CAP. XI.* 1.1
Of the workes of Serapion byshop of Antioch.
IT is very like that sundry epistles of Serapion are reserued amonge others, vnto our knowe∣ledge onely such came as he wrote vnto one Domnus which renounced the fayth of Christ in* 1.2 the time of persecution and fell to Iewish Apostasie: and vnto one Pontius and Caricus ecclesi∣asticall persons. againe epistles vnto other men. and also a certaine booke of the Gospell which they call after Peter wrytten to this end that he might confute the falsehoode specified in the same for that diuerse of the churche of Rosse, went astray after false doctrine vnder coloure of the fore∣sayd Scripture. it shall seeme very expedient if we alleage a fewe lines out of it, whereby his cē∣sure of that booke may appeare. thus he wryteth: VVe (my brethren) receaue Peter & the other* 1.3 Apostles as messengers of Christ himselfe, but their names being falsely forged vve plainely do reiect, knovving vve receaued none such. I truely remaining amongest you supposed you vvere all sounde and firme in the right fayth, and vvhen I had not perused the booke published in Pe∣ters name entitled his Gospell, I sayd: if this be onely the cause of your grudginge and discora∣ging let it be redd: but novve in so much I perceaue a certaine hereticall opinion to be thereby cloked and coloured by occasion of my vvordes I vvill hasten to come vnto you. vvherefore my brethren expecte shortely my comming. For vve knovve vvell inough the heresie of Marcianus vvho vvas founde contrary to himselfe, he vnderstoode not that vvhich he spake as you may ga∣ther by the things vvhich vve vvrote vnto you. vve might peraduenture our selues, laye dovvne more skilfully the grounde of this opinion vnto his successors, vvhome vve call coniecturers. for by perusing the expositiōs of their doctrine vve haue foūd many things sauoring of the true do∣ctrine of our Sauiour, and certaine other things borovved and interlaced vvhich vve haue noted vnto you. Thus farre Serapion.