for peace and charity admit of damnation it selfe. For heresies have damnation joyned with it.
2. To admonish us, 1. to take diligent heed that we do not by any means further such heresies. 2. Not rashly or for a light cause to pronounce any man an heretick. 3. As carefully to beware of heresies, as we should of damnation.
Quest. In the reason which is here given of this property of heresies, that they are damnable, a question is moved, What is meant by denying the Lord? denying the Lord that bought them. For many gather from this place, that all and every particular man were redeemed by Christ, because it is here said that he bought even those wicked hereticks: but it may be answered divers wayes.
Answ. 1. That these false teachers were members of the visible Church, and therefore, 1. they accounted themselves such as were redeemed by Christ, and made shew of that profession. 2. Men were to account them such, as long as they continued in the Church; and in this respect they may be said to be such as were redeemed by Christ; like as the Apostles are wont to call whole Churches justified, sanctified, and elect. There is not the same reason therefore of all and every particular man, as there was of these.
Ans. 2. He doth not here speak of Christ properly, as he is Redeemer, nor of the redemption of his blood, but of that right, whereby masters chalenge their servants, as having bought them; which may be thus shewed: 1. Here is no mention of Christ as being Lord properly, but Master. For in the Greek it is [Greek: despotês], which is properly, a Master in respect of a servant, not [Greek: kyrios], Lord. And these two names are clearly distinguished, Iude v.4. where the same thing is spoken of the same false teachers: there they are said to deny their Dominum & herum, Lord and master; although he may be called their Herus, Master, he is not properly called their Dominus, Lord. Then againe, the Lord is not said to have redeemed all men, but only to have bought them: now although the word [Greek: agorazein], to buy, be sometimes used in the same sense that the other is, yet it is not alwayes so.
Ans. 3. The comparison here is plainly made betwixt the false teachers and the false Prophets, bewixt the visible
