CHAP. II. Of Libertines.
* 1.1IF we come a little lower, about the year, 1525. arose the Libertines, which are a kind of men that come near to the An∣tinomians, and Familists, and all of them savour strongly of the Manichaeans, Valentinians, and Cerdonites. Calvin advers. lib. c. 2. observeth that Libertines under pretence of Christian Liberty, trampled under-foot all godlinesse, so doe Antinomians. Be∣fore them C••rdo, the Disciple of Heracleon as Epiphanius in A∣naceph▪ stood for his two principles, one good, another evill, as Tertull. also saith, de praescript. He said, that Christ suffered imagi••••rily,* 1.2 as Tertull. relateth, so Familists and finer Anti∣nomians deny the Incarnation, and say, Every beleever is Christ incarnate, and is Godded and Christed, with the holy anoynting; Cerdo denyed the Resurrection, so do Antinomians and Fami∣lists. Marci••n his Disciple taught the like. With Manichaeans, they are not farre from rejecting all the Old Testament, for An∣tinomians will have no actuall Remission of sin in the Old Testament so saith Den••e, Doctrine J••h. Baptist, p. 51.52. Del. serm. p. 3, 4. no inward conversion of sinners to God, no holy Spirit given, no Covenant of Grace then, as Crispe and Mr. Del say. The first man of the Libertines was an unlearned rude fellow,* 1.3 Coppinus a Flanders man; after him arose one Quintus a Taylor in Piecardi••, a drunken proud man and to him was joyned one Bertrandus who dyed soone, and one Claudinus persevalus: But a chiefe man among them was Antonius Pocquius a Priest, who still said Masse, though Papists shamelesly call them Cal∣vinists,* 1.4 these fellows spread their fles••ly Heresies in Holland, Brabantia, and other parts of Low Germany, and infected thou∣sands, drew away many in France.
Antonius Pocquius, a dissembling hypocrite remained at Gene∣va for a space, desired of Calvin, a Testificate that hee might pretend Calvins name, but what he could not obtain from Cal∣vin, who saw him a phantastick foole, he found at Martin B••c••r