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The Industry of Irenaeus in refutinge the heresies blased at Rome by Blastus and florinus.
I Renaeus wrote diuers Epistles to the confutation of suche as corrupted at Rome the sincere rites of the Churche. he wrote one to Blastus of schisme, an other to Florinus of Monarchie or the rule of one. or she winge that God is not the author of euell. which opinion Florinus
seemed to be of, but afterwardes he being seduced with the error of Ʋalentinus: Irenaeus, wrote against him that booke intitled: ogdoas by interpretation the number of eightie, where he si∣gnifieth himselfe Immediatly to haue succeeded the Apostles. the ende of which booke hathe this notable protestation necessarily to be graffed in this our history for it is read as followeth:* 1.1 I charge thee in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and his glorious comminge, at vvhat time he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead, vvho so euer thou be that copiest this booke: that thou peruse this copie, and diligently correcte it after the example of my ovvne hande vvrytinge, and that thou putt to likevvise this charge and sett it dovvne after the vvrytten co∣pye. This was profitably spoken and faithfully remembred of vs, that we may behoulde the aunciente and right holy men, as a moste exquisite and right paterne of earnest care and dili∣gence. Againe Irenaeus in his epistle to Florinus, reporteth, that he had conuersation with Po∣lycarpus* 1.2 sayinge: This doctrine (O Florinus) if I may boldly pronounce the trueth, sauoreth not for sounde: this doctrine disagreeth from the Churche, and bringeth such as geue care vn∣to it into extreme impietie: this doctrine no, not the heretickes vvhich vvere out of the Church, euer durste to publishe: this doctrine such as vvere elders before vs, and disciples of the Apostles, neuer deliuered vnto thee. I savve thee vvhen I vvas yet a boye vvith Polycarpus in the lovver Asia, liuinge gorgeously in the Emperoures palace, and busienge thy selfe vvith all might, to be in fauoure and creditt vvith him. For I remember better the thinges of oulde then the affayres of late. For the thinges vve sucke of a childe, sincke farther in our mindes, and grovve together vvith vs. So that I remember the place vvhere Polycarpus sate, vvhen he taughte: his goinge out, and his comminge in: his trade of life, the figure and pro∣portion of his body: the sermon he made vnto the multitude: the reporte he made of his conuersation vvith Iohn and others, vvhich savve the Lorde: hovve he remembred their sa∣ynges, and vvhat he hearde out of theyr mouthes toutching the Lord, of his povver, and do∣ctrine: recitinge preceptes, and all thinges consonante to holy Scripture, out of theyr mou∣thes I say vvho themselues had seene vvith their eyes the vvorde of life in the flesh. these thinges at that time, through the mercy of God vvhich vvrought in me, I diligently marked, and paynted it not in papyr, but printed it in my harte, vvhich continually throughe the grace of God I ponder, and meditate. And I am able to testifie before God, that if that holy and A∣postolicke elder, had hearde any such thinge, he vvoulde haue straight reclaimed, and stop∣ped* 1.3 his eares, and after his maner pronounced: good God into vvvhat times hast thou reser∣ued me, that I shoulde suffer such thinges, yea and vvoulde haue straight shunned the place vvhere he sitting or standing had hearde such speaches. to bee shorte this may be reported for true out of the epistles vvhich he vvrote to the confirmation of the borderinge Churches, or out of the Epistles vvhich he vvrote to certaine brethrē for admonition and exhortation sake. thus farre Irenaeus.
Cap. 20. after the Greke. Irenaeus lib. de Ogdoade which is not extant.
Irenaeus vn∣to Florinus the schisma∣ticke. Florinus a courtier then a schismatick last an here∣ticke.
Polycarpus vsed oft to re peate this saying.