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

There is difference betwixt Error, Schism, and Heresy. Error is when one holds a wrong opinion alone: schism, when many consent in their opinion: heresy runs further, and contends to root out the truth. Error offends, but separates not: Schism offends and separates: Heresy offends, separates, and rageth; making the party good vi & armis; if not with arguments of reason, yet with arguments of steel and iron. Error is weak, Schism strong, Heresy obstinate. Error goes out, and often comes in again; Schism comes not in, but makes a new Church: ⟨p. 380⟩Heresy makes not a new Church, but no Church. Error untiles the house, Schism pulls down the walls, but Heresy overturns the foundation. Error is as a child, Schism a wild stripling, Heresy an old dotard. Error will hear reason, Schism will wrangle against it, Heresy will defy it. Error is a member blistered, Schism a member festered, Heresy a member cut off. He that returns quickly from error, is not a Schismatic: he that returns from Schism, is not an Heretic. Error is reproved and pitied, Schism is reproved and punished, Heresy is reproved and excommunicated. Schism is in the same faith, Heresy makes another faith. Though they may be thus distinguished, yet without Gods preventing grace, one will run into another: error will prove a Schism, and schismatical follies will prove stigmatical furies. When Augustine said, Errare possum, haereticum esse non possum; I may err, I cannot be an Heretic: it proceeded from the confident persuasion of Gods mercy, and the resolution of his own heart, to adhere constantly to the truth. The Heretic exceeds the Schismatic: the one hates only peace, the other hates truth. Psal. 120.6. My soul hath long dwelt with him the hateth peace. But, Psal. 139.21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? He may dwell with them that hate peace: he will not endure them that hate the truth. All faults are not of the same degree; there is a moat and a beam, there is stubble and lead. 1 Tim. 6.3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to the words of Christ, If he consent not, that is Schismatical: if he Teach otherwise, that is Heretical. Matth. 5.19. Whosoever shall break one of the least Commandments, and teach men so, &c. If he break the Law, that is a personal sin: but if he teach so, that is a pestilent sin.