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| Introductory. Heresies Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
I.
The Prescription Against
Heretics.1850
1850 Of the various forms
of the title of this treatise, de Præscriptione
Hæreticorum, de Præscriptionibus
Hæreticorum, de Præscriptionibus adversus
Hæreticos, the first is adopted by Oehler after the oldest
authorities, such as the Liber Argobardinus and the Codex
Paterniacensis (or Seletstadiensis), and the Editio Princeps of
Rhenanus. The term præscriptio is a legal one,
meaning a demurrer, or formal objection. The genitive
hæreticorum is used in an objective sense, as if
adversus hæreticos. Tertullian himself, in de Carne
Christi, ii. says, “Sed plenius ejusmodi
præscriptionibus adversus omnes hæreses alibi jam usi
sumus.” The title therefore means, “On the Church’s
Prescriptive Rule against Heresies of all kinds.” [Elucidation
I.] |
[Translated by the Rev. Peter Holmes,
D.D., F.R.A.S., Etc., Etc.]
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Chapter I.—Introductory. Heresies
Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith.
The character of the times
in which we live is such as to call forth from us even this admonition,
that we ought not to be astonished at the heresies (which
abound)1851 neither ought their
existence to surprise us, for it was foretold that they should come to
pass;1852
1852 Bible:1Tim.4.1-1Tim.4.3 Bible:2Pet.2.1">Matt. vii. 15; xxiv. 4, 11, 24; 1 Tim. iv.
1–3; 2 Pet. ii. 1. | nor the fact that they subvert the faith of
some, for their final cause is, by affording a trial to faith, to give
it also the opportunity of being “approved.”1853 Groundless, therefore, and inconsiderate is
the offence of the many1854
1854 Plerique, “the
majority.” | who are scandalized
by the very fact that heresies prevail to such a degree. How great
(might their offence have been) if they had not existed.1855
1855 The Holy Ghost having
foretold that they should exist. (Rigalt.) | When it has been determined that a thing
must by all means be, it receives the (final) cause for which it has
its being. This secures the power through which it exists, in such a
way that it is impossible for it not to have
existence.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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