Anti-Socinianism, Part 12
Fauſtus Socinus Laelij nepos.
Fauſte, Redemptoris vadimonia, dira que mortis
Tormina, peccantes abſolüiſſe negas?
THat miſchief, which was intended by Laelius Socinus the Uncle, to be brought upon the Churches of God, being the reſult of many years ſtudy, but was prevented by a ſudden and unexpected death, was fully accompliſhed by Faustus Socinus his Nephew, as a man cut out of purpoſe for ſuch a deſperate deſign, and that to the wonder and aſtoniſhment of divers; and by the ſecret working of God, according to that prediction of his Uncle concerning him. He having recited an expreſſe of Laelius death, haſtens with al the ſpeed that might be principally to Tigurum, to ſequeſter the movable Library of his Uncle Laelius, which he had left behind him; But being poſſeſſed with a panick fear, leſt the Tigurians ſhould deal with Laelius, as the Baſilians had dealt with that arch Heretick David George, as he himſelf confeſſeth in a letter to Dudithius, he privately diſpatched that buſineſs, and ſo departed. Fauſtus or rather infauſtus Socinus being now, according to his hearts deſire, made Maſter of his Uncles Library, did afterwards become his Scholler, and a true heyr of his opinions, which he improved to the purpoſe. He was at this time a yong man, of three and twenty years of age, and books, though exceedingly coveted by him, were as yet of little uſe, or benefit to him: for returning to Italy, he ſpent twelve whole years as a Courtier under Francis the great Duke of Hetruria; Being now five and thirty years old, and it ſeems, growing weary of his attendance at Court, he leaves Italy, and betakes himſelf to Germany, and in Baſil makes his abode, where he ſpent three years, not in hearing the Doctors, not in frequenting the Schools, not in conſulting Authours, and other authentick Writers, which were ſound and Orthodox, but in diligent ſearching of his Uncles books, having wholly addicted himſelf to the ſtudy thereof, and fully given himſelf up to be guided and governed by them, as Oracles, which could not be miſtaken; And now diſdaining the name of a diſciple, he took upon him to be a Doctor in Divinity: whence it came to paſſe that he, which never learned, becomes now a teacher, and takes upon him to be a great Maſter, in Iſrael, ſuppoſing no leſſe, then one whole Province committed to him to be inſtructed, doth vainly arrogate it to himſelf. But what good could be expected from this light, courtly, and immature kind of ſtudies, the maſter-ſhip of which, he graſped and encompaſſed only, by poring into the writings and opinions, of one only man, who ſeeth not? Now Faustus begins to look big, and to adventure abroad, trading with his Uncles stock. He forthwith began a book de Christo Servatore, of Chriſt our Saviour, diſputing in it againſt James Covet, Miniſter of Paris, who going to Franckford, by chance met together in the ſame Inn; Wherein he ſhews more of h…s wit, then of his honeſty, and yet not much of either; ſtoutly denying the ſatisfaction of Chriſt; nor is this all, though this be very much, but as the title of the book declares, he oppoſeth many other things, which by the profeſſors of the truth, and partly by others alſo, who do not wholly aſſent with us, in other matters, are believed and eſteemed to be the ſaving axiomes of Chriſtian Religion: which he preſumptuouſly takes upon him to demonſtrate, to be, very dangerous and pernicious errours, and would fain ſhape us out a form of Religion according to his own fancy, as if, the Doctrine of Christ, and the true Religion, ſtood in need of ſuch a tricker and trimmer of it, to make it ſaleable. This diſputation was after printed and publiſhed by a friend and follower of Socinus, Elias Arciſſevius a Polonian, with the Authours name to it, which was never done before, in any of his other writings; which is ſo magnified by this beaſtly merchant, on purpoſe to prostitute it to every cuſtomer, and of which he doth ſo exceedingly boaſt, that he is not aſhamed to ſay, that there is ſo much knowledge of Chriſt, and his office contained in it, as could poſſible be deſired; when as on the contrary, it may be more truly ſaid of it, that there is ſo much perverſion of the Doctrine of Chriſt, and his offices as could be imagined, and more then ever was before publiſhed.
