Chapter VI.--Abstain from the poison of heretics.
I therefore, yet not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, entreat you that ye use Christian nourishment only, and abstain from herbage of a different kind; I mean heresy. For those [755] [that are given to this] mix [756] up Jesus Christ with their own poison, speaking things which are unworthy of credit, like those who administer a deadly drug in sweet wine, which he who is ignorant of does greedily [757] take, with a fatal pleasure [758] leading to his own death.
I therefore, yet not I, out the love of Jesus Christ, "entreat you that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment." [759] For there are some vain talkers [760] and deceivers, not Christians, but Christ-betrayers, [761] bearing about the name of Christ in deceit, and "corrupting the word" [762] of the Gospel; while they intermix the poison of their deceit with their persuasive talk, [763] as if they mingled aconite with sweet wine, that so he who drinks, being deceived in his taste by the very great sweetness of the draught, may incautiously meet with his death. One of the ancients gives us this advice, "Let no man be called good who mixes good with evil." [764] For they speak of Christ, not that they may preach Christ, but that they may reject Christ; and they speak [765] of the law, not that they may establish the law, but that they may proclaim things contrary to it. For they alienate Christ from the Father, and the law from Christ. They also calumniate His being born of the Virgin; they are ashamed of His cross; they deny His passion; and they do not believe His resurrection. They introduce God as a Being unknown; they suppose Christ to be unbegotten; and as to the Spirit, they do not admit that He exists. Some of them say that the Son is a mere man, and that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are but the same person, and that the creation is the work of God, not by Christ, but by some other strange power.
[755] The ellipsis in the original is here very variously supplied.
[756] Literally, "interweave."
[757] Or, "sweetly."
[758] The construction is here difficult and doubtful.
[759] 1 Cor. i. 10.
[760] Tit. i. 10.
[761] Literally, "Christ-sellers."
[762] 2 Cor. ii. 17.
[763] Literally, "sweet address."
[764] Apost. Constitutions, vi. 13.
[765] Supplied from the old Latin version.
Chapter VII.--The same continued.
Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons. And this will be the case with you if you are not puffed up, and continue in intimate union with [766] Jesus Christ our God, and the bishop, and the enactments of the apostles. He that is within the altar is pure, but [767] he that is without is not pure; that is, he who does anything apart from the bishop, and presbytery, and deacons, [768] such a man is not pure in his conscience.
Be on your guard, therefore, against such persons, that ye admit not of a snare for your own souls. And act so that your life shall be without offence to all men, lest ye become as "a snare upon a watch-tower, and as a net which is spread out." [769] For "he that does not heal himself in his own works, is the brother of him that destroys himself." [770] If, therefore, ye also put away conceit, arrogance, disdain, and haughtiness, it will be your privilege to be inseparably united to God, for "He is nigh unto those that fear Him." [771] And says He, "Upon whom will I look, but upon him that is humble and quiet, and that trembles at my words?" [772] And do ye also reverence your bishop as Christ Himself, according as the blessed apostles have enjoined you. He that is within the altar is pure, wherefore also he is obedient to the bishop and presbyters: but he that is without is one that does anything apart from the bishop, the presbyters, and the deacons. Such a person is defiled in his conscience, and is worse than an infidel. For what is the bishop but one who beyond all others possesses all power and authority, so far as it is possible for a man to possess it, who according to his ability has been made an imitator of the Christ of God? [773] And what is the presbytery but a sacred assembly, the counsellors and assessors of the bishop? And what are the deacons but imitators of the angelic powers, [774] fulfilling a pure and blameless ministry unto him, as the holy Stephen did to the blessed James, Timothy and Linus to Paul, Anencletus and Clement to Peter? He, therefore, that will not yield obedience to such, must needs be one utterly without God, an impious man who despises Christ, and depreciates His appointments.
[766] Literally, "unseparated from."
[767] This clause is inserted from the ancient Latin version.
[768] The text has "deacon."
[769] Hos. v. 1.
[770] Prov. xviii. 9 (LXX).
[771] Ps. lxxxv. 9.
[772] Isa. lxvi. 2.
[773] Some render, "being a resemblance according to the power of Christ."
[774] Some read, "imitators of Christ, ministering to the bishop, as Christ to the Father."