251Chapter XVI.—Apostolic Sanction to This Exclusion of Heretics from the Use of the Scriptures. Heretics, According to the Apostle, are Not to Be Disputed With, But to Be Admonished.

I might be thought to have laid down this position to remedy distrust in my case,^20272027    De consilio diffidentiæ. or from a desire of entering on the contest^20282028    Constitutionis, “prima causarum conflictio,”—a term of the law courts. in some other way, were there not reasons on my side, especially this, that our faith owes deference^20292029    Obsequium. to the apostle, who forbids us to enter on “questions,” or to lend our ears to new-fangled statements,^20302030    1 Tim. vi. 3, 4. or to consort with a heretic “after the first and second admonition,”^20312031    Tit. iii. 10. not, (be it observed,) after discussion.  Discussion he has inhibited in this way, by designating admonition as the purpose of dealing with a heretic, and the first one too, because he is not a Christian; in order that he might not, after the manner of a Christian, seem to require correction again and again, and “before two or three witnesses,”^20322032    Matt. xviii. 16. seeing that he ought to be corrected, for the very reason that he is not to be disputed with; and in the next place, because a controversy over the Scriptures can, clearly,^20332033    Plane, ironical. produce no other effect than help to upset either the stomach or the brain.