A BRIEF COLLECTION Out of Master PAGITTS Book CALLED HERESIOGRAPHY. OR, A Description of the Heretics and Sectaries of these latter times.  

1 Jesuits. Pag. 141.  
2 Socinians p. 132  
3 Arminians p. 119  
4 Arians p. 134  
5 Adamites p. 102  
6 Libertines p. 31  
7 Antiscripturians p. 149  
8 Soule-sleepers p. 147  
9 Anabaptists p. 1.  
10 Familists p. 92  
11 Expectants and Seekers p. 150  
12. Divorcers' ibid.  
13 Pellagians p. 146  
14 Millenaries p. 136  
15 Anti-Sabatarians p. 138  
16 Anti-Trinitarians p. 134  
17 Sabatarians p. 138  
18 Separatists p. 30  
19 apostolics p. 29  
20 Antinomians p. 105   
If the Reader desire to read of these Sectaries more at large, the page of Mr. Pagitts' Book is set down at the end of every title.  
Printed at London, and are to be sold by William Lee in Fleetstreet. 1646.   

A relation of Heresies, describing the Original Ringleaders of the same, & the time when they first bgan to spread, with a discovery of those described in our times, and first of the  

Jesuits  
THE Original of these, was one Loyola a Spanish soldier; they bear the name of Jesus, but came from the Devil the Father of Lies.  
This Order was confirmed by Paul the third Bishop of Rome, in Anno 1540  
Their Errors are many but the chief are these, viz. 

1 They presumptuously arrogate to themselves the name of Jesus, a name above all names, and their chief general equal with Christ.  
2 These chief maintain the Pope's temporal power, as well as his Spiritual, whereby he may depose Kings.  
3 They deny the oath of allegiance.  
4 They do not teach it to be lawful to murder Christian Kings, but meritorious also.  
5 the Jesuits teach and maintain that the Pope only is Jure Divino a Bishop, & that all others hold from him.     

Socinians.  
Socinianism was so named from Lelius Socinus in Master calvin's time his opinions broached by letters,  
First concerning God. 

1 That there is no natural knowledge of God whereby to instant men to acknowledge or believe the Deity.  
1 That the Incarnation of Christ is repugnant to reason, & can no way sufficiently be proved out of Scripture.  
3 That Christ is not truly God, and that the belief of his Divine nature is not agreeable to Scripture.  
4 That Christ did not by his death satisfy for our sins.  
5 That the Holy ghost is not God.  
6 That it is repugnant to the word of God to believe three persons and one God.  
7 That man in the state of innocence was not created in original righteousness.  
8 That the old Testament is not necessary for a Christian man, though it may be profitably read.     

Arminians.  
So called from James Arminius of Leydon in the Low countries in the year 1605.  
The errors concerning Prdestination. 

1 THat in complete and not peremptory Election of singular persons is made by reason of foreseen faith, repentance, sanctity and godliness, that this is the gracious and Evangelicall worthiness, by which he that is chosen becomes worthier than he that is not chosen: And therefore that faith, the obedience of faith, Sanctity godliness and perseverance, are not the fruits, or effects of the unchangeable Election unto Glory, but Conditions and Causes, without which a thing is not brought to pass before required and foreseen, as already performed by those who are completely to be chosen.  
2 That all election to Salvation, is not unchangeable, but that some which are Elected withstanding Gods decree may perish, and for ever do.  
3 That in this life there is no fruit nor fence or certainty of immutable Election unto Glory, but upon condition contingent and mutable.  
4 That it is absurd to make an uncertain certainty that God out of his mere just will hath not decreed to leave any man in the fall of Adam and common state of sin and damnation, or to pass over any in the communication of grace necessary to faith and conversion.  
5 That the cause why God sends the Gospel to one nation rather than to another, is not the mere and only good pleasure of God, but because such a nation is better and more worthy of the Gospel.    
Further concerning the death of Christ and his Redemption. 

