First, they are heretics, wicked Tares indeed: and that you may know who are these: [Greek or Hebrew] is a choice, or election, at first a good word in Philosophy, taken for a right form of learning: but now in Divinity it is a word of disgrace, and intends a stubborn deviation from the deceived truth. This infection (like the Tares) first begins whiles men sleep, the Pastors negligence gives way unto it, and because of its little seed, or small beginning, it is never heeded, or regarded, till the whole house he infected: thus Popery crept up in the dark, like a thief putting out the lights, that he might rob the house more securely; and as it began with a little, so it went on by degrees, till an universal Apostasy was (as it were) over the face of the world.1 Austin saith of Arrius his heresy, It was at first but a little spark, but it spread so at last, that the flame of it singed the whole world: so the Pope rose by degrees, first above Bishops, then above Patriarchs, then above Councils, then above Kings, then above Scriptures, even so the Apostle speaks of Antichrist, He hath exalted himself above all that is called God, 2 Thess. 2.4.2 Heresy creeps in at a little hole, like a plague that comes in at the windows, and then propagates it self beyond all measure: O that these Tares were weeded, that Ishmael were cast out of doors, so that Sarah and her son Isaac might live in quiet and peace; or if they must grow until the harvest, what remains, but, I beseech you, brethren, 3mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine that ye have learned, and avoid them.
First, they are hereticks, wicked Tares indeed: and that you may know who are these: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is a choice, or election, at first a good word in Philosophy, taken for a right form of learning: but now in Divinity it is a word of disgrace, and intends a stubborn deviation from the deceived truth. This infection (like the Tares) first begins whiles men sleep, the Pastours negligence gives way unto it, and because of its little seed, or small beginning, it is never heeded, or regarded, till the whole house he infected: thus Popery crept up in the dark, like a thiefe putting out the lights, that he might rob the house more securely; and as it began with a little, so it went on by degrees, till an universall Apostasie was (as it were) over the face of the world.1 Austin saith of Arrius his heresie, It was at first but a little spark, but it spread so at last, that the flame of it singed the whole world: so the Pope rose by degrees, first above Bishops, then above Patriarchs, then above Councels, then above Kings, then above Scriptures, even so the Apostle speaks of Antichrist, He hath exalted himself above all that is called God, 2 Thess. 2.4.2 Heresie creeps in at a little hole, like a plague that comes in at the windows, and then propagates it self beyond all measure: O that these Tares were weeded, that Ishmael were cast out of doores, so that Sara and her son Isaac might live in quiet and peace; or if they must grow untill the harvest, what remains, but, I beseech you, brethren, 3mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine that ye have learned, and avoid them.
- 1Una scintilla fuit. Totum orbem ejus flamma populata est.Vna scintilla fuit. Totum orbem ejus flamma populata est.
- 22 Thess. 2.4.
- 3Rom. 16.17.
