more afraid of breaking the Peace of the Church than of the State? The Peace of the one being full as neceffary to be preferved as the Peace of the other. The Chriftian Religion was, at its firft Propagation, called a [5] Heresy; and therefore [6] St. Paul, in his Apology to Felix, faid, This I confess, that after the Way which they call HERESY, fo worship I the God of my Fathers. Which Denomination was continued to it, fo long as to the Time of Conftantine the Great, who, in his Epiftle to Chreftus Bishop of Syracufe, calls [5] Acts xxviii. 22. the the Chriftian Religion the [7] Catholic Herefy: Which Letter was written after the Emperor had declared in favour of Chriftianity. Algeris, according to Stephens, fignifies, in general, the fame thing with the Latin Words Secta and Dogma, that is, a Sect or Opinion. And accordingly he reckons up ten Sects or Herefies of the ancient Philofophers. But among the Ecclefiaftical Writers, fays he, it fignifies an Opinion, or Sect that is contrary to the orthodox Faith. But as the established Religion of every Country is that which confti [7] Τῆς αἱρέσεως τῆς καθολικῆς. Eufeb. Hit. Eccl. lib. x. cap. 5. tutes Orthodoxy, according to the common Senfe of the Word; hence it is, that they who differ and feparate therefrom are generally called Hereticks; and hence it comes to pass, that a Person may be efteemed as very orthodox in England or Ireland, who would be deemed as an Heretic at Romne, or in other Countries. And for the fame Reason it was, that the Chrif tians were at firft called Heretics in Judæa, because they separated from the Jewish, which was the established Religion of the Country; and were also called Heretics in Rome, because they refused joining with the Heathen, which was the then established Religion there. It It is therefore poffible that an Heretic may be in the right; according to the original Sense of the Word. It is also possible that he may be in the wrong. And therefore St. Peter says, [8] There are falfe Teachers among you, who privily fhall bring in damnable Herefies, even denying the Lord that bought them. And St. Paul fays, [9] I hear there are Schifms among you; and 1 partly believe it: For THERE MUST BE ALSO HERESIES, that they which are approved may be made manifeft. Now there is no other Neceffity for Herefies being among them but this: That God [8] 2 Pet. ii. Ț. [9] Cor. xi. 18, 19. 4 did not frame human Nature in fuch a Manner as to neceffitate all Men to be of one Mind; but having made Mankind to be free Agents, he left them in the Hand of their own Council, to chufe their own Opinions for themfelves; according to the Merit or Demerit of which Choice, they will be proper Subjects for Rewards or Punishments. And therefore, while this Conftitution of human Nature remains, there must be Schifms, Divifions, Herefies, or a Diverfity of Sects among them. And as all Mankind think themselves to be in the right, fo they naturally conclude all those who differ from them to be in the wrong; and hence it comes to pass, that the Word He |