1 THat God ordained his son to the death of the Cross without any certain or determinate counsel to save any particular man expressly, etc.  
2 That the will of God was not to establish a new covenant of grace by the blood of Christ, but to procure the making again with men any covenant, either of grace, or works.  
3 That Christ by his death did not certainly merit for any man's salvation itself, and faith by which this satisfaction of Christ may be fully applied unto salvation, etc.  
4 That the covenant of Grace which the Father by the mediation of the death of Christ made with men, doth not consist in their being justified before God, and saved by faith in apprehending the merit of Christ, but in this the exaction of perfect legal obedience being abrogated, reputes faith itself, and the imperfect obedience of faith for the perfect obedience of the Law.  
5 That all men are received into the state Reconciliation and grace of the Covenant, and none condemned for Original sin.  
6 That Christ neither did not aught to die for those whom God dearly loved, and chose unto eternal life, seeing such stood in no need of Christ's death.    
With many other concerning man's corruptions, conversion, and the perseverance of the Saints.   

Arians  
So called from Arius, Deacon of the Church of Alexandria who infected the World with this Heresy, and was condemned by three hundred and eighteen Bishops in the Council of Nice under the Emperor Constantine the great and banished.  


1 They deny the Trinity of persons.  
2 They deny the son to be God.  
3 They deny the eternal generation of the Son, which is they say against reason and truth.  
4 They deny Christ to be called God in respect of his Essence, but by reason of his dominion.  
5 They deny the Holy Ghost to be God.    
These Heretics have been burnt amongst us heretofore, as in Anno 1611 March the 18. One Bartholomew Legate, and the April following one Edward whightman burnt at Litchfield for the same.   

Adamites.  
Of this Heresy Saint Augustine makes mention.  


1 They call the place of their meeting Paradise.  
2 They pray, hear, and celebrate the commnion naked according to the similitude of Adam before his fall.    
But more lately practised by a Piccard in Bohemia that came out of the Low countries, and professed himself to be the Son of God, he taught this sect to go naked, and to call him Adam, terming him and his Sect freemen, and all the rest slaves that wear clothes.   

Libertines that would abolish the Law.  
The author of these by Pontanus is described to be one John Agricola who spread this opinion in the year 1535. The particulars whereof follow;  
The partiulars whereof follow. 

1 That the Law was not given to Christian men.  
2 The Law pertains to the wicked not to the Gospel.  
3 The ten commandments not to be taught in the Church because they that are Regenerate need not the Law; because they do that duty willingly, being led by the Spirit.  
4 That there is no need of the Law to any part of our conversion.  
5 It is sufficint for a wicked man to believe and not doubt of his Salvation.  
6 Faith and the Gospel unknown to Moses.  
7 That good works cannot avail for salvation, neievil works hinder.  
8 That a Christian man cannot be known by his works.  
9 That the Rule of the Law, is not a Rule of life.     

Antiscripturians of old mentioned by a judicious Divine.  
The Heretics that lived in former times raised up from the pit of hell by Satan himself to disturb and destroy the faith of many, 
Aug. Con. Faust. Lib. 33. cap. 3. Fren. lib. cap. 26. Epiph. Her. 32. Euseb. hist. lib. 4. cap. 29.  have called sundry of these books of holy Scripture into question, and rejected them altogether as Bastards, and Counterfeits.  


1 Faustus the Manichee as Saint Augustine witnesseth was not ashamed to open his blasphemous mouth and affirm that many things in them Testament were false.  
2 The Ebionites would receive only the Gospel according to Matthew, 
Hieron. Praefat. in tit. Tertul. Lib. 5. adversus Martion  the other three they despised and refused.  
3 The Marchionites another detestable and damned Sect, used only Luke's Gospel, and that also they miserably mangled, according to their own devilish fancy.  
4 The Tacians and other heretics called Severiani as Eusebius makes mention in his History set at naught the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul's Epistles.  
5 Martion and Basilides refused both the Epistles unto Timothy, that to Titus and the Hebrews; for whatsoever they saw to cross or contradict their Heresies, they razed out of the Canon, and would not receive it as Authentical; so that some have renounced the Epistle to the Hebrews, some the latter Epistle of Peter, some the Epistle of James, some the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, and other the two latter familiar Epistles of John as not agreeing with their heresies,    
Anti-Scriptarians of our times. 

