Abridgment of Ecclesiastical Laws, Treatise · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL.
Of Blaſphemy and Hereſie.
1. What Blaſphemy is, and whence ſo called.
2. The ſeveral puniſhments inflicted on Blaſphemers.
3. How may ways Blaſphemy may be.
4. What Hereſie is; a Conjectural derivation of that word Hereſie, it is Threefold.
5. What ſhall he accounted Hereſie; what the Lollards of old were, and why ſo called.
6. In whom the Juriſdiction of Hereſie properly reſides.
7. A Heretick convicted, and ſo perſiſting, whether according to Law combuſtable; The reaſon of that ſevere Law; Hereſie is Lepra animae.
8. An Alphabetical black Catalogue of Hereticks; their Errors, Hereſies, and Blaſphemies; and the times wherein they peſter'd the World.
9. A Catalogue of Jewiſh Hereticks, but not in any Alphabetical manner as the former.
(1.) BLASPHEMIA, foreign, quod laedat famam. foreign is as it were foreign, to hurt anothers ſame or reputation: Suidas interpreteth foreign, one who injureth God with contumelious words, which is when men detract from God the honour due unto him, or attribute any evil to him. Blasphemare, eſt tacite vel expreſſe, verbo vel ſcripto, contra deum aliquid contumelioſum dicere. Navar. cap. 12. nu. 81. Blaſphemia eſt injurioſa in deum locutio, vel contumelia in deum verbo irrogata. Leſs. lib. 2. de Blaſph. This is cognizable in the Eccleſiaſtical Juriſdiction, and by the 109. Canon of the Eccleſiaſtical Conſtitutions of the Church of England, is among other notorious Crimes to be certified into Eccleſiaſtical Courts by way of preſentment, in order to puniſhment according to Law.
(2.) This Crime of Blaſphemy was ſo odious to the Emperor Juſtinian, that he ordained, that the Blaſphemer ſhould undergo ultimum ſupplicium, be puniſhed by death, for he made it capital. Auth. ut non. Luxur. Coll. 7. By the Eccleſiaſtical Laws of Keneth King of Scots. An. 840. It is provided, that he that Blaſphemeth ſhall have his Tongue cut outaL. L. Eccl. Kenethi. l. 7. Spelm. Concil. An. 840.. Blaſphemy is ſpeaking Treaſon againſt the Heavenly Majeſty, the belching out of exercrable words againſt God, whereby the Deity is reproached. Baldus ſays that Blaſphemy is a kind of Hereſie. Bald. in L. Qui accuſationem C. Qui Accuſ. non poſſe. for which a Lay-man is Anathematized by the Church of God, and a Clerk depoſed from all Eccleſiaſtical Orders. Can. ſi quis per capillum. 22. q. 1. The Canon Law ſeems not ſevere enough in the puniſhment of this Crime, probably for that they of the Roman Church do hold, that there is a Blaſphemy againſt Saints, and Blaſphemia Dei vel ſanctorum hath but one and the ſame puniſhment with them, and that is a ſolemn and publick penance if the Blaſphemy were publickly committed. Extra. de Maledict. c. ſtatuimus. And that the World may know how they abominate this ſin of Blaſphemy, they put the Queſtion and demand, whether any Prieſt inferiour to a Biſhop, can abſolve a man from this ſin? for anſwer they diſtinguiſh and ſay, that if the Blaſphemy be publick and notorious, it cannot be abſolved but by a Biſhop: but if it were only private and occult (non in platea, nec in camera multis audientibus) then every Prieſt may abſolve it. Ant. de pae. & re. ſi Epiſcopus. lib. 6. Steph. de Gaeta Repet. in c. ad Limina. 30. q. 1. nu. 139. Aquinas reckons it among the Mortal ſins.
(3.) Lindwood in his Provincials ſays, that that is Blaſphemy quae dicitur irreligioſa reprehenſio, detractio, vel vituperatio, but (ſays he) to ſpeak properly and ſtrictly, Blaſphemare, eſt Deo injuriam irrogare, which may be done three ſeveral ways, (1). Aliquid attribuendo quod deo non convenit. (2.) Ab ea removendo quod deo convenit. (3.) Creaturae attribuendo illud quod eſt proprium deo. Lindw. de Offic. Archipr. c. 1. verb. Blaſphemia. In the Primitive times this ſin was puniſhed by a delivering the Offender over unto Satan, which was an Eccleſiaſtical cenſure by the Greater Excommunication, whereby the Offender became unto others as an Heathen and a Publican.1 Cor. 5. 5. 1 Tim. 1. 2. Mat. 18. 17. and whereby he is diſſiranchiſed of all the Priviledges of the Church.
(4.) Touching Hereſie, there are various conceptions as to the derivation of that word; ſome are of opinion that the word comes from (Error and rectus) and that from thence comes [Haereticus] that is, Errans à Recto ſive Rectitudine Fidei Catholicae. l. 2. in ſin. C. de Haeretic. Others will have the word Hereſis to be from [heriſcor] that is [divido,] and thence Hereſie to be Diviſio ab unitate Fidei. Azo. Sum. C. eod. tit. Others will have it to be from [haereo & Error,] thence Haereſis, quaſi adhaeſio Erroris, and Haereticus, quaſi adhaerens Errori, for Error of it ſelf doth not make an Heretick, but adhering to an Error doth. Lindw. de Haeret. c. 1. And others there are, who do conceive that the word [Haereſis] dicitur ab Electione, becauſe an Heretick doth chuſe to himſelf that Opinion which he thinks is beſt for himſelfbHieron. Epiſt. 24. q. 3. haereſis.. And he that inclines to this Opinion, ſeems to be leaſt in an Error, for Haereſis is from the Greek foreign Optio, vel electio, ſecta, ab foreign Eligo. Hereſie is an Opinion repugnant to the orthodox Doctrine of the Chriſtian Faith, obſtinately maintain'd and perſiſted in by ſuch as profeſs the Name of Chriſt. that Hereſie which is commonly called Haereſis univorſa, or Hereſie in ſenſu largo is threefold, and doth conſiſt either in a mans heart, or in his mouth, or in his works. Under the firſt of theſe are comprized all ſuch as are Chriſtians only by Name, but not ſo in truth and in deed: under the ſecond are comprehended all vain Swearers, Covenant-breakers, and indevout approachers to God in his Worſhip: under the third are contained all Hypocrites, whoſe counterfeit devotion without any ſincerity in the heart, conſiſts only in the ſimulation of an external work; all theſe are by Lindwood. underſtood in a large ſenſe as Hereticks Lindw. de Offic. Archipr. c. 1 gloſ. in ver. Haereſis. But theſe are not the Hereticks here meant or intended, nor indeed are they Hereticks in any proper ſenſe, whereby we commonly underſtand ſuch as Hereticks, who maintain and perſiſt in any Opinion contrary to the True, Orthodox, Catholick Faith, or any of the Articles thereof grounded on the word of God.
(5.) By a Proviſo in the Act of 1 Eliz. c. 1. no matter or cauſe ſhall be adjudged Hereſie, but ſuch only as hath been ſo adjudged by the Authority of the Canonical Scriptures, and by the firſt four General Councils, or by any other General Council, wherein the ſame was declared Hereſie by the expreſs and plain words of the Canonical Scripture, or ſuch as ſhall hereafter be determined to be Hereſie by Parliament, with the aſſent of the Clergy in their Convocation, as appears by the ſaid Statute; the occaſion of the making whereof was (as ſuppoſ'd by reaſon of an Indictment againſt certain perſons called Lollards, upon the Statute of 2 H. 4. c. 15. Whoſe Opinions were (1.) That it was not meritorious to go in Pilgrimage to St.Lollards from Lolium, Darnel or Tares. Thomas, nor to St. Mary of Walſingham. Nor (2) To adore the Image of a Crucifix or of Saints. Nor (3) To confeſs ſins to a Prieſt, but to God onley, &c.
