Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, and the Letter to a Friend — John Shaqi
Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, and the Letter to a FriendBrowne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
Religio Medici, Hydriotaphia, and the Letter to a Friend
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christian ethics; Christian life; Essays; Funeral rites and ceremonies; Medical ethics; Medicine -- History; Religion and medicine
of my understanding, without a joint depravity of my will. Those have
not only depraved understandings, but diseased affections, which cannot
enjoy a singularity without a heresy, or be the author of an opinion
without they be of a sect also. This was the villany of the first
schism of Lucifer; who was not content to err alone, but drew into his
faction many legions; and upon this experience he tempted only Eve,
well understanding the communicable nature of sin, and that to deceive
but one was tacitly and upon consequence to delude them both.
_Sect._ 8.--That heresies should arise, we have the prophecy of Christ;
but, that old ones should be abolished, we hold no prediction. That
there must be heresies, is true, not only in our church, but also in
any other: even in the doctrines heretical there will be superheresies;
and Arians, not only divided from the church, but also among
themselves: for heads that are disposed unto schism, and complexionally
propense to innovation, are naturally indisposed for a community;
nor will be ever confined unto the order or economy of one body; and
therefore, when they separate from others, they knit but loosely among
themselves; nor contented with a general breach or dichotomy[10] with
their church, do subdivide and mince themselves almost into atoms.
’Tis true, that men of singular parts and humours have not been free
from singular opinions and conceits in all ages; retaining something,
not only beside the opinion of his own church, or any other, but also
any particular author; which, notwithstanding, a sober judgment may
do without offence or heresy; for there is yet, after all the decrees
of councils, and the niceties of the schools, many things, untouched,
unimagined, wherein the liberty of an honest reason may play and
expatiate with security, and far without the circle of a heresy.
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