The Holy State, Book 5 · Chapter 10
Chap. 10. The Heretick.
IT is very difficult accurately to define him. Amongst the Heathen Atheist was, and amongst Christians Heretick is the disgracefull word of course, alwayes cast upon those who dissent from the predominant current of the time. Thus those who in matters of opinion varied from the *Hic videtur quòd omnis qui non obedit statutis Romanae sedis sit Haereticus, Glossa in C. nulli dist. 19. in verbo Prostratus.Popes copie the least hair-stroke, are condemned for Hereticks. Yea, Virgilius Bishop of Saltzburg was branded with that censure for maintaining that there were *Ioh. Avent. lib. 3. Annal. …ior.Antipodes opposite to the then known world. It may be, as Alexander, hearing the Philosophers dispute of more worlds, wept that he had conquered no part of them; so it grieved the Pope that these Antipodes were not subject to his jurisdiction, which much incensed his Holinesse against that strange opinion. We will branch the description of an Heretick into these three parts.
First, he is one that formerly hath been of the true Church: *1. John 2.19.They went out from us, but they were not of us. These afterwards prove more offensive to the Church then very Pagans; as the English-Irish, descended anciently of English Parentage (be it spoken with the more shame to them, and sorrow to us) turning wild become worse enemies to our Nation then the Native Irish themselves.
2. Maintaining a Fundamentall errour. Every scratch in the hand is not a stab to the heart; nor doth every false opinion make a Heretick.
3. With obstinacy. Which is the dead flesh, making the green wound of an errour fester into the old soare of an Heresie.
It matters not much what manner of person he hath. Maxime 1.If beautifull, perchance the more attractive of feminine followers: If deformed, so that his body is as odde as his opinions, he is the more properly entitled to the reputation of crooked Saint.
2His naturall parts are quick and able. Yet he that shall ride on a winged horse to tell him thereof, shall but come too late to bring him stale news of what he knew too well before.
3Learning is necessary in him if he trades in a criticall errour: but if he onelyonly broches dregs, and deals in some dull sottish opinion, a trovell will serve as well as a pencill to daub on such thick course colours. Yea in some Heresies deep studying is so uselesse, that the first thing they learn, is to inveigh against all learning.
4However some smattering in the originall tongues will do well. On occasion he will let flie whole vollies of Greek and Hebrew words, whereby he not onelyonly amazeth his ignorant Auditours, but also in conferences daunteth many of his opposers, who (though in all other learning farre his superiours) may perchance be conscious of want of skill in those languages, whilest the Heretick hereby gains credit to his cause and person.
5His behaviour is seemingly very pious and devout. How foul soever the postern and backdoore be, the gate opening to the street is swept and garnished, and his outside adorned with pretended austerity.
6He is extremely proud and discontented with the times, quarrelling that many beneath him in piety are above him in place. This pride hath caused many men which otherwise might have been shining lights prove smoaking firebrands in the Church.
7Having first hammered the heresie in himself, he then falls to seducing of others: so hard it is for one to have the itch and not to scratch. Yea Babylon her self will alledge, that for Sions sake she will not hold her peace. The necessity of propogating the truth is errours plea to divulge her falshoods. Men, as naturally they desire to know, so they desire what they know should be known.
If challenged to a private dispute, 8his impudence bears him out. He counts it the onelyonly errour to confesse he hath erred. His face is of brasse, which may be said either ever or never to blush. In disputing his Modus is sine modo; and as if all figures (even in Logick) were magicall, he neglects all forms of reasoning, counting that the onelyonly Syllogisme which is his conclusion.
He slights any Synod if condemning his opinions;9 esteeming the decisions thereof no more then the forfeits in a barbers shop, where a Gentlemans pleasure is all the obligation to pay, and none are bound except they will bind themselves.
Sometimes he comes to be put to death for his obstinacy. 10Indeed some charitable Divines have counted it inconsistent with the lenity of the Gospel, which is to expect and endeavour the amendment of all, to put any to death for their false opinions; and we reade of S. Paul (though the Papists paint him alwayes with a sword) that he onelyonly came with a rod. However the *Gerards Common places de Magistrat. Polit. p. 1047.mildest Authours allow that the Magistrate may inflict capitall punishment on Hereticks, in cases of
1. Sedition against the State wherein he lives. And indeed such is the sympathy betwixt Church and Commonwealth that there are few Heresies, except they be purely speculative (and so I may say have heads without hands or any practicall influence) but in time the violent maintainers of them may make a dangerous impression in the State.
2. Blasphemy against God, and those points of religion which are awfully to be believed.
For either of these our Heretick sometimes willingly undergoes death, and then in the Calendar of his own conceit he canonizeth himself for a Saint, yea a Martyr.