A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Heresy was at first taken in a good sense: it signifies Election, and was referred both to good and bad Sects. It seems to be taken from the Schools of Philosophy, wherein every one chose a faction to which he sided. Among the latins, it was called Secta, a secando: because that part did single out it self, and was ab aliis resecta & separata, cut off and separate from the rest. Tertullian used the word for true Religion, and a confession of the Christian verity. Lib. de Fuga. And Cyprian. Eph. 23. Celerinus confessor, timore nostrae Sectae verecundus, &c. Saint Paul is not afraid to use it, Act. 24.14. After the way which they call Heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers: yet he does not altogether justify it, because Tertullus had put a scandal upon it. Verse 5. a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes, Act. 26.5. After the most straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisee. In like manner, Magi at the first were but sages: but time adulterated the word, and made it magic. So that Heresy is now taken for that, which doth diametrally oppose the truth, and sets up an opinion against it.

Heresie was at first taken in a good sense: it signifies Election, and was referred both to good and bad Sects. It seemes to be taken from the Schooles of Philosophie, wherein every one chose a faction to which he sided. Among the latines, it was called Secta, a secando: because that part did single out it selfe, and was ab aliis resecta & separata, cut off and separate from the rest. Tertullian used the word for true Religion, and a confession of the Christian verity. Lib. de Fuga. And Ciprian. Eph. 23. Celerinus confessor, timore nostrae Sectae verecundus, &c. Saint Paul is not afraid to use it, Act. 24.14. After the way which they call Heresie, so worship I the God of my fathers: yet hee does not altogether justifie it, because Tertullus had put a scandall upon it. Verse 5. a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarens, Act. 26.5. After the most straitest sect of our religion, I lived a Pharisie. In like manner, Magi at the first were but sages: but time adulterated the word, and made it magicke. So that Heresie is now taken for that, which doth diametrally oppose the truth, and sets up an opinion against it.