1 That the Scriptures cannot be said to be the word of God, because there is no word but Christ, etc.  
2 That the Scriptures are unsufficient and uncertain, and they are not an infallible rule of faith, etc.  
3 That the pen men of Scripture every one writ as themselves conceived; they were the Actions of their own spirits which moved them to write and speak.  
4 That the Scriptures of the old Testament do not concern nor bind Christians under the new, etc.  
5 That right reason is the rule of faith and we are to believe all the Scriptures so far as they are agreeable to reason.     

Soul-sleepers.  


1 That the soul dieth with the body, and all things shall have an end but God only.  
2 That the soul dieth with the body, and was held in the time of Origen in Arabia, much extinguished by his dispute presently after the birth: this opinion is now raised again amongst us, and endeavoured to be maintained in a treatise lately published, entitled Man's mortality. One argument is out of Gen. 3.19. where it is said Adam shall return to dust again. I shall here end with particulars, because Historians mention few other; and descend to our times.     

Anabaptists.  
The chief author of the Errors held by these Anabaptists about the year 1524. was according to Melancthon one Nicholas Storke, after much pains of preaching by Doctor Luther in Saxony, and by a Scholar of Storks much dispersed, if by story be true; the practice of these opinions was attended by monstrous cruelty.  
The ancient Errors of these Anabaptists recorded by Bullinger and others in the Church, are these; 

1 That Christ did not assume his flesh and blood from the Virgin Mary.  
2 That Christ is not true God, but only endued with more gifts than other men.  
3 Our righteousness not to depend upon faith in Christ, but upon the works of Charity and Affliction.  
4 They deny the doctrine of Original sin, and those that depend upon the same.  
They deny Baptism to Infants, because they are not capable of faith and repentance.  
6 They rebaptised those that were baptised in their Infancy.  
7 They hold that before the day of Judgement the wicked should be destroyed, and the godly only should reign alone.  
8 They teach free will in spiritual things.  
9 They separate from all other men as impure.  
10 That Lay men may preach and administer Sacraments.    
Errors in the Common wealth. 

1 That it is unlawful for a Christian man to be a Magistrate.  
2 That it is unlawful to punish any offendor with death.  
3 That a Christian man cannot with a safe conscience take an oath.  
4 That it is unlawful to take up Arms for Laws and Civil Liberties.    
Errors in Families. 

1 That a Christian may not possess any thing proper to himself, but what he hath aught to be common.  
2 That a wife of a contrary religion may be put away.     

Familists.  
The author of which Sect is more lately described to appear since 1600, which was one David George of Delft, after him one Henry Nicholas born in Amsterdam.  


1 Concerning God that there is no other Deity belonging unto God, but that which men are partakers of in this life.  
2 Concerning Christ, 1 That Christ is not God. 2 That Christ is not one man, but an estate and condition in men.  
3 Of Adam, that Adam was all that God was, and God all that Adam was.  
4 Of Baptism, that none should be baptised until he was thirty years of age.  
5 Concerning the word, that there was never truth preached since the Apostles times before H.N.  
6 Concerning the Resurrection: 1 the Resurrection of the body is a rising from sin and wickedness. 2 That the dead shall rise and live in H.N. & in the illuminated elders everlastingly, & reign upon the earth  
7 Concerning the day of judgement, 1 That the day of judgement is in this life. 2 That the joys of heaven are upon the earth.  
8 Concerning marriage, that the marriage of such as are not enlightened with true faith is filthy & polluted  
9 Concerning H. N. 

