His Zeal to Root Out Heresies

Such were the exhortations the emperor addressed to the rulers of the churches, urging them to do everything for the honor of the divine religion. Having by these means banished dissension and brought the church of God into a state of uniform harmony, he next turned to a different duty, feeling bound to root out another kind of ungodly people as harmful enemies of the human race. These were pests of society, who ruined whole cities under a deceptive show of religious respectability, men whom our Savior’s warning voice somewhere calls false prophets and ravenous wolves: “Beware of false prophets, who will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.” Accordingly, by an order sent to the governors of the various provinces, he effectively banished all such offenders. In addition to this ordinance, he addressed them personally with a sharp and awakening admonition, urging them to earnest repentance, so that they might still find a safe haven in the true church of God. Hear, then, how he addressed them in this letter. [a]