Chapter VI.—Heretics are Self-Condemned. Heresy is Self-Will, Whilst Faith is Submission of Our Will to the Divine Authority.  The Heresy of Apelles.

On this point, however, we dwell no longer, since it is the same Paul who, in his Epistle to the Galatians, counts “heresies” among “the sins of the flesh,”^18971897    Gal. v. 20. who also intimates to Titus, that “a man who is a heretic” must be “rejected after the first admonition,” on the ground that “he that is such is perverted, and committeth sin, as a self-condemned man.”^18981898    Tit. iii. 10, 11. Indeed, in almost every epistle, when enjoining on us (the duty) of avoiding false doctrines, he sharply condemns^18991899    Taxat. heresies. Of these the practical effects^19001900    Opera. are false doctrines, called in Greek heresies,^19011901    Αἱρέσεις . a word used in the sense of that choice which a man makes when he either teaches them (to others)^19021902    Instituendas. or takes up with them (for himself).^19031903    Suscipiendas. For this reason it is that he calls the heretic self-condemned,^19041904    [A remarkable word is subjoined by the Apostle (ἐξέστραπται) which signifies turned inside out, and so self-condemned, as exhibiting his inward contentiousness and pravity. because he has himself chosen that 246for which he is condemned. We, however, are not permitted to cherish any object^19051905    Nihil, any doctrine. after our own will, nor yet to make choice of that which another has introduced of his private fancy. In the Lord’s apostles we possess our authority; for even they did not of themselves choose to introduce anything, but faithfully delivered to the nations (of mankind) the doctrine^19061906    Disciplinam, including both the principles and practice of the Christian religion. which they had received from Christ. If, therefore, even “an angel from heaven should preach any other gospel” (than theirs), he would be called accursed^19071907    Anathema. See Gal. i. 8. by us. The Holy Ghost had even then foreseen that there would be in a certain virgin (called) Philumene^19081908    Concerning Philumene, see below, chap. xxv.; Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. v. 13; Augustine, de Hæres, chap. xlii. ; Jerome, Epist. adv. Ctesiph. (Works, ed. Ben.) iv. 477, and in his Commentary on Galatians, ii. See also Tertullian, Against Marcion, p. 139, Edinb. Edition. an angel of deceit, “transformed into an angel of light,”^19091909    2 Cor. xi. 14. by whose miracles and illusions^19101910    Præstigiis. Apelles was led (when) he introduced his new heresy.