(6.) Sir Ed. Coke in the third part of his Inſtitutes cap. 5. doth aſſert, that both by the Books at Common Law, and by Hiſtory it doth appear, that an Heretick may be convicted before the Archbiſhop and other Biſhops, and other the Clergy at a General Synod or Convocation. Bract. Lib. 3. fo. 123, 124. in Concil. Oxon. Newburgh. l. 2. c. 13. 6 H. 3. Stow. Hol. 203. 2 H. 4. Rot. Parl. nu. 29. Sautries Caſe. F. N. B. 269. 2. 1 El. c. 1. And the Biſhop of every Dioceſs may convict any for Hereſie, and ſo might have done before the Statute of 2 H. 4. c. 15.cCo. p. 3. Inſt. c. 5. For the Dioceſan hath Juriſdiction of Hereſie, and ſo it was practiſed in all Q. Elizabeths Reign: and accordingly it was reſolved by all the Juſtices in the the Caſe of Legate the HeretickdBy Fleming Chief Juſtice, Tanfield Chief Baron, Williams, and Coke Juſtices. Hill. 9. Jac.; And that upon a conviction before the Ordinary of Hereſie, the Writ de Haeretico comburendo did lyeeMat. Hammond. 21 Eliz. Holl 1579. Stow. 1161. Co. ubi ſupra.. Without the aid of the Act of 2 H. 4. c. 15. it ſeems the Dioceſan could Impriſon no perſon accuſed of Hereſie, but was to proceed againſt him by the cenſures of the Church. And now (ſays the Lord Coke in the forecited place) In as much as not only the ſaid Act of 2 H. 4. but alſo that of the 25 H. 8. c. 14. are repealed, the Dioceſan cannot Impriſon any perſon accuſed of Hereſie, but muſt proceed againſt him as he might have done before theſe Statutes, by the cenſures of the Church, as it appears by the ſaid Act of 2 H. 4. c. 15. according to Sir Ed. Coke in that place aforeſaid: where he alſo ſaith, that no perſon at this day can be indicted or impeached of Hereſie before any Temporal Judge, or other that hath Temporal Juriſdiction. But every Archbiſhop of this Realm may cite any perſon dwelling in any Biſhops Dioceſs within his Province for cauſes of Herſie, if the Biſhop or other immediate Ordinary thereunto conſent, or if that the ſame Biſhop or other immediate Ordinary or Judge do not his duty in puniſhing the ſamef23 H. 8. 9. & Co. ubi ſup..
(7.) Again, Sir Ed. Coke in the forementioned place affirms, that it appears by Bracton, Britton, Fleta, Stanford and all the Books of the Common Law, that he who is duly convicted of Hereſie, ſhall be burnt to death. Mir. c. 4. de Majeſty. Bract. ubi ſup. Britt. c. 9. Fleta. l. 1. c. 35. Reg. F. N. B. 269. But the Eccleſiaſtical Judge cannot (as he ſays) at this day commit the perſon that is convict of Hereſie, to the Sheriff (albeit he be preſent) to be burnt; but muſt have the Kings Writ De Haeretieo Comburendo according to the Common Law. F. N. B. 269. Rot. Par. 2 H. 4. nu. 29. Sautries Caſe. Bre. de haeret. Combur. per Reg. & Concil. in Parliam. The reaſon Sir Ed. Coke gives, wherefore Hereſie is ſo extremely and fearfully puniſh'd is, for that Gravius eſt aeternam quam Temporalem Laedere Majeſtatem: And Haereſis eſt lepra animae. g2 Mar. tit. Haereſie. Br. 7. Co. ubi ſupr.. The party duly convicted of Hereſie, may recall and abjure his Opinion, and thereby ſave his life, but a relapſe is fatal. And if the Heretick will not (ſays he) after conviction abjure, he may by force of the ſaid Writ be burnt without abjurationhCo. ubi ſupr. and 2 Mar. ubi ſupr.. 2 H. 4 Rot. Parl. N. 24. A Writ was iſſued by the advice of the Lords Temporal in Parliament to the Sheriffs of London, and ſubſcribed per ipſum regem & concilium in Parliamento, by which the Sheriffs were commanded to burn William Sautre, who had been before condemned for a relapſed Heretick by the Archbiſhop of Canterbury Apoſtolicae ſedis Legatum, and other Suffragans, and all the Clergy of that Province, in Concilio ſuo Provinciali Congregat. juris ordine. Note 1 Eliz. cap. 1. Proviſo, that ſuch as have Juriſdiction by Letters Patents, ſhall not have power to Judge Hereſie but in ſuch Caſes as have been before adjudged, &c. or ſuch as ſhall hereafter be ordered, judged, and determined to be Hereſie by the High Court of Parliament of this Realm, with the aſſent of the Clergy in their Convocation, as aforeſaid. Before a man ſhall be adjudged an Heretick, he ought to be convicted by the Provincial Synod, for the Common Law doth not take notice what is hereſie. F. N. B. 269.If an Heretick convict ſhall after abjuration relapſe into the ſame or any other Hereſie, and thereof be convict again, the Writ De Hoeretico Comburendo may be directed to the Sheriff after the party is delivered by the Clergy unto the ſecular power. And by the Statute of 2 H. 4. c. 15. Every Biſhop in his own Dioceſs might (as aforeſaid) convict a man of Hereſie, and upon another conviction after abjuration, might by the Sheriff proceed unto comburation. But that Statute is repealed by the Statute of 25 H. 8. c. 14. vid. co. lib. 12. in a Caſe of Hereſie. Note 2 Ma. tit. Hereſie. Brook per omnes Juſticiarios & Baker & Hare. The Archbiſhop in his Province, in the Convocation, may and doth uſe to convict Hereſie, by the Common Law, and then to put them convicted into Lay-hands, and then by the Writ De Haeretico Comburendo they were burnt; but becauſe it was troubleſome to call a Convocation, It was ordained by the Statute 2 H. 4. cap. 15. That every Biſhop in his Dioceſs might convict Hereticks. And if the Sheriff was preſent, he might deliver ſuch to be burnt without the Writ aforeſaid; but if the Sheriff were abſent, or he were to be burnt in another County, then the ſaid Writ ought to be had, who are Hereticks, vid. 11. H. 7. Book of Entries, fo. 319. vid. Doctor and Stu. lib. 2. cap. 29. Coſin. 48. 2. 1 & 2. P. & M cap. 6. Alſo 3 F. N. B. fo. 269. And the Writ in the Regiſter proves this directly. 4 Bracton. l. 3. cap. 9. fo. 123, 124. And it is alſo true, that every Ordinary may convent any Heretick or Schiſmatick before him pro ſalute animae, and may degrade him, and enjoyn him penance according to Eccleſiaſtical Law; but upon ſuch conviction the party ſhall not he burnt. Note (ſays the Lord Coke in the ſame place) that the makers of the Act of 1 Eliz. were in doubt what ſhall be deemed Hereſie or Schiſm, &c. and therefore the Statute of 10 Eliz. provides, that nothing ſhall be deemed Hereſie, but what had been ſo determined by one of the four General Councils, the word of God, or Parliament. vid. Fox in Ed. 6. and Britton. 5 Ed. 1. lib. 1. cap. 17. and with this agrees the Statute, 2 H. 5. cap. 7. 23 H. 7. 9. 25 H. 8. c. 14. The proceedings in the commencement and end was altered by the Statute of 25 H. 8. Then came the Statute 1 Ed. 6. cap. 12. and that repealed 5 R. 2. 2 H. 5. and 26 H. 8. and the 2 H. 4. and by general words all Statutes concerning matter of Religion; then the 1 & 2. P. & M. cap. 6. Revived the 2. H. 4. by which the 25. H. 8. loſt it's force, the Act 1 and 2 P and M. cap. 8. expreſly repealed. 21 H. 8. 23. H. 8. 24. H. 8. 27. H. 8. but the 25. H. 8. cap. 14. was not repealed, being repealed before by the 1. Ed. 6. yet in the end of that long Act there is a general clauſe ſufficient of it ſelf to repeal the Act 25. H. cap. 14. without more: Then the 1. Eliz. cap. 1. repeals the 1 and 2 P. and M. except ſome Branches; and in the ſame Act it is enacted, that all other Statutes repealed by the ſaid Act of Repeal 1 and 2 P. and M. and not in this Act ſpecially revived, ſhall remain repealed. But the 25. H. 8. cap. 14. was not particularly revived, and therefore remains repealed. And after the ſaid Statute 1. Eliz. repeals the Act 1 and 2 P. and M. of reviving of three Acts for puniſhment of Hereſies; ſo that now at Common Law (according to the Lord Coke) none can be burnt for Hereſie, but by Conviction at a Convocation. After this, viz. Hill. 9. Jac. the Atturney and Sollicitor conſulted with him whether at this day, upon Conviction of an Heretick before the Ordinary, the Writ de Haeretico Comburendo lieth, and it ſeemed to him to be clear that it did not, for the Reaſon and Authorities that he had reported Trin. Hill. 9. Jac. Co. lib. 12.9. Jac. before. But after, they conſulting alſo with Fleming Chief Juſtice, Tanfield Chief Baron, and Williams and Crook Juſtices: And they, upon the report of Dr. Coſins, and ſome Preſidents in Queen Elizabeths time, certified the King that the ſaid Writ liethiCoke lib. 12. Caſe of Hereſie..
