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The Prescription Against Heretics

Chapter I.--Introductory. Heresies Must Exist, and Even Abound; They are a Probation to Faith.

The character of the times in which we live is such as to call forth from us even this admonition, that we ought not to be astonished at the heresies (which abound) ¹ neither ought their existence to surprise us, for it was foretold that they should come to pass; ² nor the fact that they subvert the faith of some, for their final cause is, by affording a trial to faith, to give it also the opportunity of being "approved." ³ Groundless, therefore, and inconsiderate is the offence of the many ⁴ who are scandalized by the very fact that heresies prevail to such a degree. How great (might their offence have been) if they had not existed. ⁵ When it has been determined that a thing must by all means be, it receives the (final) cause for which it has its being. This secures the power through which it exists, in such a way that it is impossible for it not to have existence.

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Les prescriptions contre les Hérétiques

I.

Les circonstances présentes m'obligent d'avertir qu'il ne faut s'étonner, ni qu'il y ait des hérésies, elles ont été prédites; ni qu'elles détruisent la foi de quelques-uns, car elles existent pour que notre foi, passant par la tentation, ait le mérite de l'épreuve. C'est donc sans fondement que le grand nombre se scandalise de ce que les hérésies font tant de progrès. Eh! que serait-ce s'il n'y en avait point? Lorsqu'une chose est, elle a nécessairement et sa cause finale pour laquelle elle est, et son énergie propre qui en fait l'essence, et sans quoi elle ne peut être.