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| Analogy Between Fevers and Heresies. Heresies Not to Be Wondered At: Their Strength Derived from Weakness of Men's Faith. They Have Not the Truth. Simile of Pugilists and Gladiators in Illustration. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter
II.—Analogy Between Fevers and Heresies. Heresies Not to Be
Wondered At: Their Strength Derived from Weakness of Men’s Faith.
They Have Not the Truth. Simile of Pugilists and Gladiators in
Illustration.
Taking the similar case1856
1856 Denique has in
Tertullian sometimes the meaning of proinde. | of
fever, which is appointed a place amongst all other deadly and
excruciating issues (of life) for destroying man: we are not surprised
either that it exists, for there it is, or that it consumes man, for
that is the purpose of its existence. In like manner, with
respect to heresies, which are produced for the weakening and the
extinction of faith, since we feel a dread because they have this
power, we should first dread the fact of their existence; for as long
as they exist, they have their power; and as long as they have their
power, they have their existence. But still fever, as being an evil
both in its cause1857
1857 Causam
“purpose,” “final cause.” | and in its power,
as all know, we rather loathe than wonder at, and to the best of our
power guard against, not having its extirpation in our power. Some men
prefer wondering at heresies, however, which bring with them eternal
death and the heat of a stronger fire, for possessing this power,
instead of avoiding their power when they have the means of escape: but
heresies would have no power, if (men) would cease to wonder that they
have such power. For it either happens that, while men wonder, they
fall into a snare, or, because they are ensnared, they cherish their
surprise, as if heresies were so powerful because of some truth which
belonged to them. It would no doubt be a wonderful thing that evil
should have any force of its own, were it not that heresies are strong
in those persons who are not strong in faith. In a combat of boxers and
gladiators, generally speaking, it is not because a man is strong that
he gains the victory, or loses it because he is not strong, but because
he who is vanquished was a man of no strength; and indeed this very
conqueror, when afterwards matched against a really powerful man,
actually retires crest-fallen from the contest. In precisely the same
way, heresies derive such strength as they have from the infirmities of
individuals—having no strength whenever they encounter a really
powerful faith.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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