.
Definitions:
Heresiographies refer to works that survey and categorize heresies. A heresy is a teaching that contradicts, or tends to subvert, a fundamental of the Christian faith. Sects are Christian churches that err in secondary matters which do not tend to subvert fundamentals of the faith.
.
.
Subsections
Polemical Theologies & on Controversies
On Atheism On Separatism & Brownism
On Islam On Antinomianism
On Judaism On Erastianism
On Socinianism On Voluntaryism
On Romanism On Ecclesiocracy
On Greek & Eastern Orthodoxy On Prelacy & Episcopacy
On Lutheranism On Congregationalism & Independency
On Arminianism On Hyper-Preterism
On the Libertines On Anabaptism
On Cartesianism
.
.
Order of Contents
Heresiographies & Surveys of Sects 8
Surveys of Christian Lands & Other Religions 4
On Error 2
On Heresies 5
History of Heresies 6
Latin: Heresiographies & on Heresies 1
.
Heresiographies & Surveys of Sects
Reformed and/or Puritan
1600’s
This work has been attribtued to Alexander Ross (c. 1590–1654). Ross was Scottish, reformed and a chaplain to King Charles I. It has also been attributed to John Taylor (1578–1653), who was an English poet who dubbed himself “The Water Poet”.
The work is for bishops (likely Anglican) and its critique of puritans is self-admittedly negligible.
Pagitt, Ephraim
Heresiography, or, A Description of the Heretics & Sectaries of These Latter Times (London, 1645)
Pagit (c. 1575–1647) was an English, royalist, clergyman and heresiographer who took the Solemn League & Covenant, and joined in a petition to Parliament to establish presbyterianism, probably as a preferable alternative to Independency. Pagitt was in favor of the Anglican Prayer-book and found his doctrinal standard in the Anglican 39 Articles. Pagitt was a great linguist, having said to be able to write 15-16 languages.
Pagitt’s Heresiography of 1645 well references its claims and was a precursor to the better-known Gangraena of Edwards. The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the title of this book was a neologism, derived by analogy from Christianography, an earlier title of his.
Baillie, Robert – A Dissuasive from the Errors of the Time wherein the Tenets of the Principal Sects, especially of the Independents, are Drawn Together in One Map, for the most part in the Words of their Own Authors, and their Main Principles are Examined by the Touchstone of the Holy Scriptures (London, 1645) ToC
Edwards, Thomas
Edwards (1599–1647) was an English presbyterian and puritan who wrote at large against the sects, Independents and the unlimited toleration of such. One of his sons was John Edwards (d. 1716), an important, later reformed Anglican divine.
Rutherford, Samuel – A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Opening the Secrets of Familism & Antinomianism in the Antichristian Doctrine of John Saltmarsh & William Del, the Present Preachers of the Army now in England, & of Robert Town, Tobias Crisp, H. Denne, Eaton & Others: in which is Revealed the Rise & Spring of Antinomians, Familists, Libertines, Swencfeldians, Enthusiasts, etc., the Mind of Luther, a Most Professed Opposer of Antinomians, is Cleared & Diverse Considerable Points of the Law & the Gospel are Discovered, in Two Parts (1648) IA
The first half of the book is on the history and rise of Antinomians and Familists. The second half is a survey and refutation of Antinomianism.
.
Non-Puritan Heresiographies
By ‘puritans’ the author may mean Independent puritans, as he says they came from Amsterdam, Netherlands.
This work has been attributed to John Taylor (1578–1653), who was an English poet who dubbed himself “The Water Poet”.
.
The History of Heresiography
On the Middle Ages
Mushagalusa, Timothee Baciyunjuze – John of Damascus & Heresiology: a Basis for Understanding Modern Heresy PhD thesis (University of South Africa, 2008) 390 pp.
Abstract: “For him [John of Damascus], a heretic was any Christian who, by wilful choice, departs from the one orthodox tradition by adopting a personal opinion on the common faith which he intends to institute as sole truth. Our research is divided into two parts and aims to apply John of Damascus’ understanding of the recurring identity of the Christian heretic and his behaviour.”
.
Surveys of Christian Lands & Other Religions
1600’s
Pagitt, Ephraim
Christianography: or the Description of the Multitude & Sundry Sorts of Christians in the World Not Subject to the Pope, with their Unity, & how they Agree with the Protestants in the Principal Points of Difference Between Them & the Church of Rome (London, 1636) ToC
Pagit (c. 1575–1647) was an English, royalist, clergyman and heresiographer who took the Solemn League & Covenant, and joined in a petition to Parliament to establish presbyterianism, probably as a preferable alternative to Independency. Pagitt was in favor of the Anglican Prayer-book and found his doctrinal standard in the Anglican 39 Articles. Pagitt was a great linguist, having said to be able to write 15-16 languages.
Pagitt’s Heresiography of 1645 well references its claims and was a precursor to the better-known Gangraena of Edwards. The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the title of this book was a neologism, derived by analogy from Christianography, an earlier title of his.
R.B. (1632?-1725?)
