☞ Touching the first: which is of the body, or humane nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is to be noted that there was two ancient heresies like, or approaching unto this, which these do hold. For the Manichees fantasied, that Jesus Christ, brought an heavenly body, into the womb of the Virgin his mother. The Marcionites had a vain dream some what different from the other, that he had not a very substantial body: but only an appearance, or likeness of a body: which we call a phatasiye. The purpose of the one and of the other, was to deny that Jesus Christ take flesh of the virgin. Therefore we see that the Anabaptists, in this behalf, do but stir up the errors. which the devil had raised more than fourteen hundred years past, and were coufoū dead by the word of God. Notwithstanding, as in the beginning I have protested, I will not that it his shall be any prejudice unto there cause, except I do convince them first, by the pure word of God, so as if it had never be spoken of before • any man. This that I do speak is only to give warning, that all men may know, out of what fountain proceedeth that which ⟨image 50⟩the Anabaptists now bring forth, as though it were revealed unto them, lately from heaven And also to give warning unto them selves. For all the great doctors which were of their feet, have been so ignorant of the histories, and of all auncientie, that I think never a one of them can tell so much as what this name Marcion is. It is good therefore, that as well they as other, be advertised, that the first author of this opinion, where with they do trouble the world, was caste out and accursed with his opinion, not of a few, but of the whole Christen church, shortly after, that is, with in forty years after the death of the Apostles. For Eusebius and Saint Hierome do write that Polycarp, disciple and familiar friend of Saint John the Apostle, meting him at Rome, called him the eldest son of Satan. I will not recite the other errors, wherewith he troubled the church. For wham this is well plucked out, men shall well know I trust, that hardly may there be found any one, more execrable.
☞ Touchyng the fyrst: which is of the bodye, or humayne nature of oure Lord Iesus Christe, it is to be noted that ther was twoe aunciente heresies like, or approchynge vnto thys, whyche these do holde. For the Maniches phantasied, that Iesus Christ, brought an heauenlye bodye, into the wombe of the Vyrgen his mother. The Marcionistes had a vayne dreme some what differente from the other, that he had not a verye substaunciall bodye: but onelye an apperaunce, or lykenes of a bodye: whyche we call a phatasiye. The purpose of ye one and of the other, was to denye that Iesus Christ take fleshe of the virgin. Therfore we se that ye Anabaptistes, in thys behalffe, do but stur vp the errours. whyche the dyuyl had raysed more than fortene hundereth yeres past, and were coufoū ded by the worde of God. Notwythstandynge, as in the begynnynge I haue protested, I wyll not that it hys shalbe anye preiudice vnto there cause, excepte I do conuince them fyrste, by the pure worde of God, so as if it hadde neuer be spoken of before • anye manne. Thys that I do speake is onelye to geue warnynge, that all men maye knowe, out of what fountaine procedeth that which ⟨image 50⟩the Anabaptists now bryng forth, as though it were reueled vnto them, latlye from heauen And also to geue warnynge vnto them selues. For all the greate doctours whyche were of their seete, haue bene so ignoraunte of the histories, and of all auncientie, that I thinke neuer a one of them can tell so muche as what thys name Marcion is. It is good therefore, that as well they as other, be aduertised, that the fyrste author of thys opinion, where wyth they do troble the worlde, was caste out and accurssed wyth hys opnion, not of a fewe, but of the whole Christen churche, shortly after, that is, wyth in fortye yerres after the deth of the Apostelles. For Eusebyus and Saincte Hierome do wryte that Policarpe, disciple and familiar frende of Saincte Iohn the Apostel, metynge hym at Rome, called hym the eldest sonne of Sathan. I wyll not recite the other errours, wherwyth he troubled the church. For whā thys is wel plucked out, men shal wel know I trust, that heardly may there be founde anye one, more execrable.
