Sect. Nicolas a Proselite of Antioch.
He is held to have been the author and occasion of the Sect of the Nicolaitans, Rev. 2. 6, 15. Iren. lib. 1. cap. 27. Euseb. hist. lib. 3. cap. 29. A sect that misconstrued the doctrine of Christian communitie and Christian liberty, to all uncleaness and licentious∣ness: but whether it began to be so misconstrued by Nicolas himself, or by some of his followers, as the Sadduces abused a good doctrine of Sadoc to a damnable Heresie, it is difficult to determine, and this is not the proper place to examine it.
Vers. 7: A great company of the Priests were obedient to the Faith.
I cannot but wonder at the boldness of Beza in this place, and indeed in hundreds of other places: for he doth rather suspect the truth and purity of this Text, than believe the story that so many Priests should believe: And yet it seemeth, among all his Greek Copies there was not one that read otherwise. Truly it is a daring that deserves castiga∣tion in him, that when he either understandeth not the perfect meaning of a place, or findeth difficulty in it, or hath fancied a sense contrary to it, that he should throw dirt into the face of the Scripture, and deny the purity of the Greek text, before he will