The Papists and Lutherans,though both of them profess faith in Christ and are therefore called Christians,yet are not both of the same religion,because these acknowledge nothing but the Holy Scriptures to be the rule and foundation of their religion,those take in also traditions and the decrees of Popes and of these together make the rule of their religion;and thus the Christians of St.John (as they are called)and the Christians of Geneva are of different religions,because these also take only the Scriptures,and those I know not what traditions,for the rule of their religion.This being settled,it follows,first,that heresy is a separation made in ecclesiastical communion between men of the same religion for some opinions no way contained in the rule itself;and,secondly,that amongst those who acknowledge nothing but the Holy Scriptures to be their rule of faith,heresy is a separation made in their Christian communion for opinions not contained in the express words of Scripture.Now this separation may be made in a twofold manner:1.When the greater part,or by the magistrate's patronage the stronger part,of the Church separates itself from others by excluding them out of her communion because they will not profess their belief of certain opinions which are not the express words of the Scripture.
For it is not the paucity of those that are separated,nor the authority of the magistrate,that can make any man guilty of heresy,but he only is a heretic who divides the Church into parts,introduces names and marks of distinction,and voluntarily makes a separation because of such opinions.2.When any one separates himself from the communion of a Church because that Church does not publicly profess some certain opinions which the Holy Scriptures do not expressly teach.Both these are heretics because they err in fundamentals,and they err obstinately against knowledge;for when they have determined the Holy Scriptures to be the only foundation of faith,they nevertheless lay down certain propositions as fundamental which are not in the Scripture,and because others will not acknowledge these additional opinions of theirs,nor build upon them as if they were necessary and fundamental,they therefore make a separation in the Church,either by withdrawing themselves from others,or expelling the others from them.