The growth of error being an exercitation concerning the rise and progress of Arminianism and more especially Socinianism, both abroad and now of late, in England / by a lover of truth and peace.

SECT. I.

The deceitful methods used by Here∣ticks more generally proposed. Their rise in the Apostles days. The de∣ceitful Methods, used by some Men of great Learning, is another Cause of the growth of Error.

THERE being some Foundation-Truths so fully, clearly and distinctly reveal'd in Holy Writ; as to command the Assent of the Church Ʋniversally in all A∣ges, (excepting that in which the Christ an World became Arian,) they, who have been their chief Opposers, have retained the Words and Phrases, by which those Truths have been transmitted down unto us;

and introduced their particular Opinions, by an Heterodox sense they have fixed on them. And when suspected, that they might the more effectually conceal their Errors, have subscribed sound Catechisms and Confessi∣ons, whereby they have had the fairer oppor∣tunity to instil their Dogmata into the minds of Youth, and other less studied Persons, and under the Notion of being firm Adherers to the common Faith, have engaged them to a closure with the unsoundest Parts of their Heretical Scheme.

In the Apostles days, they who err'd from the Faith, attempted by good words, and fair speeches to seduce the simple, Rom. 16.18. And Irenaeus, who lived near that time Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans, de∣scribing the Hereticks of that Age, as Ca∣levius observes, tells us that they speak like unto the Orthodox.

This was the way Arius, after he was driven from Alexandria for his Heresie, took to be restored to the Emperour's favour; tho' he retained his Error, yet subscribed a found confession of Faith, as 'tis reported by Socrates in his Ecclesiastical History. Lib. l. c. 25, &c.

Pelagius, when conven'd before a Pro∣vincial Synod at i••iospolis, in Pelaestine, at which Fourteen Bishops were present, but not his Accusers, doth concur with the Or∣thodox in condemning his own Opinions; but as Vossius out of St. Austin observes, he d••d it very deceitfully. Pelagianamsenten∣tiam pectore quidem ficto, sed tamen Catho∣licos

judices timens Pelagius ipse damnavit. And as the same Possius adds, St. Hierom calls this Synod a miserable one; because, tho' they err'd not in Doctrines, yet not dis∣cerning the falshood of the man, they ••rr••d in the Judgment they past on him, who being better known at Rome, could not con∣ceal his Treacherous Endeavours, but was soon detected by the Bishops of that place.

This being the common practice of Here∣ticks, St. Cyprian compares them to Apes, saying they imitate the Orthodox as Apes do Men.

Now this having been a very successful, as well as a most pernicious Articice, in con∣stant practice amongst the Ancients; the So∣cinian and Armintan Leaders, whose Re∣putation hath been, and is still so great, that the respect multitudes have for them, in re∣gard to their Candor, and Integrity, which is supposed to be conspicuous in the Repre∣sentations they make of their own, and their Adversaries Principles, have walk'd in the same Path, as I hope in the following Histo∣ry, with some clearness to detect and make manifest.

Notes

• Digres. de 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••heol. Helmstad. R••g. Syn••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. pag. ••88.
• August. ••e••ract. lib. 2 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 47. & 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ad 〈…〉〈…〉.
• Hierom. E∣pist. 79.
• V••ss Hest. Pelar. lib. 1. Cap. 41. Hare••ici imitantur Catholicos f••eut simiae imitantur homine•• Cy∣••••••ian. ad Jubajanum.