1 That he is raised from the dead,  
2 He can no more err then Moses or Christ.  
3 He is the true prophet of God sent to blow the last trumpet of Doctrine which shall be published upon the earth.  
4 That he only knoweth the true sense of Scripture.  
5 that his books are of equal authority with Scripture,  
6 That the Scriptures are fulfilled in H.N. and his family.  
7 H.N. knows the secrets of our hearts.  
8 That all men must submit to him.    
10 Concerning the illuminated Elders and Family, 

all illuminated Elders are Godded with God, or Deified; & God in them hominified or become man,  
2 the disciples are Adam's, and the illuminated Elders Christ's,  
3 the eldest father of the family is Christ himself,  
4 That the estate of all such as are not of this Sect. is a false being, the Antichrist, the wicked spirit, the Kingdom of hell, and the Devil himself,  
5 the Family of Love is perfect in this life, and therefore ought not to pray for forgiveness of sin,  
6 that their illuminated Elders do not sin.  
7 that they may join with any congregation, and live in any state under any Magistrate in obedience though never so ungodly:  
8 whatsoever is taught by any other than their illuminated Elders; is false.    
11 Concerning their congregation, 

1 he that is one of them, is perfect as Christ,  
2 That it is lawful to do whatsoever the higher power commands,  
3 it is ridiculous to say God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy ghost, as that they so saying should  
affirm three Gods, 4 that every man must first be in an error, before he can come to the knowledge of the truth.  
5 That heaven and hell are present in this world, and that there is none other.  
6 That they are bound to give alms to none but of their Sect.  
7 That they ought not to bury their dead, because it is said let the dead bury their dead.  
8 That none ought to receive the Sacrament before he receives the whole ordinances, as 1 to be admitted with a kiss; then his feet must. etc.  
9 They ought not to say David's Psalms as prayers being without sin.  
10 That there ought to be no Sabbath day, but all days alike.  
11 That the Law of God is possible to be kept.  
12 That it is expedient to manifest their whole hearts with all their counsels, minds and will together, with their thoughts and do, and exercises, bare and naked, and not to cover or hid any thing before the children of Love. 

1 That there is but one spirit or life in all creatures both in heaven earth and hell, and that life which is one and the same in all creatures, is absolurely and essentially God.  
2 That all things whatsoever are the act of God; that all Creatures, Angels and men, are at all times, in all works acted and ruled by the Spirit of God.  
3 That nothing shall remain to eternity, but shall perish and come to nothing, but the Deity that is now the life of all creatures.  
4 That the Bible is a mere shadow, a false history, a confused, being Allegory, being of no more authority than any other book or the Apochryphas.  
5 They hold that all ordinances are but meat for babes, and that we should live above them, and without the use of them.  
6 That perfection in the highest degree both of grace and glory is to be enjoyed in this life.         

Expectants and Seekers.  


1 That there is no Church nor Ordinances, nor Ministry in the world.  
2 That it is the will of God, that miracles should attend the Ministry, as in the Primitive times.     

Divorcers.  

That will put away their wives for small offence not regarding the word of our Saviour Mat. 19.9. That whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for whoredom, committeth adultery, and whosoever marrieth her that is divorced committeth adultery.    

Pelagians.  
From Pelagius a Welsh man, in Welch his name was Morgan which signifies the Sea; he lived in the year 416. in the time of the Emperor Theodosius the younger; he was condemned in the Synod of Carthage Anno. 423. in which were assembled 217 Bishops, Saint Augustine was one amongst them. His errors are reported to be these.  

1 That Adam had died although he had not sinned by the law of natute, & so sin was not the cause of death.  
2 Adam's sin was only noxious to himself, and not to his posterity, that there was no original sin.  
3 Lust and Concupiscence were natural not evil but rather good, and that sin was not propagated by generation.  
4 Children have no original sin from their Parents.  
5 Children of the faithful, though not baptised, saved; and enjoy everlasting life, but not in heaven.  
6 Men to have free will, even after sin sufficiently to do well without God's grace.  
7 Grace to be obtained by the merit of our works.  
8 Grace in Scripture not meant of pardon of sin, and giving the Holy ghost, but the promulgation of Doctrine.  
9 Faith only the knowledge of the Law and history, not a special work for perseverance.  
10 The Law of God to be satisfied by eternal obedience, not impossible for a man to keep.    

Millenaries.  

1 That hold for Christ's personal reign.  
2 That Christ shall come personally from heaven and reign with his Saints upon earth a thousand years before the day of Judgement.    

Antitrinitarians.  

1 That in the Unity of the Godhead, there is not a Trinity of persons. etc.  
2 That there are not three distinct persons in the Divine Essence, but only three distinct offices, etc.  
3 That Christ's humane nature is defiled with original sin as well as ours, etc.    