(8.) Since the Devil in his Serpentine Policy firſt negotiated the Fall of Man, there have ever been ſuch as have gone forth, like the lying Spirit in Ahabs falſe Prophets, whereby many, as he was, are deceived to their own Ruine; theſe are the Divels Emiſſaries, Active in ſowing Tares among the Wheat, whom we commonly call Hereticks, a Black Catalogue whereof in an Alphabetical Method here follows.
Acatiani and Semi-Arriani, An. 491.they held that the Son was a Creature made by the Father, and that Chriſt was like to the Father in Will but not in Subſtance. This Hereſie began by Acatius (not the Eutychian) Biſhop, and Succeſſor to Euſebius in Ceſaria; and was condemned in the Council of Seleucia.A. D. 353.
Acephali, ſo called becauſe they had neither Biſhop nor Prieſt for their Head, and were Branches of the Eutychian Hereſie. They rejected the Council of chalcedon, and denied the two Natures of Chriſt. An. 174.They deſpiſed all Congregations and the Sacraments.
Adamiani, ſo called from their going naked in their Aſſemblies (in imitation of Adam in his Innocency) to which Eſtate they ſaid Chriſt had reſtored Mankind. They condemned Marriage and had Women in common, with whom they lay promiſcuouſly after the Light put out. They held that we ought not to pray to God, becauſe he knows our wants without Prayer: And called their Aſſemblies that Paradice which God had promiſed to the Bleſſed. They had their Conventicles in ſubterrancan places, called Hypacauſta, becauſe that under the place of their Meetings, a Furance of Fire was kindled to warm the ſame, where they unclothed themſelves when they entered into it, and ſtood naked, both Men and Women, in imitation of Adam and Eve before the Fall. This Hereſie was firſt broach'd by one Prodicus a Gnoſtick. There was alſo the Hereſie of Adamites, promiſcuous in their Luſts, begun or rather revived by a Picard of Gallo-Belgia in the year 1341.
AEtius, An. 357.a Syrian of Antioch, and Prieſt of that Church, ſucceſſor to Arius, to whoſe Errors he added, and was degraded, and went into Cicilia, where he publiſhed them, and was baniſhed by the Emperour, and recalled by Julian in hatred to the Chriſtians. He held (beſides Arrianiſm) that God was comprehenſible, and that Chriſt was unlike the Father in all things, and ſpake uncouth things of the Trinity, and was juſtly called an Atheiſt. He was condemned in the Seleucian Council in the year 359. and confuted by Epiphanius.
Agnoetae, An. 601.they held that the Divine Nature of Chriſt was ignorant of ſome things, as of the day of Judgement, and denied perfection of knowledge to the Son of God in his Divine Nature.
Almaricani, An. 1202.from Almaricus of Carnotum in France, who uttered Blaſphemous opinions concerning God, that he was the Eſſence of all Creatures, and the Soul of Heaven, and that all Creatures ſhould be converted into the Subſtance of God again: Theſe Hereticks approved of all Uncleaneſs under the Veil of Chaſtity.
Alogi, An. 198.they rejected the Goſpel, and the Revelation of St. John; ſaying that they were written by Cerinthus, and denied Chriſt to be the Word, An. 214.as alſo his Divinity.
Angelici, Theſe Hereticks were Angel-Worſhippers; Epiphanius who ſpeaks of them, better knew their Name than the original of their Sect.
Anomaei, a Branch of the Stock of the Arians; the principal Authors were Acatius, Eunomius, and AEtius. This was in the fourth Century; Sozom. l. 4. c. 22.
Anthropomorphitae, An. 932.theſe Hereticks were the Diſciples of the Andeani an. 370. and revived their Hereſie, ſo called of Audaeus a Syrian, who lived in the end of Arius his time. They Blaſphemouſly held that God had a body like unto Man. That Darkneſs, Fire, and Water were Eternal. They refuſed the congregation of the Orthodox Church & admitted greivous Sinners to the Communion without Repentance.
Antidicomarianitae, theſe ſuppoſed that after the Nativity of our Lord, the Virgin Mary accompanied with her Husband Joſeph, and did bear Children to him. Auguſt. de haereſ. of which opinion was Helvidius. It is ſaid, that the opinion of the Fathers of the Church was, that as no man did lie in the Sepulchre wherein Chriſt was buried, before him: So in the Womb wherein he was conceived, no man was conceived after him; and that the Fathers by the words in the Apoſtolick Symbol underſtood, that he was born of Mary a perpetual Virgin; And that by the Brethren of our Lord in the Holy Scriptures, is meant (as is generally held) the Kinſmen of the Lord according to the Fleſh.An. 1556.
Antrinitarians were thoſe Hereticks who denied the Bleſſed Trinity.
foreign, theſe were a Branch from the Root of Eutyches; They ſuppoſed that the Fleſh of Chriſt was void of all kind of Humane Infirmity. The Emperor Juſtinian was ſaid to be tainted with this Hereſie in his old age, by bearing ſo much with the Empereſs Theodora, to the great Advance of Eutyches his Error.
Apelles, a Diſciple of Marcion, yet could not agree with his Maſter in all things, for he agreed that Chriſt had a true Body, but not made of the Subſtance of the Virgin Mary, but of the four Elements, and that after his Reſurrection he diſſolved into the four Elements, and then return'd to Heaven from whence he came Epiphan.
Apollinaris, An. 373.Biſhop of Laodicea in Syria, ſo Ruffin. l. 2. c. 20. yet it is ſaid of him, that miſſing of a Biſhoprick he fell into theſe Hereſies, viz. That Chriſt had not Humane Fleſh from the Virgin, but from Heaven: That he had a Humane body but not a Soul: Confounding the Perſons in the Trinity: That Chriſt had no Humane Will: That Souls begat Soules: That after the Reſurrection, all the Ceremonies of the Law ſhould take place among the Godly.
Apoſtolici, An. 183.theſe Hereticks condemned Marriage, and held the Apoſtles to be all unmarried: They made all things to be common: They uſed Apochryphal Bookes for Goſpel: They refuſed to receive thoſe into the Church who had lapſed after Baptiſm: They would not have Poſſeſſions, but rejoyced in voluntary Poverty: and gave Sentence againſt themſelves that they were unclean, becauſe they were procreated by Marriage.
Aquarii, theſe were certain Hereticks, who inſtead of Wine received Water in the Holy Sacrament. This was in the days of Cyprian.
Arius, An 324.a Lybian, and a Prieſt or Presbyter of Alexandria, he ſaid that Chriſt was neither God, nor Eternal, but an excellent Creature created before all Creatures: That he aſſumed only a Body, but not the Soul of a man: That the Holy Ghoſt was a Creature of a Creature, viz. of the Son: He Rebaptized, and perverted the order of Baptiſm: He uſed the Triſagion thus, Gloria Patri, per Filium, in Spiritu Sancto: He denied the Son of God to be begotten of the Subſtance of the Father, but that he was a Creature, and made of things not exiſtent, and that there was a time wherein the Son was not: He was condemned in the Nicene Council, and baniſh'd by the Emperour Conſtatine.
Armenii, An. 609.ſo called of the Province, where their Hereſies raged, by the means of Euchanius called Mantacunes: They denied, that Chriſt aſſumed his Humanity from the Virgin Mary: They celebrated the Paſſover after the Cuſtome of the Jews: They held a Quaternity, and that the Divinty ſuffered.
Artemon, Biſhop of Boſtra in Arabia, denied the Divinity of Chriſt, and affirmed that he was not exiſtent before he took Fleſh from the Virgin. This was in the third Century.
Artotyritae, An. 186.they were of the Sect of the Pepuſians, and added Cheeſe to the Bread in the Sacrament.
