Preface.
Thou hast
indeed enjoined upon me, my very dear friend, that I should bring to
light the Valentinian doctrines, concealed, as their votaries imagine;
that I should exhibit their diversity, and compose a treatise in
refutation of them. I therefore have undertaken—showing that they
spring from Simon, the father of all heretics—to exhibit both
their doctrines and successions, and to set forth arguments against them
all. Wherefore, since the conviction of these men and their exposure is
in many points but one work, I have sent unto thee [certain] books, of
which the first comprises the opinions of all these men, and exhibits
their customs, and the character of their behaviour. In the second,
again, their perverse teachings are cast down and overthrown, and, such
as they really are, laid bare and open to view. But in this, the third
book I shall adduce proofs from the Scriptures, so that I may come behind
in nothing of what thou hast enjoined; yea, that over and above what thou
didst reckon upon, thou mayest receive from me the means of combating and
vanquishing those who, in whatever manner, are propagating falsehood. For
the love of God, being rich and ungrudging, confers upon the suppliant
more than he can ask from it. Call to mind then, the things which I have
stated in the two preceding books, and, taking these in connection with
them, thou shalt have from me a very copious refutation of all the
heretics; and faithfully and strenuously shalt thou resist them in
defence of the only true and life-giving faith, which the Church has
received from the apostles and imparted to her sons. For the Lord of all
gave to His apostles the power of the Gospel, through whom also we have
known the truth, that is, the doctrine of the Son of God; to whom also
did the Lord declare: “He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that
despiseth you, despiseth Me, and Him that sent Me.”33083308
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