Anti-Sabbatarians.  

That all days are alike to Christians under the now Testament, and they are bound no more to observe the first day of the week than any other.    

Sabbatarians.  

That the Jewish Sabbath is still to be kept by Christians.    

Separatists.  

1 That it is as necessary to be joined in Church fellowship as with Christ the head, and such a necessity as there is no expectation of Salvation without it.  
2 That the Church of England and the Ministry thereof is Antichristian and of the Devil, and that it is absolutely sinful, and unlawful to hear any of them.    

apostolics.  


1 That many Christians in these days have more knowledge than the Apostles, etc.  
2 That there is a salvation to be revealed unknown to the Apostles themselves.  
3 That in a small time God will raise up Apostles, men extraordinarily endued with visible infallible gifts to preach the Gospel, etc.  
4 That the gift of miracles is not ceased in these times.  
5 That miracles are essential to the administration holden forth in the commission of Baptism.    
Errors touching freewill. 

1 There is no free will in man either to good or evil, either in his natural or glorified estate.  
2 That there is a power in man to resist grace, and that the grace which would convert one man, would not convert another.  
3 That regenerate men who have true grace, may ufall totally and finally away.     

Errors touching free Grace held by Antinomians.  


1 That the moral Law is of no use to believers, etc.  
2 That the Doctrine of repentance is a Soul-destroying doctrine.  
3 That there ought to be no fasting days under the Gospel.  
4 That believers have nothing to do to take care or to look to themselves, to keep from sin, etc.  
5 That God loves his children as well sinning as praying.    
Errors touching the Resurrection. 

1 Infants rise not again, because they are not capable of knowing God, and therefore not of enjoying him.  
2 That there is no Resurrection at all of the bodies of men after this life, nor heaven, nor hell, nor Devils.    
Errors touching Christ's dying for all. 

1 That Christ died for all men, alike for the Reprobate as well as the elect, and that not only sufficiently, but effectually, etc.  
2 That Christ did only satisfy for the sins against the first covenant, not for the sins against the second, etc.  
3 Every man satisfies for himself for the sins against the second Covenant; namely unbelief, etc.  
4 That men may be saved without Christ, and the very heathens are saved if they serve God according to that knowledge God hath given them, though they never heard of Christ.  
5 That there is no Original sin in us; only Adam's first sin was Original.  
6 That the guilt of Adam's sin, is imputed to no man.     

New Errors tending to Libertinism.  


1 That God hath a hand in, and is the author of the sinfulness of his people.  
2 That it is the will and command of God, that since the coming of his son, a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish, Turkish or Antichristian consciences, and worship, be granted to all men in all nations and countries.  
3 That no man was cast into hell for any sin, but only God would have it so.  
4 That man had life before God breathed into him, and that which God breathed into him was part of the Divine Essence, and shall return unto God again.  
5 That the Prince of the Air that rules in the children of disobedience is God, and that there is no other Spirit but one, which Spirit is God.  
6 That God hath not decreed all the actions of men, because men doing what God decreed do not sin.  
7 That God was never displeased with men, for if he were and pleased again, there is a changeableness in God.  
8 That God loves not one man more than another before the world, neither is there any particular election, but only general and conditional, the Scriptures no where speaking of reprobates, or reprobation.    
There are many more recited by Master Edward's and Master Paget and others; but this is not the way to decrease Errors by a violent furious repetition of them. A discovery of fewer Errors solidly confuted, will, if done in the spirit of Love, prove a better employment, then to discover hundreds and spend nothing but wrath and fleshly carnal censures upon them; certainly it would be far more acceptable to God and Jesus Christ to turn▪ one that is going on in an Error, then to discover one hundred for him to fall into. It is a great sin in many to pry into God's secrets; and it is as great a sin also in many, to set too high a price upon Ignorance. I shall end with those Scripture admonitions desiring they may be more seriously thought on then yet they are by both parties.  
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts rejoice not &c. 
Amos 3. 14.   
This wisdom descendeth not from above, 
Amos 15.  but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.  
For where envying and strife is, 
Amos 16.  there is sedition, and all manner of evil works.  
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace, 
Amos 18.  of them that make peace.    

