by Ephraim Pagitt
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Ephraim Pagitt’s Heresiography: A Description of the Heretics and Sectaries of These Latter Times is a fierce and unrelenting survey of the theological chaos that had erupted in 17th-century England. Written as a warning against the proliferation of false teachings, Pagitt systematically dismantles the errors of various heretical sects, exposing their origins, beliefs, and the spiritual and societal destruction they bring. With a sharp pastoral eye and deep theological conviction, he names and critiques movements such as the Anabaptists, Antinomians, Papists, Socinians, Arminians, Millenarians, and other radical separatists, showing how their doctrines diverge from biblical truth and threaten the unity of Christ’s Church. His approach is both historical and polemical—he not only recounts the history and spread of these groups but also provides a robust theological refutation of their errors. This work is a powerful reminder of Christ’s warning against false prophets (Matthew 7:15) and Paul’s charge to defend the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
What makes Heresiography particularly compelling is its vivid portrayal of the dangers of unchecked doctrinal deviation. Pagitt does not merely engage in abstract theological debate—he reveals how false teachings infiltrate churches, lead believers astray, and ultimately corrupt entire societies. His descriptions of the sects’ fanaticism, moral corruption, and rebellion against biblical authority read like a battle report from the front lines of spiritual warfare. This is not a book for the indifferent or complacent; it is for those who take doctrine seriously and recognize that theological precision is not optional but essential for the health of the Church. Heresiography serves as both a historical document and a timely warning for today’s Church, where many of these same errors—though dressed in modern language—continue to resurface. Those who love the truth and seek to guard Christ’s flock from deception will find this book to be a sobering, yet invaluable, read.
About the Author:
Ephraim Pagitt (c. 1574–1647) was an English theologian and minister known for his firm opposition to heresy and his commitment to Reformed orthodoxy. A clergyman in the Church of England, he served as rector of St. Edmond the King in London and was deeply involved in the religious controversies of his time. His works, particularly Heresiography, reflect his concern for preserving biblical truth against the rising tide of sectarianism. Though his tone is polemical, his heart is pastoral—driven by a desire to protect the Church from dangerous theological errors that threaten both its doctrine and its unity.
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Table of Contents
To the Right Honorable...
To the Reader
Of the Anabaptists
Brownists
Semi-Separatists
Independents
Familists
Adamites
Antinomians
Arminians
Socinians
Antitrinitarians
Millenarians
Hetheringtonians
Anti-Sabbatarians
Traskites
Jesuits
Pelagians
Soul-Sleepers
Divorcers
Of the Papists
A Postscript
An Extract of the Acts of the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France