Aſſitae, theſe were Hereticks who carried about with them new veſſels, to repreſent that they were veſſels filled with the new Wine of the Goſpel.
Badeſianiſtae, theſe were but a Branch of the Hereſie of the Valentinians and Gnoſticks, who denied the Reſurrection; theſe Hereticks were in the third Century.
Baſilides, An. 135.an Egyptian of Alexandria; he held fond Opinions concerning the Creation and number of Heavens: that not Chriſt but Simon of Cyrene was Crucified: That it was lawful to deny Chriſt in time of perſecution, and to have Idols: that no Sins but ſuch as are unwittingly committed ſhould be pardoned: That Faith was natural: That Propheſies came not from God but Angels: And that there was no Reſurrection.
Beryllus Biſhop of Boſtra, he was orthodox at the firſt, but afterwards held that the Soul died with the Body, and both roſe again together: That Chriſt was not before his Nativity. Origen reclaimed him, Theſe Hereſies were condemned in the Arabian Council. An. 249.
Caini, An. 170.ſo called of the ſpecial worſhip they attributed to Cain: The reverenced Eſau, Core, the Sodomites, yea and Judas himſelf, as Authors of mans Salvation: They denied the Reſurrection of the Body: rejected the Law, and worſhipped evil Angels. Tertullian and Epiphanius ſay, that theſe Hereticks aroſe from the Nicholaitans, but Ireneus ſays they ſprung out of the Valentinians.
Carpocrates of Alexandria in Egypt, An. 141.he held that Chriſt was meer man, and born of Joſeph and Mary: he held alſo the transmigration of Souls; alſo that the Devil created the World, and denied the Reſurrection. Theſe damnable Hereſies did ſpread in Egypt, Aſia, and Rome under the name of Gnoſticks: he lived incontinently with Marcellina, one of his own Sect, his Son Epiphanes ſucceeded him in this diabolical Hereſie, and (after him) Prodicus the Author of the Adamites. The followers of Carpecrates had in ſecret places Images of Gold and Silver, which they called the Images of Jeſus, and therewithall the Images of Pythagoras, Plato, and Ariſtotle, all which they worſhipped. So that the worſhipping of Images, and the adoration of the Image of Jeſus, ſeems to be a Cuſtome borrowed rather from the old Hereticks, than from the ancient Fathers of the firſt Three hundred years. Epiph. contra Haereſ.
Cathari, An. 252.they profeſſed themſelves purer than others, and held Rebaptizing thoſe who ſinned after Baptiſm, condemned ſecond Marriage, and refuſed to receive thoſe who had lapſed in time of perſecution. The founder of theſe Cathari was Novatus, ordained Prieſt of Rome by Cornelius, upon his repulſe in a Biſhoprick.
Cerdon of Syria, An. 144.from whence he went to Rome, and in the time of Higinus broached theſe blaſphemous hereſies, viz. That there were two Gods, one good, who was the Father of Chriſt, and another ſevere and bad, and this Created the World. This Cerdon, as alſo Marcion, were the Authors of the Opinion of two Gods, or two Beginnings: he denied the Reſurrection of the Body, and invented a new Baptiſm after a man hath been Baptized a ſecond and third time: he held that Chriſt was neither born of the Virgin Mary, or ſuffered really, with many other Blaſphemies againſt him: he rejected the Law, and often ſeigned to recant, but in the end was Excommunicated, having lived in Rome Eight and thirty years.
Cerinthus, An. 93.a circumciſed Jew, contemporary with Ebion, he affirmed that the World was not Created by God, but by an inferiour power: That Chriſt was born after the manner of men, of Joſeph and Mary, denying her Virginity: he divided Jeſus from Chriſt, ſaying that Chriſt deſcended upon Jeſus at his Baptiſm in the form of a Dove: That Jeſus, not Chriſt, ſuffered and roſe again: That there was a neceſſity of Circumciſion, and that Life Eternal ſhould be at Hieruſalem, where all Earthly pleaſures ſhould endure One thouſand years. The report is, that St. John finding him in a Bath, departed thence ſaying, that it was a Miracle that the Bath fell not down while Cerinthus was in it. This Hereſie began at Antioch, and ſpread over Aſia and Syria; but this Name laſted not, though Carpocras and Samoſatenus continued the hereſie.
Chiliaſtae or Millenarii, An. 116.their Author was Papias Biſhop of Hierapolis, whoſe Hereſie was a Branch of that of Cerinthus, in that point that Chriſt would raiſe the Godly firſt, and live a thouſand years with them on the Earth. This Hereſie was afterwards maintained by Nepos, an Egyptian Biſhop, Two hundred thirty one years after Chriſt's Paſſion.
Circumcelliones, They were the moſt reprobate Branch of the Donatiſts: they would throw themſelves headlong from high places, or caſt themſelves into fire or water, and counted it Martyrdome. Aug. de Haereſ.
Colarbaſus, he was Marcus the Magicians Fellow Diſciple, and held that mens Lives and Actions were ruled by Seven Planets, and divided Jeſus and Chriſt into two diſtinct perſons.
Collyridiani, An. 364.they offered Divine honour to the Virgin Mary, and Sacrificed to her as to the Queen of Heaven, they worſhipped her with Divine adoration, and offered to her little Paſties baked. Epiphan.
Coluthiani, they denied that any evil, either of ſin or puniſhment was of God.
Donatiſts, An. 307.from Donatus a Preiſt of Carthage, who miſſing the Biſhoprick he would have had, did diſcontentedly fall into theſe hereſies, viz. That the true Church was no where but with him and his Diſciples: that obedience to Gods precepts ought to be voluntary and not compulſive: That no Hereticks ought to be puniſhed by the Magiſtrate: he meaſured the effects of the Sacrament by the Miniſter, not by the Author: He Rebaptized, uſed Incantations, and boaſted of Revelations: he held the Son to be leſs than the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt leſs than the Son: His followers ſlew as many oppoſites to their Sect as they could: he was at laſt Biſhop of Numidia.
Ebioni, An. 87.from Ebion a Samaritan, their Founder, or from Ebion [Hebraice] Poor, they having made themſelves ſo by diſtributing their Goods in Alms. They denied the Divinity of Chriſt, rejected St. Pauls Epiſtles and all the Goſpel except St. Matthew; and held themſelves bound to obſerve the Law of Moſes as neceſſary to Eternal Life. Euſeb.
Elceſai, An. 110.of Elceſai their Founder, they were alſo called Sampſei: They oppoſed the Virginity of the Virgin Mary, and held that there were two Chriſts, one inferiour born of her, the other ſuperiour; alſo that the Spirit was Siſter to Chriſt: They adored water as a God: held it Lawful to become Apoſtates in time of perſecution, and approved of one onelyonly. Apochryphal Book made by themſelves. They ſprang from Ebion the Heretick.
Enchratitae, ſo called becauſe they abſtained from Wine, eating of Fleſh, and living Creatures: they condemned Marriage, and blaſphemed the Epiſtles of St. Paul; The Author of this Sect was Tatianus a Syrian. Euſeb. l. 4. c. 28.
Euchitae, An. 385.they held Baptiſm unprofitable.
Eunomius, An 361.Biſhop of Syricum, an Arian, he added to the hereſies of AEetius, that the Holy Ghoſt was Created by the Son, and that Chriſt aſſumed only a humane Body, and not a Soul, he was confuted by St. Baſil.
Eutyches, An. 447.Abbot of Conſtantinople, confuting Neſtorius, fell himſelf into other errors, and confounded the two natures of Chriſt, making him (after his union) to have but the Divine nature only, and held that he aſſumed nothing but Humane from the Divine: He affirmed alſo that the Divine nature was paſſible, and that Chriſt was rather Deified than God; he was condemned in the Council of Chalcedon.
Foelix Biſhop of Vrgel on the Pyrenean hills,An. 792. he held that Chriſt in his Humane nature was the Adopted Son of God; he was condemned for Hereſie at Ratisbon; hence came the Foeliciani.
Floriani from Florinus or Florianus a Prieſt of Rome, An. 185.he held that God Created all Creatures and things in an evil ſtate, and celebrated the Paſſover after the manner of the Jews.
