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Chap. 10. The Heretick.
IT is very difficult accurately to define him. Amongst the Heathen Atheist was, and amongst Christians Heretick is the disgracefull word of course, alwayes cast upon those who dissent from the predominant current of the time. Thus those who in matters of opinion varied from the Popes copie the least hair-stroke, are condemned for Hereticks. Yea, Virgilius Bishop of Saltzburg was branded with that censure for main∣taining that there were Antipodes opposite to the then known world. It may be, as Alexander, hearing the Philosophers dispute of more worlds, wept that he had conquered no part of them; so it grieved the Pope that these Antipodes were not subject to his jurisdicti∣on, which much incensed his Holinesse against that strange opinion. We will branch the description of an Heretick into these three parts.
- First, he is one that formerly hath been of the true Church: They went out from us, but they were not of us. These afterwards prove more offensive to the Church then very Pagans; as the English-Irish, descended anciently of English Parentage (be it spoken with the more shame to them, and sor∣row to us) turning wild become worse enemies to our Nation then the Native Irish themselves.
- 2. Maintaining a Fundamentall errour. Every scratch in the hand is not a stab to the heart; nor doth every false opinion make a Heretick.
- 3. With obstinacy. Which is the dead flesh, ma∣king the green wound of an errour fester into the old soare of an Heresie.
It matters not much what manner of person he hath. If beau∣tifull, perchance the more attractive of feminine fol∣lowers: