He commendeth the Lady and her sonnes for continuing in the old faith, bidding them so to
doe hereafter also, lest they lose the reward of their workes in the day of iudgement: and to
loue the true beleeuers, but with Heretikes to haue no societie: expressing also the points
then in controuersie.
1. THE Seniour to the Lady Elect and her children, whom I loue in truth, and not I
only, but also al that haue knowen the truth,
2. for the truth which abideth in vs, and shal be with vs for euer.
3. Grace be with you, mercie, peace from God the Father, and from Christ Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ
the Sonne of the Father in truth, and charitie.
4. I was exceeding glad, because I haue found of thy children walking in truth, as we
haue receiued commandement of the Father.
5. And now I beseech thee Lady, not as writing a new commandement to thee, but that
which we haue had from the beginning,
*
Io. 15,12.
1. Io. 3,11.
that we loue one another.
6. And this is charitie, that we walke according to his commandements. For this is
the commandement, that as you haue heard from the beginning, you walke in the same:
7. because many seducers are gone out into the world, which doe not confesse Iᴇꜱᴠꜱ
Christ to haue come into flesh: this is a seducer and an Antichrist.
8. Looke to your selues, that you lose not the things which you haue wrought: but that
you may receiue a ful
✟
Reward for keeping fast the Catholike faith.
reward.
9. Euery one that
✟
To goe backe or reuolt from the receiued truth and doctrine Apostolical, is damnable.
reuolteth, and persisteth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.
He that persisteth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father, and the Sonne.
10. If
*
Ro. 16,17.
any man come to you, and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not into the house,
nor say, God saue you, vnto him.
11. For he that saith vnto him, God saue you, communicateth with his wicked
workes.
12. Hauing moe things to write vnto you: I would not by paper and inke: for I hope
that I shal be with you, and speake mouth to mouth: that your ioy may be ful.
13. The children of thy sister elect salute thee.
ANNOT.
6. From the beginning.)
This is the rule of a Christian Catholike man, to walke in that faith and worship of God which
he hath receiued from the beginning. Which is that which we now call according to the
Scriptures, the tradition of the Apostles: that which is come to vs from man to man, from
Bishop to Bishop, and so from the Apostles. So shal a faithful man auoid seducers that rise vp
in euery age, teaching new doctrine.
10. This doctrine.)
The Apostles, and true Pastors their lawful successors, and the Church of God in holy Councel,
vse to set downe the true doctrine in those pointes which Heretikes call into controuersie.
Which being once done and declared to the faithful, they neede no other marke or description to
know an Heretike or false teacher by, but that he commeth with an other doctrine then that
which is set downe to them. Neither can the Heretikes shift them selues, as now a daies
they would doe, saying, ô let vs first be proueds Heretikes by the Scriptures, let them define
an Heretike. No, this is not the Apostles rule. Many a good honest shepheard knoweth a woolfe,
that can nor define him. but the Apostle saith. If he bring not this set doctrine, he is a
seducer. So holy Church saith now, Christ is really in the B. Sacrament, vnder forme of bread
and wine &c. If therfore he bring not this doctrine, he is a seducer, and an Heretike and we
must auoide him, whether in his owne definitions and censures he seeme to him self an
Heretike or no.
10. Receiue him not.)
Though in such times and places where the communitie or most part be
infected, necessitie often forceth the faithful to conuerse with such in worldly affaires,
to salute them, to eate and speake with them, and the Church by decree of Councel, for the
more quietnes of timorous consciences prouideth, that they incurre not excommunication or other
censures for communicating in worldly affaires with any in this kinde, except they be by name
excommunicated or declared to be Heretikes yet euen in wordly coonuersatiō and secular actes
of our life, we must auoid them as much as we may, because their familiaritie is many waies
contagious and nolsome to good men, namely to the simple: but in matter of religion, in
praying, reading their bookes, hearing their sermons, presence at their seruice, partaking of
their Sacraments, and al other communicating with them in spiritual things. It is a great
damnable sinne to deale with them.
10. Nor say, God saue you.)
S. Irenaeus (li. 3. c. 3.) reporteth a notable storie of this holy Apostle touching to is point out
of S. Polycarpus, which is this. There be some (saith he) that haue heard Polycarpe say, that when
Iohn the disciple of our Lord was going to Ephesus, into a bath, to wash him self, and saw
Corinthus the Heretikes within the same, he so denly skipt out, saying that he feared lest the bath
should fall, because Corinthus the enemie of truth was within. So saith he of S. Iohn, and
addeth also a like worthie example of S. Polycarpe him self: who on a time meeting Marcion
the Heretike, and the said Marcion calling vpon him, and asking him whether he knew him
not: Yes, quoth Polycarpe, I know thee for Satans sound and heire. So great feare (saith S.
Irernaeus) had the Apostles and their disciples to communicate in word onely, with such as
were adulterers or corrupters of the truth, as S. Paul also uvarned, when he said, A man
that is an Heretike, after the first and second admonition auoid. So far Irenaeus. If then,
to speake with them or salute them, is so earnestly to be auoided according to this Apostles
example & doctrines what a sinne is it to flatter them, to serue them, to marie with them,
and so forth?