But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.—Titus, iii. 9–11.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.-2 Pet. ii. 1-3.

See also

Acts, xxiv. 5, 14. Gal. v. 20.

The Greek word is translated by heresy, sect.

The Greek word means 'a thing chosen, and so, a plan, purpose; a course of action or thought; later, a philosophic principle or set of principles, a sect, a school; and in ecclesiastical language, heresy.

The English word heresy comes from the Greek alpav, to take.

The other thing is, that heretics and evil persons, to serve their end, did not only pretend things spoken by the apostles, and apostolic and primitive men (for that was easy), but even pretended certain books to be written by them, that under their venerable names they might recommend and advance their own heretical opinions.-BP. TAYLOR, Rules of Conscience, b. ii. c. 3, rule 14.

We claim no power, when heresies grow bold,
To coin new faith, but still declare the old.

DRYDEN, The Hind and the Panther.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.—Rom. xiii. 12-14.

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.—Gal. v. 16-21.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when ye walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.-1 Pet. iv. 1-8.

The Greek word is translated by the English words revellings, rioting.

The Greek word means 'a jovial festivity, with music and dancing, a revel, carousal, merry-making (Lat. comissatio)-these entertainments usually ended in the party parading the streets, crowned, and with torches, singing, dancing, and playing all kinds of frolics; in time several κμоι were set on foot in honour of several gods, especially Bacchus, and also in honour of the victors at the games; there were festal processions of a more regular and ordinary kind, partaking of the nature of a chorus.'

Revellings were, among the Greeks, disorderly spending of the night in feasting, with a licentious indulgence in wine, good cheer, music, dancing, &c.-LOCKE, Paraphrase on Galatians, c. 5,

note 10.

A riot is where three or more actually do an unlawful act of

violence, either with or without a common cause or quarrel; as if they beat a man, or hunt and kill game in another's park, chase, warren, or liberty; or do any other unlawful act with force or violence; or even do a lawful act, as removing a nuisance in a violent and tumultuous manner.-Sir W. BLACKSTONE, Commentaries, bk. iv. c. 2.

CHAPTER V.

VIRTUES REFERRED TO IN GAL. V. 22, 23.

AGAINST Such there is no law.-Gal. v. 23.

It may be observed farther, concerning our perception of good and of ill desert, that the former is very weak with respect to common instances of virtue. One reason of which may be, that it does not appear to a spectator how far such instances of virtue proceed from a virtuous principle, or in what degree this principle is prevalent; since a very weak regard to virtue may be sufficient to make men act well in many common instances. And, on the other hand, our perception of ill desert in vicious actions lessens in proportion to the temptations men are thought to have had to such vices. For, vice in human creatures consisting chiefly in the absence or want of the virtuous principle, though a man be overcome, suppose, by tortures, it does not from thence appear, to what degree the virtuous principle was wanting. All that appears is, that he had it not in such a degree as to prevail over the temptation; but possibly he had it in a degree which would have rendered him proof against common temptations.-BP. BUTLER, Dis. ii., On the Nature of Virtue.

'Virtue is the doing good to mankind, in obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of everlasting happiness.'

According to which definition, 'the good of mankind' is the subject, the will of God' the rule, and 'everlasting happiness' the motive of human virtue.

The four cardinal virtues are prudence, fortitude, temperance,