Sermons on the Song of Songs

Have we been wasting our time in this discussion, my brethren? I do not believe so. For we have caught the fox by discovering his tricks. We have unmasked those false Catholics who lay concealed in the Church and were the real devastators of the vineyard. For whilst thou, the secret heretic, “didst take sweet meats together with me”—I mean the Body and the Blood of Christ—whilst “in the house of God we walked with consent,” thou hadst an opportunity for persuading, yea, an opportunity for seducing me, according, to the words of Wisdom, “The dissembler with his mouth deceiveth his friend.” But now, obeying the wise injunction of St. Paul, I can easily “avoid a man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, knowing that he that is such a one is subverted”; and therefore I shall be on my guard lest he should become for me a subverter also. Hence it is no small advantage for the just that “the wicked are caught in their own snares,” according to the Wise Man’s expression; particularly when this happens to such wicked ones as rely more on their skill in setting snares than on open violence. For when the snare happens to fail them they are left resourceless, without the means either of attack or of defence. So it is with the heretics I am speaking of. They are a most contemptible class, without polish or education or the least degree of manly courage. For they are only foxes, and little ones at that. Even the false doctrines which they are accused of holding have nothing defensible about them. They are plausible rather than subtle; and even plausible to none but poor ignorant women and rustics, such as are all the members of this sect, so far as I have been able to ascertain. Nor amongst all their heretical tenets, and they are many, do I remember to have found anything unfamiliar, new, or original, anything which was not preached long ago by the ancient heretics, and opposed and thoroughly refuted by the Catholic doctors. However, it is necessary for you to know exactly what these nonsensical errors are, so I intend to recite them. Some they have themselves unguardedly revealed in replying to questions put by Catholics. Others have been published in the accusations and recriminations which have attended their domestic dissensions. Others again have been made known by former members of the sect on their return to the Church. I do not undertake to disprove them all, for that is not necessary, but simply to explain what they are. And this shall occupy me in my next discourse unto the praise and glory of the name of the Bridegroom of the Church, Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.