CAP. XXIIII.* 1.1
The heresie of the Ebionites.
THese the Elders properly called Ebionites, that is poore men. for they were poore and* 1.2 abiectes in deliuering the doctrine which concerned Christ, they iudged him a simple and a common man, and for his perfection of manners founde iustified as man onely, borne by reason of the company of man, and his mother Marie▪ againe they thought the obseruation of* 1.3 the lawe to be necessarye, as thoughe saluation were not by faythe alone in Christ Christ•…•… ••••••uer∣sation of lyfe correspondent vnto the same. Other some of the same name haue au••yded the fowle absurditie of the wordes, nor denying the Lorde to haue ••e••e borne of the virgine, and the holy Ghoste: yet when they confesse him to be God, the worde and wisedome to haue bene before the natiuitie of the fleshe they sincke in the same sinne, with their former felowes, especially when as they busily goe aboute to sette vp the corporall obseruation of the lawe. these Heretickes all doe reiecte the epistles of the Apostle Paul, accusinge him that he felle from the lawe. they vse onely the Gospell whiche is after the Hebrevves, other they passe not for. the Iewishe Sabothe, and other their ceremonyes, they obserue a like, with the Ievves. they celebrate the Sonnedayes, as we doe, in remembrance of the resurrection of our Sauiour. for hence it came to passe by reason of these their fancies, that they allotted vnto them selues the name of Ebionites, signifyinge their pouertie. for by this name or title poore men* 1.4 are called of the Hebrevves. About the same tyme, we learne there was one Cerinthus, an au∣thor of an other heresie. Gaius whose wordes we haue before alleadged, in the controuersie cary∣ed about vnder his name, writeth thus of him.