FLORINIANI, or FLORIANI

FLORINIANI, or FLORIANI, a sect of heretics, of the second century, denominated from its author Florinus, or Florianus, a priest of the Roman church, deposed along with Blasius for his errors. Florinus had been a disciple of St Polycarp, along with Irenæus. He made God the author of evil; or rather asserted, that the things forbidden by God are not evil, but of his own appointing. In which he followed the errors of Valentinus, and joined himself with the Carpocratians. They had also other names given them. Phi-

larius says, they were the same with the Carpocratians. He adds, that they were also called soldiers, muters, quia de militibus fuerunt. St Irenæus calls them Gnostics; St Epiphanius, Phibianites; and Theodoret, Borborites, on account of the impurities of their lives. Others call them Zacchæans; others Coddians, &c. though for what particular reasons, it is not easy to say, nor perhaps would it be worth while to inquire.