17. Yet let not the excessive and headlong faithlessness of many move or disturb us, but rather strengthen our faith in the truthfulness which has foretold the matter. As some have become such, because these things were predicted beforehand, so let other brethren beware of matters of a like kind, because these also were predicted beforehand, even as the Lord instructs us, and says, “But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things.”50    Mark xiii. 23. Avoid, I beseech you, brethren, men of this kind, and drive away from your side and from your ears, as if it were the contagion of death, their mischievous conversation; as it is written, “Hedge thine ears about with thorns, and refuse to hear a wicked tongue.”51    Ecclus. xxviii. 24, Vulg. And again, “Evil communications corrupt good manners.”52    1 Cor. xv. 33. The Lord teaches and warns us to depart from such. He saith, “They are blind leaders of the blind; and if the blind lead the blind, they shall both fall into the ditch.”53    Matt. xv. 14. Such a one is to be turned away from and avoided, whosoever he may be, that is separated from the Church. Such a one is perverted and sins, and is condemned of his own self. Does he think that he has Christ, who acts in opposition to Christ’s priests, who separates himself from the company of His clergy and people? He bears arms against the Church, he contends against God’s appointment. An enemy of the altar, a rebel against Christ’s sacrifice, for the faith faithless, for religion profane, a disobedient servant, an impious son, a hostile brother, despising the bishops, and forsaking God’s priests, he dares to set up another altar, to make another prayer with unauthorized words, to profane the truth of the Lord’s offering by false sacrifices, and not54    According to some, “does not deign,” or “disdains to know.” to know that he who strives against the appointment of God, is punished on account of the daring of his temerity by divine visitation.

XVII. Non tamen nos moveat aut turbet multorum nimia et abrupta perfidia, sed potius fidem nostram, praenuntiante rei veritate, corroboret . Ut quidam tales esse coeperunt, quia haec ante praedicta sunt, ita caeteri fratres ab ejusmodi caveant, quia et haec ante praedicta sunt, instruente Domino et dicente: Vos 0513A autem cavete, ecce praedixi vobis omnia (Marc. XII, 23). Vitate, quaeso vos, fratres, ejusmodi homines, et a latere atque auribus vestris perniciosa colloquia velut contagium mortis arcete, sicut scriptum est: Sepi aures tuas spinis, et noli audire linguam nequam (Eccli. XXVIII, 28). Et iterum: Corrumpunt ingenia bona confabulationes pessimae (I Cor. XV, 33): Docet Dominus et admonet a talibus recedendum. Caeci sunt, inquit, duces caecorum. Caecus autem caecum ducens, simul in foveam cadunt (Matth. XV, 14). Aversandus est talis atque fugiendus quisquis fuerit ab Ecclesia separatus. Perversus est hujusmodi et peccat, et est a semetipso damnatus (Tit. III, 11). An esse sibi cum Christo videtur qui adversus sacerdotes Christi facit, qui se a cleri ejus et plebis societate 0513B secernit? Arma ille contra Ecclesiam portat, contra Dei dispositionem repugnat. Hostis altaris, adversus sacrificium Christi rebellis, pro fide perfidus, pro religione sacrilegus, inobsequens servus, filius impius, frater inimicus, contemptis episcopis et Dei sacerdotibus derelictis, constituere audet aliud altare, precem alteram illicitis vocibus facere, Dominicae hostiae veritatem per falsa sacrificia profanare, nec scire quoniam qui contra ordinationem Dei nititur, ob temeritatis audaciam, divina animadversione punitur.