Fratricelli, they were of Opinion, that a man might in this world attain to a ſtate of ſuch perfection that he might be altogether without ſin, and that he who had attained thereto, was neither under ſubjection to Civil nor Spiritual Governors, but was freed from all ſubjection to mortal men, and that they had no need of Prayer or Faſting. Theſe were in the thirteenth Century, and now alſo in this ſeventeenth Century are every where to be found among us, though under another appellation.
Gazareni, An. 1295.called alſo Patereni, and Gazari, theſe were certain Hereticks about Tholouſe in France in the thirteenth Century, who held that married men were not in a State of Grace, and could not be ſaved; This Opinion was condemned by the Council of Lateran.
Gnoſticks, An. 161.they aſſumed that Name from the knowledge and learning which they proudly conceived they had above all others: They held (beſides thoſe hereſies of the Carpocratians) many other fond Opinions concerning the Creation by Angels; and affirmed that every faithful man had two Souls, that there were two Gods, one good and the other bad: They diſtinguiſhed Jeſus from Chriſt: and held that Chriſt was eighteen months upon Earth after his Reſurrection. There were divers ſorts of this Sect.
Godescalchus, An. 849.one of the Netherlands, about the year eight hundred forty nine, perniciouſly held, that thoſe who were predeſtinated unto life by a decree of Gods predeſtination, were neceſſitated to do well: and thoſe who were predeſtinated to condemnation, were neceſſitated by a Decree of God to do evil.
Helſeſaitae, the ſame with thoſe formerly called Elceſai, otherwiſe called Sampſaei, they mixed the Religion of the Jews, Gentiles, and Chriſtians together: they rejected the Writings of the Apoſtle Paul: and affirmed that a man who denieth the Lord with his mouth in the time of perſecution, if ſo be he adhered to the Faith in his heart, he had committed no ſin: they carried about with them a ſingular Book, which they ſaid was ſent down from Heaven, and promiſed remiſſion of ſins to every man that would hearken to the words of that Book; theſe were of the third Century. Epiphan. contr. haereſ. 2. & Comment. Func. in Chron.
Hermiani, An. 201.they ſprung from Hermogenes an Affrican, and held that the Maſs whereof the World was created, was coeternal with God: That Angels created mens Souls: That Chriſt aſcending, left his humane fleſh in the Son: They denied the Reſurrection, and received not Baptiſm by water.
Hieracitae, An. 261.of Hierax an Egyptian of Leontopolis, he ſpake of the Father as of two lights, differing in ſubſtance: damned Marriage: denied the Reſurrection: excluded Children from Heaven: held that Melchiſedeck was the Holy Ghoſt: and that Paradiſe was no Earthly place.
Jacobitae of Jacob a Syrian, An. 607.called Zanzalus, for his poverty: They received the hereſie of Eutyches.
Jovinianus, An. 362.a Roman, he held all ſins to be equal: denied the Virginity of the Virgin Mary: Contemned Faſting, and all Spiritual exerciſes: and held that men did not ſin after Baptiſm:
Lucianiſtae and Apelliani, ſo called from Lucianus and Apelles, Diſciples of Marcion.
Lucifer Biſhop of Calaris in Sardinia, An. 367.he diabolically held, that mans Body was formed by the Devil: That a Chriſtian might kill himſelf, to be quit of the burden of the fleſh, and allowed but part of the Old Teſtament.
Luciferniani, it is ſuppoſed that theſe were not from the former, but from another Lucifer, for ſome ſay, that theſe were rather but Schiſmaticks than Hereticks, and only held, that Faith was a Weapon of Contentions, and not of Hereſies. Theod. Compen. Haereſ. Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 13.
Lombardians for want of another Name, for in the time of the Emperor Albert in Lombardy near to Navarre, there were a Sect of Hereticks, who under colour of Religion and Charity made all things common, and women in like manner moved men to carnal conjunction, alledging it to be a deed of charity. This was in the fourteenth century. Imp. Hiſt. pag. 522.
Macedoniani, An. 343.of Macedonius the Arian Biſhop of Coſtantinople; They were ſometimes Semi-Arians, at other times Arians, and ſometimes orthodox, but never conſtant. They held that Chriſt was not of the ſame eſſence with the Father, but only like to him: And that the Holy Ghoſt was not God, but Gods Miniſter, and a Creature not eternal.
Manes a Perſian, An. 171.otherwiſe called Manichaeus in Diocleſians time, Author of the Manichees, he was a devilliſh crack-braind fellow, and choſe to himſelf twelve Diſciples, and compoſed his hereſies out of divers others: He blaſphemouſly affirm'd himſelf to be the Holy Ghoſt: he held two beginnings, the one good the other evil: rejected the Old Teſtament, and mangled the New: denied Chriſts Divinity, and his real Paſſion, and the Reſurrection of the Body: Condemned Marriage, Alms, and Baptiſm: he moſt blaſphemouſly ſaid that Chriſt was the Serpent that deceived Eve: that Chriſts Body was fixed in the Stars: That he redeemed Souls: he forged many things about the Creation: he worſhipped the Sun and Moon as Gods: attributed two Souls to every man: he aſcribed ſin not to the free will of man, and his natural defection voluntary, from the Eſtate of the firſt Creation, but to neceſſity, becauſe mans Body was made of the ſubſtance of the prince of darkneſs: with other fond and blaſphemous hereſies. One Scythianus a Sarazen Merchant infuſed theſe Hereſies into him. Warranes King of Perſia hearing of his fame, ſent for him to cure his ſick ſon, who died under his hands; whereupon he caſt him into Priſon, from whence he made his eſcape into Meſopotamia; but there the ſaid King retook him, ſlead him, fill'd his skin full of chaff, and cauſed it to be ſet up before the Gates of the City in Meſopotamia. Euſeb. lib. 7. cap. 30. & Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 22. Eccle. hiſt.
Marcellus Biſhop of Ancyra, An. 341.the Metropolis of Galatia, he held blaſphemous Opinions againſt the Trinity, and denied the Divinity of Chriſt.
Marcion, An. 166.the Diſciple of the Heretick Cerdon: he held (beſides Cerdons hereſies) that Chriſt was not the Son of God: he held likewiſe the transmigration of Souls: That War was not lawful though on juſt occaſion: he condemned Marriage: rejected the Old Teſtament: Forbad eating of fleſh, and allowed of Rebaptizing (toties quoties) as oft as men fell and repented, Polycarpus called this Marcion Primogenitus diaboli,
Marcus a Magician,An. 149. of whom came the M…citae: he invented a new form of Baptiſm, viz. In the Name of the unknown Father of all things, and in the Name of the verity the Mother of all things, and in the Name of him who deſcended upon Jeſus: he held that Chriſt ſuffered not, nor aſſumed a Body: he deſiled the Sacrament, and was a man of a very filthy life: he denied the Reſurrection of the Body, and ſuppoſed that Salvation belonged only to the Soul.
Melchiſedechiani, An. 208.the Author of theſe Hereticks was Theodatus Diſciple to Theodatus the Currier: he held that Melchiſedech was made by God greater than Chriſt; whoſe Divinity they alſo denied, and magnified Melchiſedech above Chriſt.
Menander, An. 61.Diſciple and Contempory with Simon Magus, a Samaritan and a Sorcerer, and Author of the Gnoſticks; he held with Simon about the Creation by Angels, and affirmed that he was ſent from Heaven to ſave the World; and that by vertue of his Baptiſm men ſhould not dye nor grow old; but the ſucceſs not anſwering his promiſe, his hereſie fell of it ſelf. Epiph. Euſeb. Aug. & Theod. lib. 4 cap. 11.
Meletiani from Meletius a Biſhop of Thebaida, he was depoſed for ſacrificing to Idols. This was in the fourth Century.
Meſſaliani, An. 374.they worſhipped God, but not in three perſons, and held that God might be ſeen with corporeal eyes: that the Devil ruled our actions. They attributed Salvation to Prayer totally: they contemned Chriſts Paſſion, and the Sacraments, Alms, and a laborious life, and tolerated Perjury to promote Religion.
Metangismonitae, An. 403.they held that the Son was in the Father, as a leſſer Veſſel comprehended in a greater: That God had a Body, and in the Divine eſſence was ſomething greater and ſomething leſſer. Aug. out of Philaſter.
