PREFACE.

Ornamental woodcut initial C featuring a central rose-like floral motif surrounded by foliage.

Since our age has turned its diligence and industry toward illustrating Church History original: "Historiam Ecclesiasticam", that specific part of it which explains the origin, growth, fate, and destruction of Heretics original: "Haeretici"; referring here to those whose teachings were officially condemned by the early church, as well as their doctrines and "evil arts" original: "malas artes"; often referring to deceptive methods or sophistry used in arguments, has seemed especially worthy of being brought under consideration and examination.

As a result, some scholars have indeed consulted all the records of Church antiquity and, with careful effort and a regard for chronology, have pursued a narrative of all heresies. Others, however, have selected one or two from the whole body to explain with more detailed commentary. Indeed, the plan of those authors has been so free from any blame—provided they did not indulge too much in emotions, prejudiced opinions, or overly free conjectures (against which some have occasionally failed to guard themselves carefully)—that they have instead received well-deserved praise and found their industry for pressing on with the project kindled and more and more excited.

For there have been very few, and those prematurely fearful, who thought that the mind should be called away from such a plan and work. These few argued that the memory of both the history and doctrines pertaining to heretics should rather be abolished and completely extinguished, following the example of the ancient Church, which deliberately decided that the writings and remains of men turned away from the truth should be removed by flames and fire and withdrawn from the hands of readers.

Very few, I say, were those who felt this way, and they found even fewer supporters of their opinion—and not without reason. For to say nothing of the fact that, in such great light of saving doctrine, there is little to fear that the fixed opinions of Heretics should prove themselves to anyone (being for the most part as much opposed to the prescription of Scripture as they are to the judgment of a sound mind, if they are reviewed honestly and without seeking excuses), it is certainly of great interest for better managing the cause of truth to have a clear understanding of the decrees original: "placita"; formal opinions or doctrines of these men who once disturbed the Church. This is done both so that it may be understood what "standard-bearers" original: "antesignanos"; the primary leaders or originators of a movement those people followed who are today reviving things long ago outdated, as well as...