16. This evil, most faithful brethren, had long ago begun, but now the mischievous destruction of the same evil has increased, and the envenomed plague of heretical perversity and schisms has begun to spring forth and shoot anew; because even thus it must be in the decline of the world, since the Holy Spirit foretells and forewarns us by the apostle, saying, “In the last days,” says he, “perilous times shall come, and men shall be lovers of their own selves, proud, boasters, covetous, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, hating the good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a sort of form47    Deformationem religionis. of religion, but denying the power thereof. Of this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, which are led away with divers lusts; ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth;48    Some introduce, “men corrupted in feeling, reprobate concerning the faith.” but they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, even as theirs also was.”49    2 Tim. iii. 1–9. [Vol. iv. p. 521, this series.] Whatever things were predicted are fulfilled; and as the end of the world is approaching, they have come for the probation as well of the men as of the times. Error deceives as the adversary rages more and more; senselessness lifts up, envy inflames, covetousness makes blind, impiety depraves, pride puffs up, discord exasperates, anger hurries headlong.

XVI. Malum hoc, fidelissimi fratres, jam pridem coeperat; sed nunc crevit ejusdem mali infesta clades, et exsurgere ac pullulare plus coepit haereticae perversitatis et schismatum venenata pernicies, quia et sic in occasu mundi fieri oportebat, praenuntiante per Apostolum nobis et praemonente Spiritu sancto: In novissimis, inquit, diebus aderunt tempora molesta, et erunt homines sibi placentes, superbi, tumidi, cupidi, blasphemi, parentibus inobedientes, ingrati, impii, sine 0512B affectu, sine foedere , delatores, incontinentes, immites, bonum non amantes, proditores, procaces, stupore inflati , voluptates magis quam Deum diligentes, habentes deformationem religionis, virtutem autem ejus abnegantes. Ex iis sunt qui repunt in domos, et praedantur mulierculas oneratas peccatis, quae ducuntur variis desideriis, semper discentes et numquam ad scientiam veritatis pervenientes. Et quomodo Jamnes et Mambres restiterunt Moysi, sic et hi resistunt Veritati, sed non proficient plurimum. Imperitia enim eorum manifesta erit omnibus, sicut et illorum fuit (II Tim. III, 1-9). Adimplentur quaecumque praedicta sunt, et appropinquante jam saeculi fine, hominum pariter ac temporum probatione venerunt. Magis ac magis adversario saeviente error fallit, extollit stupor, livor incendit, 0512C cupiditas excaecat, depravat impietas, superbia inflat, discordia exasperat, ira praecipitat.