Section 95
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 63 and corrupt doctrine of the man, which it would be superfluous for us to detail, as it is in the power of those who wish to learn the origin, and the lives, and the false doctrines, not only of this one, but likewise of all the heresiarchs respectively, as also of the institutions and principles of all of them, treated at large in the abovementioned book of Irenasus. Simon, however, we have under stood to have taken the lead in all heresy ; from whom also, down to the present time, those that followed his heresy, still affected the modest philosophy of the Christians, so celebrated for purity of life among all. From this, however, they appeared again to depart, and again to embrace the superstitions of idols, falling down before the pictures and statues of this selfsame Simon, and the aforesaid Helen with him ; venturing to offer them worship by incense, and sacrifices, and libations. Those matters which are kept more secret by them than these, at the first mention of which they say one would be astonished, and to use an oracular phrase with them, would be confounded, they happen in truth to be so full of amazement, and folly, and madness, such as they are, that it is not only impossible to commit them to writing, but even to utter them with the lips to modest men, on account of their ex cessive baseness and obscenity. For every vile corruption that could either be done or devised, is practised by this most abomi nable heresy, of a sect that ensnare those wretched females who are literally overwhelmed with every kind of vice. CHAPTER XIV. The preaching of Peter in the city of Rome. SUCH was the wickedness of which that malignant power, the enemy of all good, and the waylayer of human salvation, consti tuted Simon the father and author at this time, as if with a view to make him a great and powerful antagonist to the divine pur poses of our Saviour and his apostles. Nevertheless, that divine and celestial grace which co-operates with its servants, by their appearance and presence, soon extinguished the flame that had 8*