§ 1.
For all these are far later than the Bishops to whom the Apostles delivered the churches; and this in the Third Book we manifested with all diligence. Therefore the aforesaid Heretics, being blind to the truth, must needs walk this way and that, out of the right track; and so the traces of their doctrine are scattered here and there in a discordant and illogical way. But those who are of the Church have a regular path, encircling the whole world, the tradition thereof from the Apostles being secure: which path grants us to behold that all have one and the same faith, since all teach one and the same God and Father, believe the same Economy of the Son of God’s Incarnation,1 and know the same gift of the Spirit, and meditate on the same precepts, and maintain the same form of government over the Church, and wait for the same coming of the Lord, and maintain the same salvation of the whole man,2 i.e., of the soul and body. And as for the Church, her preaching is true and stable, and in her through the whole world one and the same way of salvation is declared. For to her is entrusted the Light of God;3 and therefore the Wisdom of God, whereby He saveth all men, is sung in the place of going forth, and in the streets dealeth fearlessly, is preached on the top of the walls, and speaketh boldly in the gates of the city.4 For the Church everywhere preaches The Truth:5 and this is the candlestick with seven wicks bearing the light of Christ.
§ 2.
Those then who forsake the preaching of the Church, impute unskilfulness to the holy Elders, not considering how much worthier is a devout but untaught person than a blaspheming and shameless Sophist.6 But such are all Heretics, and they who imagine themselves to be discoverers of something more besides the Truth; following what has been foretold, performing their journey in many ways and in many forms, and in much weakness, not having always the same opinions on the same subjects, they are led about as blind men by the blind: justly they will fall into the hidden pit of ignorance,7 always seeking, and never finding the Truth. We must therefore fly from their views, and watch very carefully lest at any time we be disturbed by them. And we must fly for refuge to the Church, and be trained in her bosom, and be nourished up in the Scriptures of the Lord.8 For the Church is planted, a Paradise in this world. Of every tree then of Paradise ye shall eat morsels,9 saith the Spirit of God: i.e., feed ye on all the Lord’s Scripture: but ye shall not eat of a mind that is lifted up, neither touch any where the contentiousness of Heretics. For they profess themselves to have the knowledge of good and evil, and upon the God Who made them they hurl their own impious thoughts. And so they carry their thoughts on high, beyond the just measure of thinking. For which cause the Apostle also saith,10 Not to be wise more than one ought to be wise, but to be wise unto soberness; lest feeding upon their knowledge,11 that which is wise more than it ought to be, we be cast out of the Paradise of life: into which the Lord bringeth those who obey His instruction,12 gathering up into Himself all things which are in Heaven and which are in earth. Now the things in Heaven are spiritual things, but the things in earth, is the dispensation relating to man. These accordingly He hath gathered up into Himself; uniting man to spirit and placing spirit in man, He became Himself the Head of the spirit, giving at the same time the spirit to be the Head of man: for through him we have seen, and heard, and speak.