Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsProverbs 2

Who leave the right way.

Generally this description of wicked men, agreeth to all that commit and persist in mortal sin, whether they walked right at any time before or no; but most especially sheweth the properties of heretics: ^[1] who forsake and leave the direct, ancient, beaten, known way of the Catholic Church, ^[2] and teach new obscure doctrines, not heard of, or not approved in our forefathers' time. ^[3] Secondly (v. 14.) they glory in their own devices, and rejoice in most wicked things, as in seducing multitude of peoples to rebel against their Catholic Princes, and other Superiors spiritual and temporal, in breaking vows; in despising good works; trusting to only faith, and that not the Catholic faith of all true Christians, but every one his particular persuasion, that himself is just, & shall be saved, which by their own doctrine, none is bound to believe of another's state, but of his own only. In so much that the chiefest point of a Protestant's imagined faith, is not a general Article, which all do or should believe, but a most particular and singular phantasy, which each one must conceive of himself, or herself. ^[4] Thirdly (v. 16.) Heresy, called here the strange and foreign woman, tempereth her words, to please the itching ears of her auditory, framing her doctrine to the humour of those, whom she seeketh to pervert. The same which the Apostle saith in other words, by sweet speeches and benedictions they seduce the hearts of innocents. ^[5] Fourthly (v. 19.) Those that do enter into error of heresy, shall not return, that is, very hardly and rarely return into the right way of life; ^[6] the reason whereof the same Apostle yieldeth, because an heretic is condemned by his own judgment. ^[7] For being in error, and admitting no judge but himself, he parteth from the Church, excludeth the means of better instruction, & through his erroneous judgement, remaineth in damnable opinion, and so in the state of damnation.

• 1 Four marks of an heretic. 1. He forsaketh the known faith.
• 2 Isaie. 35. v. 8.
• 3 2. He glorieth in his own invention.
• 4 3. Teacheth pleasing things.
• 5 4. Admitteth no judge but himself.
• 6 Rom. 16. v. 18.
• 7 Tit. 3. v. 11.