First, When there is a tincture of error and falsehood in 1their words, that are not sound for Doctrine, squint-eyed words that speak not plainly but border on error, as when words tend to Popery and Arminianism, this is the means to bring heresy into the Church, for it comes into the Church as water into a ship, that comes insensibly and by little and little, but sinks the ship on a sudden; and therefore it is said, the envious man soweth tares in the night when none saw him, whereas if he had sown in the day every one would have resisted him, or at the least have taken heed of him. Paul saith they come creeping into widows houses, but it is secretly and unawares, ⟨p. 277⟩whereas if they did knock at the door and come in violently, every one would have a weapon to keep them out. so, Gal. 2. 4. they come in privily to spy our liberty. Therefore it is a true saying, Principia Haereseos sunt verecunda, the beginning of heresies are bashful, and if they were not so promoted, the endeavours of them that trade in heresy would not become so effectual; for who will take poison by it self, but when it is mingled with milk, and a fish will not take a bare hook, but when it is baited; for when so it is not easily discerned. If one bring a plain piece of brass none will take it, but if it be guilt and have the Kings stamp on it, one may be deceived; so when heresies are propounded in words that are not distasteful, many are deceived; all deceit comes by similitude (as we may say) of virtue, saepe latet vitium proximitate boni, vice oft lieth hid under a show of good, so of truth falsehood often lieth under a likeness of truth. It is an act therefore of prudence to discern between things that are alike, for every one can discern between things that differ; besides what reason is there that if the meaning be good, the terms should be ambiguous, when we see how ready people are to take things by the wrong hand, and the most Orthodoxal writers have been mistaken, though the Fathers have writ well, yet how much have they been wrested by the Papists to maintain errors, though indeed there be some fault in them, Let us come to Paul whose words are without exception.
First, When there is a tincture of error and falshood in 1their words, that are not sound for Doctrine, squinteyed words that speak not plainly but border on errour, as when words tend to Popery and Arminianism, this is the means to bring heresie into the Church, for it comes into the Church as water into a ship, that comes insensibly and by little and little, but sinks the ship on a suddain; and therefore it is said, the envious man soweth tares in the night when none saw him, whereas if he had sown in the day every one would have resisted him, or at the least have taken heed of him. Paul saith they come creeping into widdowes houses, but it is secretly and unawars, ⟨p. 277⟩whereas if they did knock at the door and come in violently, every one would have a weapon to keep them out. so, Gal. 2. 4. they come in privily to spie our liberty. Therefore it is a true saying, Principia Haereseos sunt verecunda, the beginning of heresies are bashful, and if they were not so promoted, the endeavours of them that trade in heresie would not become so effectual; for who will take poyson by it self, but when it is mingled with milk, and a fish will not take a bare hook, but when it is baited; for when so it is not easily discerned. If one bring a plain piece of brass none will take it, but if it be guilt and have the Kings stamp on it, one may be deceived; so when heresies are propounded in words that are not distastful, many are deceived; all deceit comes by similitude (as we may say) of virtue, saepe latet vitium proximitate boni, vice oft lieth hid under a shew of good, so of truth falsehood often lieth under a likeness of truth. It is an act therefore of prudence to discern between things that are alike, for every one can discern between things that differ; besides what reason is there that if the meaning be good, the terms should be ambiguous, when we see how ready people are to take things by the wrong hand, and the most Orthodoxal writers have been mistaken, though the Fathers have writ well, yet how much have they been wrested by the Papists to maintain errors, though indeed there be some fault in them, Let us come to Paul whose words are without exception.
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