The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. V. Christianity therefore is not there in its purity; but much corrupted.

WHICH is a sufficient Argument to prove that the Christian Religion is not sincerely preserved in that Church: and ought to with-hold us from joyning with them, in imposing thus upon the Christian World; and thereby breaking the bond of Unity; and turning Men away from the Faith, by the palpable falsities and absurd mixtures, which are brought into it; and that as neces∣sary parts of the Faith of Christ. To the a∣dulterating of which we ought by no means to consent; but maintain it in that purity, wherein the Apostles delivered it to their Suc∣cessors: as we find it set down in the Works of a great many following Doctors of the Church; whose Names I forbear, but are ready at hand to make good what I quoted just now out of Irenaeus. Who acknowledges him for a sincere Christian, who holds fast 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as Epiphanius recites his

words, which were then extant in Greek) that Rule of Faith, which he received in Bap∣tism, firm and unmoveable. He cannot be a Heretick who thus believes on the Son of God, in the sense wherein the Nicene Creed (not adding any new Article of Faith, but only de∣claring what was believed from the beginning) hath explained the Word: But they are Schis∣maticks who call him so; and will not admit him into their Communion, unless he consent to other things, and hold them to be equally certain, and necessary, with the Ancient Rule of Faith.