2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.



Ver. 2. The way of truth shall be, &c.] The ancient Christians were generally hated and hooted at by the heathens for the heretics’ sake, who were also a kind of Christians, as Augustine complaineth (De Cir. Dei). And Epiphanius addeth that many Pagans refused to come near the Christians to join with them in any good exercise, Improbis scelestorum illorum factis consternati, as being offended at the unclean conversation of various heretics, the Priscillianists especially, whose doctrine was,



" Iura, periura, secretum prodere noli."