Before Socinus could fi…ſh his book de Servatore, he was interrupted with ſickneſs, and by his abſence from the City, for all his treaſure, namely, the writings of his uncle Laelius, out of which (as himſelf confeſſeth) he was principally inſtructed, concerning the matter in controverſie, was conteined within the Walls of Baſil; from whence he was conſtrained to abſent himſelf by reaſon of the plague, vvhichwhich vvas there begun, ſo that he could make no progreſſe in his intended purpoſe; That God which d…d for a time retard, could have wholly hindered, and prevented the comming forth of this peſtiferous book; but he often permitteth ſuch things to be, for the glo…y of h…s name, in bringing good out of evil, and that thoſe which are ſtedfaſt might be made manifeſt; Beſides, we ſee what a Doctor Fauſtus was who was able to do nothing of h…mſelf without the help and directions, of his Uncles writings: h…s confidence was more, then his ab…lity; otherwiſe he had never waded ſo far into theſe great, and myſterious matters, by which he hath caſt away him…elf, and all that follow him. While he remained at Tigurum, he had another diſputat…o… with Francis Puccius a Florentine, (concerning whom more hereafter) of the ſtate of the fi…st man, wherein it was debated, whether Adam in his fi…st eſtate were mortal, or no? What, and how neceſſary, ſuch queſtions as theſe are to ſalvation, let any man judge; yet ſuch curious queſtions as theſe, were commonly the ſubject of all his diſputations; whereas indeed, matters of a far lower ſtra…n, would better have ſorted with the indifferency, both of his arts, and parts, to diſcuſſe them. Q…aeries that are too nice, rather torment the understanding then inform it, and are more apt to puzzle our judgment, then to rectifie it. Subtilty of queſtio…s, I know not whether, it hath more convinced, or begotten errour, or improved us in our knowledge, or ſtaggered us. And hence, I ſuppoſe, was the ſubſtance of the Apoſtles advice to the Romans, cap. 14.1. He that is weak in faith receive you; but not to doubtfull diſputations. Curioſity, of queſtio…s have ever b n the very engines, and ſtales to hereſie; and therefore to be avoyed by us. He wrote many and divers things, and ſo far he went, that at laſt he brought this hereſy into a more perfect form, and raiſed (as he thought) a goodly ſtructure on that foundation, which was laid by Laelius; following that rule, which Architecture layes before us, the higher we build the deeper to lay our foundation; laying the foundation, of t…is his monſtrous religion, even in the depth of Hell, that he might raiſe (if poſſible) this his Babylonical ſtructure up to Heaven.
What others have done, or attempted to do by peece-meale, he hath effected, as it were, at once, upon the very body of religion. For there is almoſt no article of our religion, to which he hath not offered ſome violence, and hath, as much as …n him lay, endeavoured, either utterly to overthrow it, or to pluck it up by the very roots: thinking it worth the while, by defacing, or turning off the old, to bring in another form of religion under his own name, and according to his own liking. He was a man of a crafty and quick wit, but inſufferably audacious and petulant, ſpecie & formâ magis, quàm virtute religioſus, ſed gloriae & novitatis improbe cupidus, as Ruffinus ſaith of Arius, In vertue not ſo much refined, as in the depor…ment of the outward man, which promiſed ſome gravity, though no truth of religion; violently th…rſting, and purſuing a…ter honour and novelty. He was guilty o… very much levity, being drawn partly from the nature of the Country, where he was borne, partly from the family, out of which he ſprung, and partly from the Court in which he was bred; Inſomuch that he was conſtant in nothing, but inconſtancy; which yet was not in any thing ſo pernicious, as in thoſe ſacred myſteries, with which he above meaſure deſired to be tampering, and into which diving, though he drowned himſelf therein: For he had but a light tincture of learning, as the writer of his life affirms, and he himſelf is not aſhamed to confeſſe, what exquiſite judgment, ſaith he, or deep underſtanding in theſe kind of Philoſophical, Theological and hard diſputes could be expected from me, a man, who neither learned Philoſophy, nor at any time could attain to the knowledge and underſtanding of that Divinity, which they call Scholaſtick, nor taſted, but o…ly of the rudiments of Logick, and that very late to? And …n his Epiſtles, pag. 587. he complains, that he ſpent a great part of his time in Italy, his native country, but yet the very ſeat of idleneſs and va…ity; and therefore it was no wonder, if he came ſhort in the knowledge both of humane and Divine mat…ers: So that he …oared up to thoſe ſacred myſteries, meerly upon the confidence or his own wit, having not had time for the laying of any ſolid f…undation; T…at height of Spirit, which he had either gotten, or augmented, while he was a Courtier, he ever afterwards retained, and often declared in overturning, and demolliſhing the very foundations of all Catholick Antiquity, and Chriſtian Religion: As alſo in curbing and ſubduing thoſe, which were his companions, or had yeilded themſelves up to be guided by his crooked direction.
