Heresy

Αἵρεσις. Hæresis, Secta.HERESY. This word comes from the Greek, Hairesis, and signifies in general, a Sect, or Choice. It is most generally taken in a bad sense, according to the style of the Church, for some fundamental Error in matters of Religion, adhered to with obstinacy. Thus we say, the Heresy of the Arians, Pelagians, Novatians, &c. St. Paul says, that it is necessary there should be Heresies in the Church, that they who are tried may be made manifest: he 1 Cor. xi. 19.requires Titus to shun, and even to avoid the company of an Heretick after the first and second admonition. St. Luke, in the Acts, speaks Tit. iii. 10. Acts v. 17. Acts xxiii. 6. xxvi. 5. Philip. iii. 5. Tertull. de Pallio. Divinam Sectam. Acts xxviii. 1. Acts xv. 5. Acts xxiv. 14. Acts xxi. 5. Acts xxv. 5.of the Heresy of the Sadducees, and of that of the Pharisees.

Now it is visible, that among the Jews these Sects, or Heresies, especially that of the Pharisees, were no way odious; since St. Paul, even after his conversion, declares, that he is of the Sect of the Pharisees. The same Apostle says, that Christianity was called a Sect or Heresy; and it is true, that in the beginning, the Christian Religion was scarce looked upon by strangers to be any thing more, than a Sect or Reformation of Judaism; and the primitive Fathers made no difficulty of calling our Religion sometimes a divine Sect. Tertullus, the Advocate of the Jews, accuses St. Paul before Felix, with being the Head of the Sect of the Nazarenes. St. Paul declares, that he had lived without reproach in the Sect of the Pharisees, which was the most in request among the Jews. The Jews of Rome having got together about St. Paul, told him, that they were desirous to know his thoughts concerning Christianity: that for their parts, they knew nothing of this Sect, but that it was every where opposed.

I say nothing here of the several Sects or Heresies of the Heathen Philosophers, which gave occasion for the Sects that appeared among the Jews: for as the Heathens distinguished their Philosophers into Stoicks, Platonists, Peripateticks, Epicureans, &c. so the Hebrews, after the establishment of the Grecian Empire in the East, were divided into Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenians, Assidæans, and Herodians, &c. We can in proportion shew particular Sects or Heresies almost like those of the Jews; and that not only in the Schools of Philosophy, but in those likewise of Divinity, wherein we find opinions are divided upon matters problematical and undecided, which are no way prejudicial to the Fundamentals of Religion, nor to that Unity wherein all the members of the Church should be joined, in a subordination to the same Governors, in a communion of the same Sacraments, and in the confession of the same essential Articles of Belief.

From the very beginning of the Christian Church, there were very dangerous Heresies; and we may affirm, that there never were any more pernicious: for they attacked the most essential Doctrines of our Religion, such as the Divinity of Jesus Christ, his quality of Messiah, the reality and truth of his Incarnation, the Resurrection of the dead, the liberty of Christians, and their freedom from the legal Ceremonies, and other points of this nature. The most ancient of these founders of Heresy, is Simon the Magician, who desired to buy the Gift of God with money, and afterwards set himself up for the Messiah, and God Almighty, the Creator. Cerinthus, and the false Apostles, Acts viii. 9, 10, &c. Vide Gal. iv. 12, 13, 17. v. 11. vi. 12. Philip. 18.against whom St. Paul so often inveighs in his Epistles, had a mind that the faithful should receive Circumcision, and subject themselves to all the legal observances.

The Nicolaïtans allowed of a community of women, and without any scruple committed the most ignominious actions, and followed the superstitions of Heathenism.¹ They went over to the Sect of the Cainists, who acknowledged a power superior to that of the Creator. St. John, in the Revelations, speaks of the Nicolaïtans, as of a Sect of Hereticks then subsisting, and producing great disorders in the Churches of Asia. At the same time there were false Christs and Rev. ii. 20. 1 John ii. 18, 22. iv. 3. and 2 John, vs. 7, &c. 1 Tim. i. 20. 2 Tim. ii. 18.false Prophets. St. Paul speaks of Hymenæus and Alexander, whom he had been obliged to deliver over to Satan, to prevent their spreading their erroneous tenets. He speaks likewise of Hymenæus and Philetus, who departed from the truth, saying, that the Resurrection is already past. He foretold, that in the last times there would be some, 1 Tim. iv. 1. 2 Pet. ii. 1. and iii. 3. Jude, vs. 18. Matth. xxiv. 4, 24. vii. 15.who should forsake the Faith, and give themselves up to the spirit of error, and the doctrine of the Devil. St. Peter and St. Jude foretel the same things, and herein only copy what Jesus Christ himself had said in the Gospel, that false Christs and false Prophets should come, who should seduce the simple by their delusions, and false Doctrine. See the particular Articles, NICHOLAS, SIMON, CERINTHUS, &c.

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