But much more I marvel, ye should so unadvisedly say, that Tertullian ⟨p. 49⟩called the Christian people a Sect,1 or Heresy in good part, and, as you say, without any blemish, or note of evil. For the same. Tertullian in the same Apology saith, the Heathens commonly called the Christians, Incestos, Homicidas, Infanticidas, 2Sacrilegos, Pessimos, Nocentissimos, Publicum odium, Hosts humani generis, Omnium Scelerum reos: Deorum, Imporatorum, Legum, Morum, Naturae totius inimicos: Adulterers against kind, Mankillers, killers of Children, Churcherobbers, most wicked, most hurtful, the public hatred, the enemies of Mankind, guilty of all kind of wickedness: Enemies against the Gods, against the Emperors, against the Laws, against good order, against Nature it self. 3Where so ever they saw them, they made an outcry upon them, Christianos ad Leonem: Non licet esse Christianos: Have these Christians to the Lion: It is not lawful, these Christians should live. So S. Augustine saithe,4 Factum est vulgi Proverbium, Pluvia defecit cause Christianorum: It is now become a common Proverb among the people, our rain faileth us, because of these Christians. So Eusebius saith, the Religion of Christ was called Impiorum Christianorum Haeresis: The Heresy of the Godless Christians. These words, M. Harding, I trow, were never uttered without all manner blemish, and note of evil. S. Hierome saithe, Quod magis mirum sit, 5etiam illud de Actibus Apostolorum videtur esse relegendum, Fidem nostram in Christum, & Ecclesiasticā Disciplinā jam tunc à peruersis hominibus Haeresim nuncupatam: And that we may the more marvel, we may once again read this place of the Acts of the Apostles: where we find, that the Christian Faith, and Ecclesiastical Discipline was even then of wicked men called on Heresy.
But muche more I marueile, ye should so vnaduisedly saye, that Tertullian ⟨p. 49⟩called the Christian people a Secte,1 or Heresie in good parte, and, as you saye, without any blemishe, or note of euil. For the same. Tertullian in the same Apologie saithe, the Heathens commonly called the Christians, Incestos, Homicidas, Infanticidas, 2Sacrilegos, Pessimos, Nocentissimos, Publicum odium, Hostes humani generis, Omnium Scelerum reos: Deorum, Imporatorum, Legum, Morum, Naturae totius inimicos: Aduouterours against kinde, Mankillers, killers of Children, Churcherobbers, moste wicked, moste husteful, the publique hatred, the enemies of Mankinde, guiltie of al kinde of wickednesse: Enimies against the Goddes, against the Emperours, against the Lawes, against good order, against Nature it selfe. 3Where so euer they sawe them, they made an outcrie vpon them, Christianos ad Leonem: Non licet esse Christianos: Haue these Christians to the Lion: It is not lawful, these Christians shoulde liue. So S. Augustine saithe,4 Factum est vulgi Prouerbium, Pluuia defecit cause Christianorum: It is nowe become a common Prouerbe emonge the people, our raine faileth vs, bicause of these Christians. So Eusebius saithe, the Religion of Christe was called Impiorum Christianorum Haeresis: The Heresie of the Godlesse Christians. These woordes, M. Hardinge, I trowe, were neuer vttered without al manner blemishe, and note of euil. S. Hierome saithe, Quod magis mirum sit, 5etiam illud de Actibus Apostolorum videtur esse relegendum, Fidem nostram in Christum, & Ecclesiasticā Disciplinā iam tunc à peruersis hominibus Haeresim nuncupatam: And that wee maye the more marueile, wee maye once againe reade this place of the Actes of the Apostles: where we finde, yt the Christian Faithe, and Ecclesiastical Discipline was euen then of wicked menne called on Heresie.
- 1Christian Faith called Heresy.Christian Faithe called Heresie.
- 2Tertull. in Apologetico.
- 3Tertull. in Apologetico.
- 4August. De Civitate, li. 2. ca. 3. Eujeb. li. 4. ca. 18.August. De Ciuitate, li. 2. ca. 3. Eujeb. li. 4. ca. 18.
- 5Hieronym. in Epist. ad Titum▪ Cap. 3.
