. The fourth and fifth names in _this_ list are generally
considered as the same individual, and the best authorities place
him before Clement. The other apparent differences in the succession
are caused by the inserting in _this_ list of the names of all who
were in the see of Rome at any time; while in the other, those who
were not lawful bishops of Rome are omitted.