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Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

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THE SECOND AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.261<strong>of</strong> the individual. For this a body enjoying infallibilitythrough the assistance <strong>of</strong> the Holy Ghostwas not needed. It was enough for enthusiastsand dreamers to pursue their speculations withoutany limit to free inquiry, save what themselveschose to impose as the interpretation <strong>of</strong> such scripturesas they acknowledged, or as the exhibition<strong>of</strong> a private tradition with which they held themselvesto be favoured.Lastly, the idea <strong>of</strong> Sacraments, as conveyinggrace under a covering <strong>of</strong> sense, would be superfluousto the gnostic, inasmuch as the spiritualelements in man belong to him by nature, and arenot communicated by a Redeemer, and would berepulsive to him because matter is a product <strong>of</strong>the evil principle, and cannot be the channel <strong>of</strong>grace from out the Light-realm.23My purpose here has only been to say just somuch <strong>of</strong> Gnosticism as may show how the wholeChristian truth was attacked by it, and especiallythe existence and functions <strong>of</strong> the Church.And this may indeed be termed the first heresyin that it struck its roots right up into Apostolictimes. Irena3us, Eusebius, and Epiphanius accountSimon Magus to be its father, and the father <strong>of</strong>all heresy. As such it is not without significancethat he encountered the first <strong>of</strong> the Apostles inamaria, endeavouring to purchase from him the23 I am indebted for the above sketch <strong>of</strong> Gnosticism mSclrwane, Dogmengeschichte der vornicdnischeti Zeit, p. 648-51.

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