THE CHAPTERS OF THE FIRST BOOK OF SAINT IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS, AGAINST HERESIES.

You urge me with your pen, Teacher, to celebrate the name of Lorraine, and to reveal the deeds of the great Prince. These duties are beyond my weak strength; they would be suited for the learned Maeonidae Homer, or another like Virgil to celebrate. Such is the man's virtue, and his glory famous for his deeds. What could I do? Since it is right to carry out your commands, I shall begin. You Muses original: "Sorores," the Sisters of the spring, grant your spirit in your usual way.
This Charles is of the high blood of great Charles referring to Charlemagne, powerful in nobility. In what way does he not excel in piety and in arms? What ancient praise do you not see in him, to whom antiquity, though surpassed, yields from afar? In him are wonders granted to none of his predecessors. Whether you look at the most dear gifts of the Graces, or whatever the troop of Apollo original: "Phebeas cohors," referring to the arts and intellect possesses, or what the martial crowd can do in war, he can achieve through reason. O, wonderful power of counsel! For I am not silent about how he benefited the armed men when war was raging. Just as the famous camps of his Father, and the generations of his Brothers in the brave cohort, and the virtue of the House of Guise gave many thousands to death, while the German battle-line, built up over many years with dire soldiery, filled the wide places. He was strenuous in observing all the tricks of the men. Weighing in his swift mind what might be done to overcome the enemy quickly, and how, if God willed it, they might avoid the dire yoke of Charon the ferryman of the underworld and lay down their pride in the Stygian waves.
First, he adores the divinity before the altars with humble prayer. He is occupied in sacred rites and vows to be performed for God. Being more devoted himself, he moves the devoted people, well-remembering divine help. Afterward, he adds strength to the camp by his counsel. Then, having become more bold, the soldier approaches the camps of evil men, hated by the gods above. He conquers, breaks, and puts to flight those who flee. He pursues them. The immense, proud crowd of that nation perishes, and his fame runs quickly through the vast world.
Thus your Hero, O Teacher, more cautious in eluding poorly-guarded arts with better arts, snatched all strength from the enemies and blessed us with peace. But with what auspices does he, marked with such great honor, proceed before a people who greatly admire him? And from where or why shall I say so many duties were entrusted to him? The supreme Prelate the Pope will hear the illustrious deeds of the great Prelate, and how much beauty of form is fitting in him, and how great is the strength of his soul. He had praised him. Behold, moved by the divine power from above, he says: "Why do the deeds of the Prince of Lorraine, so clear until now, remain deprived of their deserved trophies? He is worthy of much better things. Therefore, let him come here, for he shall not depart without his wish being granted."
He obeyed the summons and came through the ample halls of his sister referring to Christine of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, whom Florence has as its leader, to Rome. Here he first devoutly visits the holy places. He acknowledges the gods of the temples as grateful, so that they may return thanks for things that were always in difficulty. From here he turns to the supreme Pontiff. But when the Pontiff saw his famous face, he said: "Be present with us, peace to you, and peace to yours, O thrice-dear one, you are here as we desired." Observe the reasons: although the power of the heavenly ones is great, and God, who reigns in heaven through perpetual years, though He alone established all things, that good God wished to use human ministers. Let us strive, we whose province is the care of firm protections, to promptly help our age. Here there is need of strength, spirits, and heart. I see, alas, I see many cities with their laws broken among themselves, and peoples moved to great battles. The Hydra original: "Lerna," the swamp where the Hydra lived brings forth its offspring. Run through the labor begun, and let the viper perish by your weapons. You will be pleasing to the gods. Certain rewards will await you in heaven. We shall place the deserved crown upon your graceful head, and it will give you worthy honor. Yet this will be a task of no small duty: that you should serve our interests with an even mind in the lands of Lorraine, and compel rebellious peoples to the laws. And those in whom devotion toward the gods grows, you should confirm them and teach them to remain in religion. You should come to the aid of the ship which now yields to the overwhelming waves, conquered by the new storms which you see are present.
He had spoken. With an attentive mouth, the Hero begins: "Our strength would fail us, holy Father, the task holds many labors. But indeed, it will be permitted to hope. The Almighty is not unable. We shall ask for help from the bottom of our heart. We shall pay our debts at His altars. He will look upon us with wonder and will break the snare by which the race of heretics, the enemy of good, strives. My opinion shall not fail me."
O prophet! O hope of good works, lightning-bolts of power and certain faith! This great outcome teaches that God provides many things to His true faithful. Lorraine alone knows this, being free from the lethal poison of serpents and vacant of the creeping pestilence. The Church of Metz knows it, standing firm with its captures. Strasbourg original: "Argentina" also knows it, driven by various errors and long seduced by the false dogma of predecessors, whom such lightning-bolts correct, showing how much insane lust involves itself in dangers.
For the people were divided: one part had chosen a great Hero, the other part began to renew various tumults by the unspeakable fraud of the heretic. The fierce Swiss were trying horrid wars without caution. The German youth were marching through the fields with proud trappings, hostile to the people. And France was sending her friendly dregs to the Bald One a reference to a contemporary political or religious figure. But the Prince, using much better arms, rendered them harmless and compelled the headstrong to equal treaties of peace by the virtue of the high Thunderer God.
Nor is it a wonder, since he is more beautiful with a graceful face and a mind preserving a chaste body in chaste modesty, which is rare for the powerful. From there comes that spirit for God by which he is led. From there comes the care for his men, piety, and gentleness, which with a benign mind and sincerity accommodates easy ears to all. From here comes peace and safety. This man will be a second Irenaeus to us, whose sacred writings of a holy man you have just learned. He who once stood as a hard hammer of heresies, whom you, Reverend Teacher, make to speak Greek to the Greeks and likewise Latin to the Latins. These things, therefore—for I do not believe but that you have uncovered such monuments from the gods under some protector—you hand down, so that the people may be moved by so great a Prince, walk in the certain path of sincere faith, and, being happy, may be able to live eternally in the high heaven.