Monophyſitae, An. 451.whoſe Author was Dioſcorus Biſhop of Alexandria, they were alſo called Theopaſchitae and Monothelites, who denied not directly the two Natures of Chriſt, but only affirmed that after the union of the Natures, there was only one will and one operation in Chriſt; they attributed the Divine Nature onelyonly to Chriſt; Theſe were a branch of the Eutychian Hereticks.
Montanus of Phrygia, An. …3.Author of the Cataphryges, he affirmed himſelf to be the holy Spirit, he called himſelf the Holy Spirit, whom Chriſt ſent to inſtruct his Diſciples in all truth: He ſaid that the Spirit fell but little upon the Apoſtles, and fully upon himſelf: He inſtituted Laws concerning faſting, condemned ſecond Marriage, allowed Inceſt, confounded the perſons in the Trinity, and baked mans Blood with the Bread of the Euchariſt: He ſeduced two women Priſcilla and Maximilla to leave their Husbands, and to be his Propheteſſes.
Nazareni, An. 67.they ſtyled themſelves ſo, becauſe that before the Name of Chriſtians began, that Name was the moſt honourable among Chriſts Diſciples: They confeſſed Chriſt, but withal held a neceſſity of obſerving the Law, and framed ſtrange things of Ouria or Nauria (Noah's Wife, as they would have it) or Veſta: They had many Goſpels (as they call'd them) and boaſted much of Revelations and Viſions: They held that the Soul of a Man, of a Beaſt, and of a Plant were all of one Subſtance. Theſe Hereticks continued till after the time of Epiphanius, who reporteth that the Jews ſo hated them, that they prayed twice a day againſt them. Epiph. Aug. Theodor. Iſodor.
Nepotiani, from Nepos, a Biſhop in Egypt, about the year 264. They affirmed that at the latter Day the Godly ſhould riſe before the Wicked, and ſhould live with Chriſt a thouſand years in abundance of all earthly Pleaſures. Euſeb. lib. 7. cap. 24.
Neſtorius, An. 428.Biſhop of Conſtantinople, he ſpake againſt the perſonal Union of Chriſt's Divine and Humane Nature, for he held that Chriſt had two ſeveral Perſons, but not two Wills: That the Son of God in Chriſt, was but an Aſſiſtant to the Son of the Virgin Mary, whom he would not have to be called the Mother of God, but only the Mother of Chriſt. Euag. l. 1. c. 7. He held that the Humanity in Chriſt was made equal with the Deity or Divine Nature. He was condemned in the general Council of Epheſus, and dyed in Baniſhment, his Blaſphemous Tongue being firſt eaten with Worms, which rotted in his mouth.
Nicholatiae, An. 81.from Nicholas a Deacon of Antioch, choſen by the Apoſtles to look to the Poor, who being ſuſpected to be jealous of his fair Wife, did (to clear himſelf) proffer her to any of the Brethren that would Marry her: Whereupon they took occaſion to live promiſcuouſly, making their Wives Common; and held that it was lawful to eat things offered to Idols: That Darkneſs and Light begat the World, of which were born Angels and Devils, and of them Men. This Hereſie continued not long in this Name, but was poliſhed and revived by the Gnoſticks and Vaentinians. Clem. Alex. & Strom. 3. Act. 6. & Euſeb.
Noetius, An. 179.of Smyrna Diſciple to Montanus, he called himſelf Moſes, and held but one perſon in the Trinity: He being convented, abjur'd his Hereſie; but afterwards being ambitious of a Name, relapſed and diſperſed it, and when he dyed, was caſt out unburied, as not worthy thereof.
Novatus, An. 252.ordained a Prieſt of Rome by Cornelius, he was the Founder of the foreſaid Hereticks the Cathari: He held that ſuch as had fallen in time of perſecution, were not to be reſtored to the Fellowſhip of the Church, albeit they repented thereof.
Ophitae, An. 169.of … a Serpent, whom they worſhipped, affirming moſt Blaſphemouſly that Chriſt was the Serpent which deceived Eve: they denied Chriſt's Humanity, and the Reſurrection; They held alſo a Blaſphemous opinion concerning the Sacrament: This Sect was a Branch of the Valentinians, and continued till after the time of Juſtinian the firſt.
Origeniani and Turpes, An. 18….of one Origen a Gnoſtick, who drew his Hereſie from Epiphanes Son to the Heretick Carpocras: They prohibited Marriage, but committed fornication and all Filthineſs, and rejected ſome Books of the Old and New Teſtament, which made againſt them. Some ſay they were ſoul and filthy Beaſts, not abhorring Whoredom but Procreation of Children, to the end they might ſeem chaſt, not unlike unto Onan whom the Lord ſlew. They were alſo called Origeniſtae, becauſe they defended the Books of Origen, who were Theodorus Aſcidas Biſhop of Caeſaria-Cappadocia, and the Monks of Nova Lawra. There were of theſe Hereticks alſo in the ſixth Century.
Palmerius, An. 1449.the Chronologer, he was burnt for his Heretical Opinions concerning Angels.
Papias Biſhop of Hierapolis, An. 116.he was St. John's Diſciple, yet afterwards became the Author of the Sect of the Chiliaſts or Millenaries, whoſe Hereſie was a Branch of that of Cerinthus, in that point, that Chriſt ſhould raiſe the Godly firſt, and live a thouſand years with them on earth.
Patalorynchitae, a Fooliſh People who counted it Religion to ſtop their breath with their fingers, and not to utter any intelligible ſpeech.
Patareni and Gazareni, An. 1295.theſe Hereticks did hold that married men could not be ſaved.
Paterniani or Patriciniani and Venuſtiani, An 421.they were called by the firſt Name, of Paternus their Founder, and by the laſt, of their laſcivious behaviour: They held that the lower Parts of Man were not made by God but by the Devil; others ſay that they affirmed that the whole Body of Man was formed by the Devil, and …t by God.
Paulus Samoſatenus, An. 267.ſo called of Sam…ſata the Metropolis of Comagena, where he was Born: He held that the word was not in Chriſt, otherwiſe than in the Prophets: That Chriſt was not the word, and denied his Divinity: He Baptized not in Chriſt's Name.
Pelagius Brito, An. 412.whoſe Followers were Julianus and Coeleſtius, in the days of Arcadius or Honorius; this Pelagius was a Roman Monk, born in Armorica or Little Britain, who with his Diſciple Coeleſtius ſpread his Hereſies over almoſt all Countreys, viz. That Adam had died though he had not ſinned: That his Sin did only hurt himſelf, and not others but in his Example: That Luſt and Concupiſcence, which is naturally in us, is Good, and nothing in it whereof we need be aſhamed: That Infants neither have nor draw original Sin from their Parents: That the Infants of the Faithful, though not Baptized, ſhall be ſaved, but ſhall remain without the Kingdom of God: That men have free Will ſufficient to do Good, without the Grace of God: That Men by nature were able to fulfil the whole Law of God. Howbeit more eaſily and better if they were ſupported by the Grace of God: They denied original Sin, and ſaid that the poſterity of Adam were Sinners by imitation of Adam's Sin, but had not received Sin by carnal Propagation: That Children had no need to be baptized for Remiſſion of Sins, and that the godly Fathers in Scripture, when they confeſſed their Sins, they did it rather for example of Humility, than for neceſſity, or guilt of Sin. Theſe Hereſies have in all ages been confuted by many Learned and Eminent Divines and were condemned by many Councils, ſpecially in the Council of Carthage.
Pepuſiani, An. 182.they were of Pepuza, a Town of Phrygia, between Galatia and Cappadocia; they held (beſide other Hereſies of Montanus) that Pepuza was the Heavenly Hieruſalem mentioned by St. Paul, Heb. 12. and in the Revelation c. 2. 1.
Petrus Abelardus, a French man, he held vile things concerning the Bleſſed Trinity, that the Holy Spirit was the Soul of the World, and that he was not of the Subſtance of the Father. This was in the twelfth Century.
Photinus Biſhop of Syrmium in Illyria, An. 346.a Diſciple to Marcellus: he held that Chriſt's Kingdom was not everlaſting, began at his birth, and ſhould end at the day of Judgment. He was condemned in the Council of Sardis. Socrat. Eccleſ. Hiſt. lib. 2. cap. 9.
Praxeas, An. 204.he was Author of the Monarchici and Patriſpaſſiani; he held that God the Father only ſuffered.
