A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

And in this respect and consideration, Tertullian thinks ⟨p. 114⟩that an Heretic is said to be [Greek or Hebrew], condemned of himself. Tit: 3. 10. because he hath of himself chose that which doth condemn him. The Apostle there hath commanded to reject an Heretic. If I reject him (might one say) then I loose him, I destroy his soul. Nay (saith the Apostle) his perdition is of himself, for he hath chosen his own ways, and his soul delighteth in his abominations. This interpretation is much surer and safer, then to say that a Heretic is called [Greek or Hebrew], or self-condemned, because he goes against his own light, and against the principles received and acknowledged by himself: Which sense is accompanied with many dangerous consequences. 3. 'Tis such a choosing of error as is accompanied with a rejecting of Truth. A Heretic puts light for darkness, and darkness •or light; good fo• evil, and evil for good, he chooseth error as truth, and refuseth truth as error, they that give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils, do also depart from the faith, 1 Tim. 4. 1. resist the […], 2 Tim 3. 8, and turn away their ears from the truth, 2 Tim: 4. 4. their course hath a te•minus a quo als well as ad quem. 4 'Tis an error professed and maintained, and which •y that means becomes a scandal and snare to others. For although there may be Heresy (a•s well as other kinds of sin•urking and hid in the thoughts, yet that belongs to Gods judgement only, not to mans. The Heresies which are spoken of, 1 Cor: 11. •9. are certainly known and apparently discriminative; even among men. And Heretics are scandalous persons to be avoided and rejected, Rom: 16. 17. Tit: 3. 10. which could not be, except their errors were known. 5. 'Tis an error contradictory to some chief and substantial• truth grounded upon, or be necessary consequence drawn from, the holy Scripture. There was never yet any Heretic in the Christian world who contradicted that whi•h is literally and syllabically in Scripture. The most damnable Heretic will offer to subscribe to the Scripture