CLAUDE CHEVALIER DE STAINVILLE.

you preach

if

if

by knowledge

which

made

1 The narration of every argument of the disciples of Valentinus.
2 An exposition of the preaching of the truth, which the Church, receiving it from the Apostles, guards.
3 A demonstration that some cannot say more or less regarding that which belongs to the faith.
4 According to what it happens that some think they have more knowledge, while others have less.
5 What the opinion of Valentinus is, in which his disciples disagree against him.
6 The things in which all those who are from Valentinus do not agree among themselves.
7 What their conversation is, and what the configuration of their life is.
8 What the doctrine of the Colorbasians and of Marcus is.
9 What the industry of Marcus is, and what the things are which are done by him.
10 How some of them attempt to establish their argumentation through numbers, syllables, and letters.
11 How they explain the parables.
12 How they explain the creation by their way of life, according to the figure of that which is the Pleroma the fullness of the divine world among them.
13 How they transfer the things that are in the law into their own fiction.
14 How they attempt to introduce a Father unknown to men.
15 Which testimonies from the scriptures they use.
16 How many things they say and do concerning their own redemption.
17 They distorted both canonical and apocryphal scriptures to the assertion of their fictions.
18 How many modes of regeneration there are among them, and how they imbue those who believe them, and what words they use.
19 What the purpose of all heretics is, and where they tend.
20 What the doctrine of Simon Magus the Samaritan is.
21 What the opinion of Menander is, and what their operations are.
22 A report of the doctrine which is according to Saturninus.
23 What the argumentation of Basilides is.
24 What the doctrine of Carpocrates is, and what the operations of all those who are from him are.
25 What the doctrine of Cerinthus is.
26 What the doctrine of the Ebionites is.
27 What the works of the Nicolaitans are.
28 What the opinion of Cerdo is.
29 What the things are which Marcion taught.
30 What the aversion of the Continent Enkratites is.
31 What the doctrine of Tatian is.
32 From where those who introduced these differences took their opportunity.
33 In what times all those who were mentioned before lived, and from whom they received their beginnings and doctrines.
34 What the kinds of Gnostics are, and what the opinion is according to them.
35 What the irreligiosity and impudence of the Ophites and Cainites original: "Caianorum" is, and from where their writings come.