The heads of an Ordinance, presented to the Honourable House of Commons, by Mr. Bacon, a Lawyer in Suffolk, and Master Taet, both of them Members of the same House, and by their means was twice read, and referred to a Committee. For the preventing of the growing and spreading of Heresies.  
BE it ordained, that all such as shall from and after the date hereof, willingly preach, teach, print or write, publish and maintain any such opinion contrary to the Doctrines ensuing;  
Viz. That God is present in all places, That God is, or that he is One in three Persons, or doth know or foreknow all things; for that he is Almighty, or that he is perfectly Holy, Or that he is Eternal. Or that shall in like manner publish That Christ is not God coequal with the Father; Or shall deny the Manhood of Christ, Or that the Godhead and Manhood of Christ are several Natures, Or that the Manhood of Christ is pure, unspotted of sin; Or that shall publish, that Christ did not die, or risen from the dead nor is ascended into Heaven bodily, Or that his death is meritorious in behalf of Believers. Or that shall publish or maintain, as aforesaid, that Christ is not the Son of God, Or that the Holy Ghost is not God, Or that the Scriptures are not the Word of God, Or that the Bodies of Men shall not rise after they be dead, Or that there is no day of Judgement after death.  
Such publishing with obstinacy, shall be judged Felony, Such persons shall by two witnesses be bound over by two Justices unto the Gaol-delivery, and the Delinquent shall be indicted for Felony; and upon finding the same indictment, and that the party be found guilty, and shall not abjure his said error, he shall suffer the pains of death without benefit of Clergy: But upon abjuring of the said error, he shall upon two sufficient Sureties be bailed.  
And be it further ordained, that if after abjuring the said errors, he shall publish it again, he shall be indicted and put to death.  
And be it further ordered, that if any person; shall wittingly and presumptuosly, or contrary to admonition, blaspheme the name of God, or any of the Holy Trinity, or shall impugn the word of God, such offences shall be adjudged Felony, and the Offender committed without Bail or Mainprise; and the party being found guilty shall be branded in the left Cheek with the Letter B. and upon the like offence the second time shall suffer death.  
And be it further ordained, that all persons who shall publish any of the several errors hereafter ensuing, viz. That all men shall be saved; That a man by nature hath free will to turn to God; that God may be worshipped by Pictures or Images; or that the soul of any man after death goes neither to Heaven nor Hell, but to Purgatory; or that the soul of man dies or sleeps when the body is dead; or that the revelations or workings of the spirit are a rule for a Christians life, though divers from or contrary to to the written Word of God; or that a man is bound to believe no more then by his reason he can comprehend; or that the Moral Law contained in the Ten Commandments, is no rule of a Christians life; or that God sees no sin in the justified; or that a believer need not repent nor pray for the pardon of sin; or that the two Sacraments of Baptism; and the Lords Supper are not Ordinances commanded by the Word of God; or that the Baptising of Infants is unlawful; or that such Baptising is void, and of none effect; or that such persons are to be Baptised again: and in pursuance thereof, shall baptise any person formerly baptised: or that the observation of the Lords Day; as it is in joined by the Ordinances and laws of this Realm, is not according, or contrary to the Word of God, Or that it is not lawful to join in public, or Family Prayer, or to teach children to pray; Or that the Churches of England are not true Churches; Or that the Ministers or Ordinances are not true Ministers or Ordinances, Or that the Church government by Presbytery, is Antichristian or unlawful; Or that the Magistracy or power of the Civil Magistrate by Law established in England, is unlawful; Or that all the use of arms for public defence, (be the cause never so just) is unlawful.  
And in case the party so accused for any of the said errors be committed before two Justices, the party so committed shall be ordered to renounce his said error in the public Congregation of the Parish Church whence the complaint comes; and in case he refuses or neglects the same at or upon the day, time, and place appointed by the said Justices, that he shall be committed to prison by the said Justices, until he shall find two Sureties, of subsidy men that he shall not publish or maintain the said error or errors any more.  
FINIS.