Priſcilianiſtae, An. 382.from Priſcilianus, a man of Noble birth in Spain: he confounded the Perſons in the Trinity: Held fond opinions concerning the Creation: That Mans Soul was of the ſame Eſſence with God: That Man's life was ruled by the Planets: That Perjury and Lying were lawful, to hide a Mans Religion: He forbad eating of Fleſh, and condemned Marriage, but allowed Fornication, and renewed the Hereſie of the Gnoſticks; this was in the days of the Emperour Gratianus and Valentinian; he was executed at Trevers as a Sorcerer. Hiſt. Magd. Cent. 4. c. 11.
Proclinianitae, An. 281.of one Proclus, who (beſides other Hereſies of the Seleuciani) held that Chriſt was not come in the Fleſh.
Quartodecimani, An. 195.they held that Eaſter was to be obſerved on the fourteenth Moon; and upon what day ſoever that Moon happened (though Sunday) they faſted: They refuſed to admit and receive thoſe who had lapſed after Baptiſm.
Sabellius an African, An. 256.he and his followers confeſſed, that there was but one God only, but they denied that there were three diſtinct Perſons in that one Godhead: They not only confounded, but took away the Perſons in the Trinity: He was the Founder of the Photinean's Hereſie: They were called Patriſpaſſiani, becauſe their Opinion imported that the Father ſuffered; this Sabellius was for his Hereſie excommunicated.
Samoſatenus, Biſhop of Antioch, he denied the Divinity of the Son of God, affirming that Chriſt obtained the Name of the Son of God through his vertuous Behaviour and patient Suffering, but that he was not naturally and truly the Son of God, begotten of the Subſtance of the Father: He abrogated the Pſalms ſung in the Church, and hired Women there to ſing his own Praiſes: He was depoſed by a Council at Antioch, and excommunicated by all the Chriſtian Churches in the World. This was (as ſome affirm) not in the ſecond but third Century.
Suturniani, An. 130.from one Saturnine of Antioch, who with Baſilides the Egyptian, ſhared the Hereſie of Simon in two parts; this Saturnine held that his Diſciples, though living diſſolutely, might be ſaved by faith in him: That the World and Man were Created by ſeven Angels praeter voluntatem Dei: That Chriſt's Body was phantaſtical: That there was one God of the Jews, another of the Chriſtians: That at the Beginning a Good and a Bad man were created, and that from the Good came good men, and from the Bad came evil men: That Marriage was a doctrine of Devils: That men muſt abſtain from things that had life: That ſome of the Old Prophets were of the Devil: and laſtly they denied the Reſurrection of the Body.
Secundiani, An. 154.of Secundus, who was the Cheif Diſciple of Valentinian the Heretick, and held all his Hereſies, and allowed his Followers all filthineſs of Life.
Seleuciani or Hermiani from Seleucius and Hermias, they moſt abominably held, that the Maſs whereof God created the Elements was Coeternal with himſelf: That the Angels, not God, created the Souls of Men. That Chriſt in his Aſcention unclothed himſelf of the Fleſh of Man, and left it in the Globe of the Sun: They received not Baptiſm by Water: They denied the Reſurrection of the Body, ſuppoſing that by new Generations, one ſucceeding another, that is performed which in Scripture is written concerning the Reſurrection.
Sethitae, An. 172.another Branch of Valentinian in Egypt: They held that Angels begat men in the beginning: They attributed to Seth the Honour due to our Saviour, and denied the Reſurrection of the Body.
Severus, An. 190.Succeſſor to Apelles in the School of Marcion, his Hereſies were ſpread in Eaſt Syria: They forbad the uſe of Wine: rejected the Old Teſtament and the Prophets, uſing Apocryphal Books of their own: Denied the Reſurrection: Aſcribed the Creation to Angels. Deteſted Women as works of the Devil: and uſed Magick.
Simon Magus, An. 41.ſaid to be the Father of Hereticks, he was Magician and an Hypocrite, though Baptized by Philip the Apoſtle: he ſpread his hereſies at Rome, where he grew ſo famous, that the people erected an Image to him with this Inſcription, Simoni deo Sancto: he moſt blaſphemouſly affirmed himſelf to be true God: That the World was Created by Angels: he denied that Chriſt was either come or ſuffered: he denied alſo the Reſurrection of the Body: he brought in the promiſcuous uſe of women, and uſed the company of one Helena, whom he blaſphemouſly gave out to be the Holy Ghoſt, and that he begat Angels of her: he taught his Diſciples to worſhip Images, his own Image, and the Image of Helena, who accompanied him from Aſia to Rome: he attempted to ſhew his power in flying, and with a fall broke his Thigh, and died miſerably.—Iren. l. 1. c. 30. Aug. Epiph. Theod.
Swenkfeldius, born in Sileſia, he held that the outward Miniſtry of the Word and Sacraments was not neceſſary to eternal life, becauſe that by the illumination of Gods holy Spirit, without the Miniſtry of the word, men might be ſaved.
Tatian, An. 165.he held that Adam was damn'd, called Marriage Fornication, prohibited eating of fleſh and drinking of wine, he held many Gods, denied Chriſt to be born of Davids Seed, and condemned the Law of Moſes; he was Author of the Euchratitae.
Theodatus, a Cataphrygian, a poor Currier of Conſtantinople, he held that Chriſt was but man, and begotten by man; beſides which blaſphemy he altered the Goſpel according to his own fancy. The Theodatiani denied the Divinity of Chriſt, for when Theodatus having in time of perſecution denied Jeſus Chriſt, was reproved for the ſame,An. 194. he anſwered, that he denied not God, but Man, ſignifying thereby, that Chriſt was only Man, and not God manifeſted in our Nature.
Theopaſchitae, they held that the Divinity of Chriſt ſuffered. This Hereſie laſted long,An. 338. and was maintained afterward by Eutyches and Dioſcorus.
Triformiani, they held the Divine Nature one and the ſame in the three perſons together,An. 407. but imperfect in the ſeveral perſons.
Tritheitae, they held that the Nature and Eſſence of God was threefold,An 606. and not one and the ſame. Johannes Grammaticus (called Philoponus) was the Founder of this hereſie.
Valentinian, An. 153.an Egyptian, he held plurality of Gods, of both Sexes: a multitude of Heavens and Eternities: that Chriſt aſſumed nothing from the Virgin, but paſſed through her as by a Pipe: That he ſaved Souls only: That the World was made by evil Angels: he denied the Reſurrection: deſpiſed good works, as unprofitable, and lived of things ſacrificed to Idols. Againſt him Irenaeus wrote Five Books.
Valeſii, An. 250.of one Valens an Arabian; They held that none could be ſaved, but ſuch as made themſelves Eunuches, deteſted Marriage, but allowed all filthy Acts, yet gelded themſelves.
Venuſtiani, ſo called of their laſcivious behaviour; They were the ſame Hereticks that were called Paterniani from Paternus their Founder, and held the ſame blaſphemous and damnable Hereſie.
Vigilantius, An. 406.an Apoſtate Monk, he declined Churches, and condemned Virginity, and Spiritual exerciſes. St. Hierome wrote againſt him.
(9.) All theſe Hereticks do commonly paſs under the notion of Chriſtian Hereticks, whereas in truth they may more properly be termed Antichriſtian; yet they are ſtyled Chriſtian Hereticks in diſtinction to the Jewiſh Hereticks, of which ſort were the Phariſees, the Sadduces, the Heſſees, the Galilaeans, the Hemerobaptiſts, the Nazaraeans, the Oſſens, the Sampſaeans, the Maſſalians, the Herodians, the Genites, the Meriſſaeans, the Coelicolae, the Ophitae or Serpentines, the Caiani, the Sethiani, the Heliognoſti, the Frogworſhippers, the Accaronites, the Thamuzites, the Samaritans, with many others, out of which, or ſome of them, came that curſed Brood of Hereticks which poyſoned a great part of the World in the ſucceeding Generations,
The Phariſees (from Phares, diviſion, or ſeparation, becauſe they would be accounted Separatiſts from all othersaEpiphan. Origen. Ambroſ. in Luc. l. 3. Damaſc. de Hereſ. Suidas., attributed all things to Fate; they believed that God diſpoſed all things, but the Starrs helped, yet ſo as Free Will was left in the hand of Man. They held Tranſmigration of good Souls, or going into other Bodies; they conceived that he which kept moſt of the Commandments, although he tranſgreſs'd in ſome, was juſt before God, with innumerable Phariſaical, Proud and Hypocritical conceits and actions.