He muſt be chief among them, and Lord over them, or elſe it is no bargain. He was indeed very proud and high minded, ſcorning to receive …nſtruction from any, being, in his own judgment, inferiour to none; Trimneſs and court-like gaudineſs was ſtrongly riveted, to him, and deeply rooted in him, his apparel and deportment much unbeſeeming ſuch a man, as he profeſſed himſelf to be, like unto thoſe ancient Arians, of whom Hilarie ſpeaks, that were rather Biſhops of the Court, then of the Church. Of all thoſe books which he wrote (and truly there are many under his name, and the names of others, whom he borrowed, the better to vend his falſe and deceitful ware, by which the Church of God ſuſtained much detriment) none pleaſed him more then that which he wrote againſt Eutropius, as Hieronymus Muſcorovius, a bird of the ſame feather, reporteth of him, as from his own mouth, and l…kewiſe adds this of his own unto it, that Socinus, in that very work had much out-done himſelf; But how much to be eſteemed that book is, or what account is to be made of his judgment, who ſo much cryes it up may appear by the d ſputation of the Trinity, which is the argument of that tranſcendent peece of work. We will not ſpend time to reckon up theſe writ…ngs in order, or to ſet down the number, I would they had bin fewer, but if any of them ſhall happen to come to our hands, as it is much if ſome of h…s, or other ſuch Doctors do not, in the peruſal thereof, it is very neceſſary to employ our greateſt judgm…nt, and utmoſt diligence, leſt when we think we are tak…ng meat to nouriſh us, we take in poyſon to deſtroy us: we cannot expect two contrary effects from one and the ſame thing: So Tertullian, no man can be built up by that by which he is destroy…d, no man can be illuminated, by that by which he is darkened and obſcured.
This man now is Haereticorum Patriarcha, the ſupport of he…eticks, and …he prop of hereſies, and therefore gives denomina…ion to the whole Sect; Of Socinus then are they called Socinians, who profeſſe any of thoſe hereſies, which were either collected or broached by him. And how ſhould it be otherwiſe, if we look upon Laelius Soci…us as the firſt Authour, & Fauſtus Socinus, his Nephew as the chief amplifier and propugnator of this wretched hereſy? To the one is rightly referred the original of th…s pſeudo divinity, if it be conſidered materially: to the other, if we look upon it formally: from him in reſpect of invention, from this, in reſpect of diſpoſition, from both by Divine permiſſion. To paſſe by all other arguments, let this be ſufficient, that Socinus, with the utmoſt endeavour that he could, did firſt propagate this his hereſy in Sarmatia, and Tranſylvania, where the ſeeds were ſown partly by Laelius, who about the year 1555. is ſaid to diſperſe his errours in Polonia, partly by his complices in Tranſylvania: but after that of Faustus the whole hereſy being compacted, and neatly made up, as it is at this day, maintained among them, was planted in theſe and in divers other places beſide, whoſe Doctrine, although it were for ſomtime oppoſed, and that in the chief heads and f…ndamentals, as concerning the ſatisfaction, which was made by Chriſt, unto the Juſtice of God for our ſins, vvhichwhich he ſtrongly oppoſed; as alſo his ſacrifice compleated in Heaven and not on Earth, of the Kingdome of Chriſt, of Juſtification, of Baptiſm and the like, which at firſt ſuffered divers contradict…ons, yet at laſt vvere embraced, and accounted as the Oracles of God; Inſomuch, that vvhole Churches, and they of no ſmall number, and concernment, vvere not only fallen to this hereſy, but vvere ready vi & armis to maintain it againſt all oppoſition.
Neither vvas he ſparing of any labour or toyle, ſo that he m…ght diſſeminate, and diſperſe abroad this hereſy thus compoſed and compounded by him; Witneſs his ſo many vvritings, his frequen… letters of ſolicitation, his private and publique diſputations, ſo many informations of thoſe, vvhom he had as interpreters of his mind and meaning, his ſo long and tedeous journeyes, from the utm…ſt confines of Sileſia, even into the heart of Lituania; compaſſing Sea and Land, as our bleſſed Saviour ſpeaks of the Phariſees, to make proſelytes, and to gain others to embrace their dangerous and deadly Doctrines. Hence forth then we know them no more by the diſtinct name of Arian, Ebionite, Photinian, Samoſatenian, Abaila…dian or Servetian, but by this compound de…ominati…n of Socinian, as including and comprehending all the reſt.
I know that there are divers cauſes of hereſy, the ambition of ſome, the contention of others may be, and many times are, cauſes of the ſpringing and growing up, of m…ſt damnable hereſies; In Socinus both theſe did concur, being both ambitious to get a name by, and to give a name to, this lovely babe o… innovation and contagion; And alſo contentious, never g…ving over quarrelling, and contending with thoſe, that held any thing contrary to his mind or liking, till he had brought them to that paſſe, that he would have them, & his own wicked and deſperate deſigns, to that iſſue which he deſired. Thus l ved he to be a trouble and vexation to al the Churches in Italy, his own Country, Germany, Polonia, the great D…kedome of Lituania, Tranſ…lvania, (and where not?) by ſetting up, and ſetting forth his deadly and deſtructive Doctrines, and qualis vita, finis ita; as he oppoſ d Chriſt in his li…e, Chriſt muſt needs deny him that comfort at his death, which perhaps he might expect; for, faith Chriſt, he that denyeth me before men, him will I al…o deny before my father which is in Heaven; and if Christ den us, who will own us; but own we him, and he will own and honour us, before God and his Holy Angels.