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| The Doctrines of the Encratites.
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Chapter
XIII.—The Doctrines of the Encratites.950
| 950 [See
my Introductory Note to Hermas, vol. ii. p. 5, this
series.] |
Others, however, styling themselves Encratites,
acknowledge some things concerning God and Christ in like manner with
the Church. In respect, however, of their mode of life, they pass
their days inflated with pride. They suppose, that by meats they
magnify themselves, while abstaining from animal food, (and) being
water-drinkers, and forbidding to marry, and devoting themselves during
the remainder of life to habits of asceticism. But persons of
this description are estimated Cynics rather than Christians, inasmuch
as they do not attend unto the words spoken against them through the
Apostle Paul. Now he, predicting the novelties that were to be
hereafter introduced ineffectually by certain (heretics), made a
statement thus: “The Spirit speaketh expressly, In the
latter times certain will depart from sound doctrine, giving heed to
seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, uttering falsehoods in
hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
forbidding to marry, to abstain from meats, which God has created to be
partaken of with thanksgiving by the faithful, and those who know the
truth; because every creature of God is good, and nothing to be
rejected which is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by
the word of God and prayer.”951
This voice, then, of the blessed Paul,
is sufficient for the refutation of those who live in this manner, and
plume themselves on being just;952
| 952
[This, Tertullian should have learned. How happily Keble,
in his Christian Year, gives it in sacred
verse:—
“We need not bid, for
cloister’d cell,
Our neighbour and our work farewell,
Nor strive to wind ourselves too high
For sinful man beneath the sky:
“The trivial round, the common
task,
Would furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves; a road
To bring us daily nearer God.”] |
(and) for the purpose of proving that also, this (tenet of the
Encratites) constitutes a heresy. But even though there have been
denominated certain other heresies—I mean those of the
Cainites,953
| 953 Those
did homage to Cain. | Ophites,954
| 954 The
Ophites are not considered, as Hippolytus has already devoted so much
of his work to the Naasseni. The former denomination is derived
from the Greek, and the latter from the Hebrew, and both signify
worshippers of the serpent. | or Noachites,955
| 955 Hippolytus
seemingly makes this a synonyme with Ophites. Perhaps it is
connected with the Hebrew word שׁחָנָ | and of others of this description—I
have not deemed it requisite to explain the things said or done by
these, lest on this account they may consider themselves somebody, or
deserving of consideration. Since, however, the statements
concerning these appear to be sufficient, let us pass on to the cause
of evils to all, (viz.,) the heresy of the Noetians. Now, after
we have laid bare the root of this (heresy), and stigmatized openly the
venom, as it were, lurking within it, let us seek to deter from an
error of this description those who have been impelled into it by a
violent spirit, as it were by a swollen torrent.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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