Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/409

heresy^[1];" that in Hooker's words^[2], "the blasphemies of Arians, Samosatenians, Tritheites, Eutychians, and Macedonians, were renewed by them, who, to hatch their heresy, have chosen those churches as fittest nests, where Athanasius' Creed is not heard: by them, I say, renewed, who, following the course of extreme reformation, were wont, in the pride of their own proceedings, to glory, that, whereas Luther did but blow away the roof, and Zuinglius^[3] batter but the walls of popish superstition, the last and hardest work of all, remained; which was, to raze up the very ground and foundation of popery, that doctrine concerning the deity of Christ, which Satanasius (for so it pleased those impious forsaken miscreants to speak) hath in this memorable creed explained." This is an awful warning: and any, who has been condemned to examine the original Socinian writers, (the Polish brethren) cannot fail of being struck with the use which they have made of, and the similarity of their language to, the Expositions of the "Reformed" Church. This, at least, struck me very forcibly, before I was made aware of the historical connection of the two schools. It is a warning also, which these times much need; and therefore, and to show the danger of such systems of interpretation, I have instituted a parallel between them^[4]; not as if there could be entire agreement in doctrine, between those, who trusted

1. Keble, note on Hooker, B. 5. §. 42. §. 13. pp. 239–41. It was upon my mentioning the remarkable coincidence of exposition between the "Reformed" and the Socinians, with regard to Baptism, that he kindly pointed out to me the historical connection which he had traced, and which Hooker hints at.
2. L.c.
3. In the epitaph of Socinus, (quoted ibid.,) the name of Calvin stands for that of Zuingli, so entirely were they identified:

   "Tota jacet Babylon: destruxit tecta Lutherus,
   Calvinus muros, sed fundamenta Socinus."

   The boast was a very favourite one, and repeated in different forms; but the place which Calvin or Zuingli occupy in relation to Luther, is very remarkable; corresponding indeed to the accusation of Luther by the "Reformed" that he was "bringing back Anti-Christ."
4. See Note P, at the end.