The Sadduces (either from Sedec, Juſtice, becauſe they were fevere and rigorous in JudgmentbEpiph. haer. 14. Lyra. in Act. 5.; or of one Sadoch, the firſt Inventer of their HereſiecBurgenſ. Addit. 1. in Epiſt. Jac. 2. 10.; or from bothdSerarius.;) Theſe Sadduces were called Minim or Minei, that is Hereticks. They interpreted the Scriptures after their own Senſe, and rejected Traditions; they denied a future Reward, and conſequently the Reſurrection; they denied alſo the ſubſiſtence Spiritual; they cooped up God in Heaven, without all beholding of evil; They denied Spirit altogether; for they held God to be corporealeLyra. in Acts. 23.; the Soul to dye with the Body; the denied Angels and Devils; they aſcribed good and evil to a mans Free Will.
The Heſſees, Eſſees, or Eſſens (either from a word which ſignifieth Reſt, or Quietneſs, and Silence fScalig. Elench. c. 26.or Eſſaei quaſi foreign Holy gPhilo.. They are placed by Pliny on the Weſt of the Dead Sea hPlin. l. 5. c. 17.a people ſolitary, without women, without Money, they make no weapon of Warr, nor meddle with Merchandize; they have no ſervants, but are all both free and mutually ſervants to each other; they live perpetually chaſt, counting continence and contentment great Vertues; they ſwear not at all, and have all things Common; they avoid pleaſures and riches as ſins; they marry nor, yet do not deny the lawfulneſs of Marriage, but the honeſty of Women; they ſhun Oyl and Neatneſs, yet always wear a white Garment; they neither buy nor ſell, but mutually communicate; they were worſhippers of the Sun, for before the Sun riſeth, they ſpeak of no worldly matter, but celebrate certain Prayers, as praying him to riſe; they hate an Oath no leſs than Perjury; they keep the Books of their own Opinions, and the names of the Angels; they give no Sentence of Judgement, being fewer than one hundrediJoſeph. de Bell. Jud. l. 2. c. 7.; they will not ſo much as purge Nature on the Sabbath, for fear of prophaning it therebykScaliger..
The Galilaeans, their Doctrine was, that onelyonly God was to be accounted their Lord and Prince, and would rather endure any the moſt exquiſite Tortures, than call any mortal man their Lord; in other things they agreed with the Phariſees lJoſeph. de Antiq. l. 18. c. 2. de Bell. Jud. l. 2. c. 7..
The Hemerobaptiſts, ſo called from their being baptized or waſh'd every day at all times of the year; they were in their Doctrine of the Reſurrection, and in Infidelity like unto the Sadduces; in other things they differed not from the Scribes and Phariſees mEpiph. haer. 17..
The Nazaraeans, they would not eat any thing which had life, and held it unlawful to eat Fleſh: They diſallowed the five Books of Moſes: They placed all Righteouſneſs in Carnal Obſervations: And profeſſing to imitate Sampſon, they nouriſhed the hair of their head, placing all their Vertue thereinnPhilaſtrius. de haer..
The Oſſens were an Iſſue of the Ancient Eſſens, holding ſome things of theirs, as concerning the worſhipping of Angels, and of the Sun, adding thereto other Hereſies of their ownoEpiph. haer. 19..
The Sampſaeans would not admit either the Apoſtles or the Prophets: They worſhipped Water, eſteeming it as a God, believing that life is from thencepEpiph. haer. 53..
The Maſſalians were a Slip of the Eſſees, but after by Marriage with ſome Pſeudochriſtians, of Jewiſh became Chriſtian Hereticks qScal. ele. c. 28..
The Herodians thought Herod to be the Meſſias, and entered into ſociety for coſts and charges in Common, to be beſtowed on Sacrifices and other Solemnities, wherewith they honoured Herod alive and deadrScal. ad Euſeb. p. 150..
The Genites or Geniſts ſtood upon their Stock and Kindred, becauſe in the Babyloniſh captivity, or after, they married not ſtrange Wives, and therefore boaſt themſelves of the purity of Abraham's ſeedsBridenb..
The Meriſſaeans or Meriſts were (as the name imports) ſprinklers of their Holy Water; they made a diviſion of the Scriptures, and received only ſome part thereoftIdem B… denb..
The Coelicoli were alſo an Off-ſpring of the Eſſees, and from theſe proceeded the Maſſalians, they were Jews, though they corruptly embraced Chriſtianity; and being baptized, revolted to their former Judaiſm, and retained the Rites of theſe Coelicolae, or Heaven-worſhippers; they had their places of prayer abroad in the open airvScal. Elench. trib. Serar. c. 31..
The Ophitae or Serpentines worſhipped a Serpent, ſaying, that he firſt procured us the knowledge of Good and Evil, for which God envied him, and caſt him from the firſt Heaven into the ſecond, whence they expect his coming, eſteeming him ſome virtue of God, and to be worſhipped,wPhilaſtr. l. de Haereſ.
The Caiani, which commend Cain for Fratricide, ſaying that Cain was made of the power of the Devil, Abel of another power, but the greateſt power was in Cain to ſlay Abel xPhilaſtr..
The Sethiani were worſhippers of Seth the Son of Adam, who affirmed, that two men being created in the beginning, and the Angels diſſenting, the Feminine power prevailed in Heaven (for with them they held are Males and Females, Gods and Goddeſſes) Eve perceiving that, brought forth Seth, and placed in him a Spirit of great power, that the adverſaries power might be deſtroyed. Of Seth they held, that Chriſt ſhould come of his Stock; yea ſome of them conceived him to be the very Chriſt yId. Philaſt..
The Heliognoſti were ſuch as worſhipped the Sun, and held that the Sun knew all the things of God, and yielded all neceſſaries to men.
The Frogg-worſhippers were ſuch as held, that worſhip was due to thoſe croking Creatures, thereby thinking to appeaſe Divine Wrath, which in Phara…h's time brought Frogs upon the Land of Egypt.
The Accaronites were ſuch as held that worſhip was to be performed unto a Flye, and did worſhip it accordingly; probably for the ſame blind reaſon that others of them worſhipped Frogs; for Divine Wrath was executed by the one as well as by the other.
The Thamuzites, of Thamuz, the Son of a heathen King; they held that his image was to be worſhipped and abroed; accordingly the Jewiſh Women that were bewitched with this Hereſie, worſhiped this image of Thamuz with Tears and continual Sacrifices; and held further that Pharaoh which ruled in Egypt in Moſes his time, was of that Name.
The Samaritans were thoſe Jewiſh Hereticks, who held (eſpecially the Cuthaeans among them) an abſtinence from pollution by the Dead, or Bones, the Slain, & the Sepulchres; they held waſhing their bodies & changing their veſtments, when they enter into the Synagogue; they held ſuch Heretical opinions, that the other Jews would have no dealings with them; they held that only the five Books of Moſes were Canonical Scripture, the reſt they recived not; they held that neither the Trinity, nor the Reſurrection was to be acknowledged; they waſh'd themſelves with Urine, when they came from any ſtranger, being thereby (as they held) polluted; they held themſelves prophan'd by the touch of one of another Faith; & therefore if they touch'd one of another Nation, they div'd themſelves, garments and all in Water; they held a dead Corps in abomination preſently zEpiph. Haer. 9.. If they met a Jew, or Chriſtian, they ſaid Touch me not aDruſ. de 3. Sect. l. 2.. They call themſelves Men which belong to the Bleſſed Hill. They abſtained from things that have life, and ſome of them from Marriage. One Doſithens a Samaritan is ſuppoſed to be the firſt Founder of the Samaritam Hereſies, and the firſt among them that rejected the Prophets, as not having ſpoken by the Holy GhoſtbTert. praeſcrip. adverſ. Haer. l. 1.. There were four ſects of Samaritan Hereticks, according to Epiphanius, each of them holding their different Hereſies in ſome reſpects, and having in other reſpects certain Heretical Tenents common to them all. By all which premiſſes it is moſt evident, that the Prince of Darkneſs, and the Father of Lyes hath had in all Ages, Nations, and Churches, his Emiſſaries to infect them with Heretical and Blaſphemous Erros, but the Gates or Power of Hell to this day never could, nor to Eternity ever ſhall prevail againſt the Truth.