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The Prescription Against Heretics

Chapter XVII.--Heretics, in Fact, Do Not Use, But Only Abuse, Scripture. No Common Ground Between Them and You.

Now this heresy of yours ¹ does not receive certain Scriptures; and whichever of them it does receive, it perverts by means of additions and diminutions, for the accomplishment of it own purpose; and such as it does receive, it receives not in their entirety; but even when it does receive any up to a certain point ² as entire, it nevertheless perverts even these by the contrivance of diverse interpretations. Truth is just as much opposed by an adulteration of its meaning as it is by a corruption of its text. ³ Their vain presumptions must needs refuse to acknowledge the (writings) whereby they are refuted. They rely on those which they have falsely put together, and which they have selected, because of ⁴ their ambiguity. Though most skilled ⁵ in the Scriptures, you will make no progress, ⁶ when everything which you maintain is denied on the other side, and whatever you deny is (by them) maintained. As for yourself, indeed, you will lose nothing but your breath, and gain nothing but vexation from their blasphemy.

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Les prescriptions contre les Hérétiques

XVII.

L'hérésie rejette certains livres des Ecritures, et ceux qu'elle reçoit comme canoniques, elle ne les reçoit pas entiers; elle les altère, et par ce qu'elle en retranche, et par ce qu'elle y ajoute, pour les plier à son système. Ceux qu'elle reçoit entiers, elle les pervertit encore par les interprétations qu'elle imagine: car il est également contraire à la vérité d'altérer le sens ou le texte. L'audacieux novateur n'a garde de reconnaître ce qui le confond; mais il cite avec affectation tout ce qu'il a falsifié, et les passages obscurs dont il abuse. Si versé que vous soyez dans la science de l'Ecriture, qu'espérez-vous gagner par la dispute? Tout ce que vous avancerez, il le niera opiniâtrement, tandis qu'il soutiendra tout ce que vous nierez: d'une pareille conférence, vous ne remporterez que beaucoup de fatigue et d'indignation.