HERESY

A word signifying the taking up of certain opinions in theological matters: from the Greek ki^io-t?, choice, which cla ical writers apply to the sects of philosophers. It is now confined to a theological sense, and is defined by Roman Catholic authorities to be the voluntary a umption and obstinate maintaining of error in matters of faith. They hold all error to be voluntary where the party knowingly deviates from the judgment of the church. The Protestants do not for the most part profe to have any certain standard by which men may judge whether their fellow men be heretical. We maj' infer from the directions of St. Paul to Titus that the nature of heresy was understood by the first preachers of Christianity; but it does not nece arily follow that any infallible tests should exist at the present day. It seems most consonant to a sense of human infirmity, and is the judgment of most divines of the Reformed persuasion, that those only should be considered as heretics by any community who maintain what are accounted by it erroneous opinions, either against their real convictions, or without condescending to listen to fair and reasonable argument, and in defiance of persons whose station, learning, and piety should entitle them at all events to attention. [s. 565]