The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-wealth,…The reformation of the church to be endeavoured more then that of the common-vvealth,…

3. The several acts, or nature, wherein it consisteth, is damnable. There is a learned man, that confidently maintaineth the word Heresy is never used in the Scripture in a middle or indifferent sense, but always in an ill notion: I shall not call that into question now; only we say, as it is taken ecclesiastically, the acts of it are very heinous, as that it's putting a lie upon the holy Ghost: if the safe prophets were so threatened for saying, Thus saith the Lord, when the Lord did not say so; then must the like condemnation fall upon them, who say, Thus saith the Scripture, when it saith it not. Again, Gods Word is the public Standard; it's the testament of Christ: now how heinous a thing is it judged to falsify the last will of a man? Again, Gods Word is precious and dear ⟨p. 22⟩to him, and he will hear the words and the groans, as it were, which this corrupt heart makes in it.

3. The severall acts, or nature, wherein it consisteth, is damnable. There is a learned man, that confidently maintaineth the word Heresie is never used in the Scripture in a middle or indifferent sense, but alwaies in an ill notion: I shall not call that into question now; only we say, as it is taken ecclesiastically, the acts of it are very hainous, as that it's putting a lie upon the holy Ghost: if the salfe prophets were so threatned for saying, Thus saith the Lord, when the Lord did not say so; then must the like condemnation fall upon them, who say, Thus saith the Scripture, when it saith it not. Again, Gods Word is the publike Standard; it's the testament of Christ: now how harnous a thing is it judged to falsifie the last will of a man? Again, Gods Word is precious and dear ⟨p. 22⟩to him, and he will hear the words and the groans, as it were, which this corrupt heart makes in it.

4. The consequents of it are damnable, for error is like the plague and infection, which destroyeth many others. Arius una scintilla fuit; and yet how did it fire the whole world? and how well were it, if Luther's temptation were upon many men, Tune solus sapis? art thou only wise? what if thou be damned, and drawest many thousands to hell with thee? therefore it is a true saying, Quicquid in religionem divinam committitur, in omnium fit injuriam. Again, these sins of errors pollute the mind and understanding, which are the choicest parts of man: always the sins that are majoris infamiae, greater reproach among men, are not presently majoris reatus, of the greater guilt before God. Is not the devil called an unclean spirit? yet he hath no bodily wickedness, therefore doctrine being the foundation of practice it is dangerous to err there. And then lastly, such sins we are hardly convinced of. An outward gross sin natural conscience may condemn, but it cannot do so in matters of faith, because they are supernaturally revealed. These things duly considered, may make men pray, and again, pray that God would not leave them to their own understandings.