APOSTASY OF THE ROMISH CHURCH. 221
the common use of the word in Thucydides, Pkitarch, Luciau, and the rest of their companions in the propriety of that language. " Apostasia," by ecclesiastical writers, is restrained unto either a backsliding in faith subjective and manners, or a causeless relinquish- ment of any truth before professed. So the Jews charge Paul, Acts xxi. 21, 'Avroffraff/ai' diddaxsig, — " Thou teachest the apostasy " from Moses' law. Such also is the nature of a'ipsaig, — a special " option, choice," or way, in profession of any truth or error. So Paul calls Pharisaism ax.piZiffrdT7}v a'lpssiv rra '^pTiffx.iiccg, Acts xxvi. 5, — -" the most exact heresy," or way of religion, among the Jews. And Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom, lib. viii., calls Christian religion alpidiv dplarriv, — the " best heresy." And the great Constantino in one of his edicts calls it a'/pe<jiv xaOoXiKTiv, — " the catholic " or "general heresy;" and aipseiv ayiurdTYiv, — " the most holy heresy." The Latins, also, con- stantly used that word in a sense indifferent. " Cato," saith Cicero, " est in ea hasresi quee nullum orationis florem sequitur." The words, therefore, themselves, you see, are of an indifferent signification, having this difference between them, that the one for the most part is used to signify the relinquishment of that which a man had before embraced, and the other a choice or embracing of that which a man had not before received or admitted. And this difference is con- stantly observed by all ecclesiastical writers, who afterward used these words in the worst or an evil sense : so that apostasy, in this appro- priation of it, denotes the relinquishment of any important truth or way in religion; and heresy the choice or embracement of any new destructive opinion, or principle, or way in the profession thereof A man, then, may be an apostate by partial apostasy, — that is, depart from the profession of some truth he had formerly embraced, or the performance of some duty which he was engaged in, — without being a heretic, or choosing any new opinion which he did not before embrace. Thus you signally call a monk that deserts his monastical profession an apostate, though he embrace no opinion which is condemned by your church, or which you think heretical. And a man may be a heretic, — that is, choose and embrace some new false opinion, which he may coin out of his own imagination, — without a direct renunciation of any truth which before he Avas instructed in. And this is that which I intended, when I told you that your church is fallen by partial apostasy, and by heresy. She hath renounced many of the important truths which the old Roman church once believed and professed, and so is fallen by apostasy; and she hath invented or coined many articles pretended to be of faith, which the old Roman church never believed, and so is fallen by heresy also. Now, what say you hereunto ? Why, " Good sir, in this division apostasy is set to express a total relapse, in opposition to heresy, which is the partial."
222 A VINDICATION OF THE ANIMADVERSIONS ON FIAT LUX.
But who gave you warrant or leave so to set them ? It would, it may be, somewhat serve your turn in evading the charge of apostasy, that lies against your church, but, " good sir," will not prove that you may thus confound things for your advantage. Idolatry is heresy, and apostasy is heresy, and what not, because you suppose you have found a way to escape the imputation of heresy. I say, then, yet again, in answer to your inquiry, that your church is fallen by apos- tasy, in her relinquishment of many important truths, and neglect of many necessary duties, which the old Eoman church embraced and performed. That these may be the more evident unto you, I shall give you some few instances of your apostasy, desiring only that you would grant me that the primitive church of Rome believed and faithfully retained the doctrine of truth wherein from the Scripture it was instructed : —
That church believed expressly that all they " who die in the Lord do rest from all their labours," Rev. xiv. 13; — which truth you have forsaken, by sending many of them into the flames oi purga- tory.
It believed that " the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed in us," Rom. viii. 18; — your church is otherwise minded, asserting in our works and sufferings a merit of and condignity unto the glory that shall be received.
It believed that " we were saved freely, by grace, by faith, which is not of ourselves, but the gift of God; not by works, lest any one should boast," Eph. ii. 8, Tit. iii. 5; and therefore besought the Lord " not to enter into judgment with them, because in his sight no flesh could be justified," Ps. cxxx. 3, clxiii. 2; — and you ai'e aposta- tized from this part of their faith.
It believed that Christ " was once only offered," Heb. x. 12; and that it could not be that " he should often offer himself, because then he must have often suffered and died," Heb. ix. 25 ; — which faith of theirs you are departed from.