C .A P. z. A Reyelattonof the Apocalypfe. 45 fame Paul warneth the Bifhops of ephefus , to looks to thenfelves it andto the Whole flock;for this J/¿no%(faith he)that aftermy departrare, p hcfus. orievousWolvesAot fparing thefiocke, Will break in upon yeas, and 'r that out of yourfelves £hall arofe, thole that(hall f peak, perverfe things to draw Difciples after them, Aft. zo. zy, 30. But the diligence of the Paflours took away thefe vizards and masks from hypocrites ; neither would fuffer the dectitfull and poyfonfull doarines of thefe crafty Apoftles, to invade the flock to to their deftrudion. Thus this Church did abide uncorrup- ted till the commingof John , who governed the fame for many years, who being afterwards for a time removed, it grew foniewhat fiack,gave back from her ancient diligence , as we (hall forthwith fpeak. In like fort in the Primitive Church, there was fo great a Troop cf Herericks,asOw like fcarce was in any other times. There arofe the Symonians, Meteandrians, Ebionites, Cerinthians, faire Apo- files, ejnofticks, Sabellians,Samofatenians, Manicl,eans,&c.Ofwhom fome part was thruft through with the dart of the truthby the Apo- files thendelves; Paul gaveover Hymeneus andefllexander to Satan, fo dealt he with Phgellus, Hermogenes, and Philetus, as it feemeth. And he commanded Titus that he Wouldavoid an Heretic& after one or tWo admonitions , Tit. 3. i o. But after they were gone toChrift, there arofe up manyother worthy lights,which drave away diligent- ly all the fog of Herefie ; among whom was Agrippa Cafler, as Euh- febius reporteth, Inftine Martyr, Ireneus,Tertullian, Cyprian, &c. Who all did ftoutly fight for the truth againft thefe counterfeit Apo- files. Wherefore as both that citie, and that firft aáe were in great danger, becaufe of the Impudencyof thofe that made thew ofthem- felves through falfe Titles, as if they had been Apofiles, fo were they no lift. happy through the faithfulnefs and painfulnefs of fuch Cham- pions, who would not be deceived by their vain (hew, but bringing the matter to the true touch-£tone , made the whole Church tofee plainly, that they were molt filthy, and vile Varlets, who would have been accounted as molt high and principali Matters. 3. And thouhaft beenpre(edWith a burden,&c. Hitherto of their faithfulnefs in executing their fim6tion ; Now he fpeaks of their ver- tueofpatience in overcomming outwardevils, which were very many and mighty, that came bothagainft thecitie,and alto againft the Whole Chriftian World. The skirmifhes of Paul againft BeaIis at Ephefus are renowned, i Cor. t 5.3a. and what refs from troubles could be unto the e.4ngels that followed him,who fhould have a graplingWith grievous Ï
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