Ross, Alexander – Pansebeia, or a View of All Religions in the World: with the Several Church-Governments, from the Creation till these Times. Also, a Discovery of All Known Heresies, in all Ages & Places: & Choice Observations & Reflections Throughout the Whole (d. 1654; London, 1696) ToC Index After the Index are mini-biographies of arch-heretics.
Ross (c. 1590–1654) was a prolific, reformed Scottish writer and controversialist. He was Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Charles I. A 20th century academic has called Ross “the vigilant watchdog of conservatism and orthodoxy”.
Turner, William – The History of All Religions in the World, from the Creation Down to this Present Time in Two Parts: the First Containing their Theory, & the Other Relating to their Practices… to which is Added, a Table of Heresies: as also a Geographical Map Showing in what Country Each Religion is Practiced (London, 1696) Table of Heresies (organized by the theological doctrine they deny)
This work was published when comparative religion was becoming popular at the beginnings of the Enlightenment. At this early date, such works still yet retained a Christian perspective, in contrast to the attempt of pure neutrality that would come later.
.
.
On Error
Book
1600’s
.
Quote
Charles Ross
The Inner Sanctuary
“Truth is catholic; error is sectarian, and tends to divide. For there is such a thing as Christian principle, and the force of conscience. And he is the sectarian—not who adheres to fundamental truth and high Christian principle—but who deviates from the truth, and forsakes Christian principle.”
.
On Heresies
Articles
1600’s
Cranford, James – Haereseo-Machia [Heresy-Fighter], or, the Mischief which Heresies Do, & the Means to Prevent it: Delivered in a Sermon… (London, 1646)
Cranford (c.1592–1657) was an English puritan and presbyterian. Cranford wrote a preface to Edwards’s Gangraena.
Vines, Richard – The Authors, Nature & Danger of Hæresy: Laid open in a Sermon Preached before the Honorable House of Commons… being Set Apart as a Solemn Day of Public Humiliation to Seek God’s Assistance for the Suppressing & Preventing of the Growth & Spreading of Errors, Heresies & Blasphemies (London, 1647) on 2 Pet. 2:1
Sedgwick, Obadiah – The Nature & Danger of Heresies: Opened in a Sermon before the Honorable House of Commons… being the Day of their Solemn Monthly Fast (London, 1647) on Rev. 12:15-16
Bagshaw, Edward – The Necessity & Use of Heresies, or the Third & Last Part of the Great Question about Indifferent Things in Religious Worship. Containing an Answer to the Objection Against Liberty of Conscience, from the Growth & Spreading of Heresies (London, 1662) 30 pp. on 1 Cor. 11:19
Bagshaw (1629–1671) was an English Nonconformist minister and theologian, known as a controversialist. His sympathies were with the fringe Independent sects of the Commonwealth period, and after the English Restoration of 1660 his life was embattled. Richard Baxter criticized Bagshaw as “an Anabaptist, Fifth Monarchy man, and a Separatist”; Baxter argued for remaining in the Anglican Church while Bagshaw argued for separating from it; he criticized Baxter’s lukewarm position on dissent.
John Locke replied to Bagshaw’s Great Question about Indifferent Things in Religious Worship.
Hill, Samuel – The Necessity of Heresies Asserted & Explained in a Sermon to the Clergy (London, 1688) on 1 Cor. 11:19
Hill (c.1648-1716) was a reformed Anglican.
.
The History of Heresies
On the Early Church
Berzon, Todd S. – Classifying Christians. Ethnography, Heresiology, & the Limits of Knowledge in Late Antiquity Pre Buy (Univ. of California Press, 2016)
This work provides “an account of heresiological writing from the second to fifth century”.
.
On All of Church History
1600’s
Ross, Alexander – Pansebeia, or a View of All Religions in the World: with the Several Church-Governments, from the Creation till these Times. Also, a Discovery of All Known Heresies, in all Ages & Places: & Choice Observations & Reflections Throughout the Whole (d. 1654; London, 1696) ToC Index After the Index are mini-biographies of arch-heretics.
Ross (c. 1590–1654) was a prolific, reformed Scottish writer and controversialist. He was Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Charles I. A 20th century academic has called Ross “the vigilant watchdog of conservatism and orthodoxy”.
Baxter, Richard – Church-History of the Government of Bishops & their Councils Abbreviated, Including the Chief Part of the Government of Christian Princes & Popes, & a True Account of the Most Troubling Controversies & Heresies Till the Reformation… (London, 1680)
.
1900’s
Cozens, M.L. – A Handbook of Heresies (NY, 1945)
Clifton, Chas – Encyclopedia of Heresies & Heretics (NY, 1998) 184 pp.
.
2000’s
McGrath, Alister – Heresy: a History of Defending the Truth (NY, 2009) 296 pp.
.
Latin: Heresiographies & on Heresies
A Collection of Early Church Works on Heresies
Oehler, Franz – A Body of Heresiology, vol. 1, 2 (Berlin, 1856) ToC 1
.
.
.
Related Pages