CQNCI,ÚSIÖÂi. ß$j. the Fruit is evil, the Tree cannót be good, Trud Chriftianity, however, doth not contribute Nurture to fd vile a Plant : It is the Dung of Socinianifn;, S béllianifüá, flrianifm, Pelagianifmand 4rnsinianifm, which makes thé peftilent Branches öf moral Evil luxuriant, and enables it to caft a malignant Shade upon the Hui bandry of GOD. * Nor is this heretical Poifun More pernicious to the Souls of Men, than repugnant to the wholefomé Prefcriptions of the Gofpel of Cbr. The Scttttr- TÙRES, which the Patrons of thefe Opinions profefs to believe; and the AteAcoèÿ of I±AiTH, which louse of Chrift had a Participation of Deity (thobgh in ail efroneous Sedfei before he affumed the Nathre of Man. Under this Head may bs elaffed the feveral Species of the "Irian/ and Semi- ariansi Theother Genus ofHeretics includes thofe; who abfolutely oppofe his Divinity, and deny his very Being and Exiftence before he was born of the Virgin Maryi And thefe may be fubdivided intö the Ebionitest the Cerintliians, the Sámoratenians and Pbotiniafts of old, and the Saeiniars of modern Times. Other Heretics have broached abfurdand unferiptöral Notions con. cerning the Humanity of Chrift. The principal öf thefe (for theft' collateral Branches are too ntìnterotis to be recounted, and indeed are now no more) were the Sabellian, who believed that the whole Godhead became incarnate ; the Apollinariaes, who imagined that Chrift had no human Soul, and that his. Body was animated, in its Stead, by the Deity ; the Maniehees, Who affirnied that Chrift had no real Body, but bore only thePhantom and Appearance of ocie; the Neflorians, who afferted that the two Natures Of Chrift were,two dittinet and feparate Perlons ; and others, who maintained, that Chrift's Body was not really formed of the Virgin Mary, but ialitioned in and delivered down from Heaven. Such Crouds of Er- rors and Herefes, as have arifen upon one or other Branch of Chrif, tian Doftrine, may convince us, that either Men read not the Scriptures at all, or read themwithout the Teaching cßî that Guides who openeth she Underflanding to underhand them, and without whom they are at molt but a r.olnmèrealed. Near so'o different Denomina, tions of Heretics haVe'fprung up in the Church, fince the Death of .Chrift ; to fay- nothing of thofe, whofe Continuance has been fo thort, as not to have obtained a Name. Their Memorial is perifhed ¢cith them. A melancholy Pifture this of human Frailty, and an úrgent Admonition to all fueceeding Difciples to lean; not upon their own Strength or TJnderftanding, but limply upon Him, who alone can lead into all Truth,:and preferve in the Xnowledge of it unto the End t. a i Cor. iii. g. C c them
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