1. IT is scarce possible to express or conceive, what multitudes
of souls run on to destruction, because they would not be persuaded
to walk in a _narrow_ way, even tho’ it were the way to everlasting
salvation. And the same thing we may still observe daily. Such is
the folly and madness of mankind, that thousands of men still rush on
in the way to hell, only because it is a broad way. They walk in it
themselves, because others do: because so many perish, they will add
to the number. Such is the amazing influence of example, over the weak,
miserable children of men! It continually peoples the regions of death,
and drowns numberless souls in everlasting perdition.
2. To warn mankind of this, to guard as many as possible against this
spreading contagion, God has commanded his watchmen to cry aloud, and
shew the people the danger they are in. For this end he has sent his
servants the prophets, in their succeeding generations, to point out
the narrow path, and exhort all men, not to be conformed to this world.
But what if the watchmen themselves fall into the snare, against which
they should warn others? What if _the prophets prophesy deceits_? If
they _cause the people to err from the way_? What shall be done, if
they point out as the way to eternal life, what is in truth the way to
eternal death? And exhort others to walk, as they do themselves, in the
broad, not the narrow way?
3. Is this an unheard of, is it an uncommon thing? Nay, God knoweth it
is not. The instances of it are almost innumerable. We may find them in
every age and nation. But how terrible is this? When the ambassadors of
God, turn agents for the devil? When they who are commissioned to teach
men the way to heaven, do in fact teach them the way to hell? These are
like the locusts of _Egypt, which eat up the residue that had escaped_,
that had _remained after the hail_. They devour even the residue of
men that had escaped, that were not destroyed by ill example. It is not
therefore without cause that our wise and gracious Master, so solemnly
cautions us against them: _Beware_, saith he, _of false prophets, which
come to you in sheeps cloathing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves_.
4. A caution this of the utmost importance. That it may the more
effectually sink into our hearts, let us inquire, first, who these
false prophets are, secondly, what appearance they put on, and thirdly,
how we may know what they really are, notwithstanding their fair
appearance.
I. 1. We are, first, to inquire, who these false prophets are. And this
it is needful to do the more diligently, because these very men have
so laboured to _wrest this scripture, to their own_ (tho’ not only
their own) _destruction_. In order therefore to cut off all dispute,
I shall raise no dust (as the manner of some is) neither use any
loose, rhetorical exclamations, to deceive the hearts of the simple,
but speak rough, plain truths, such as none can deny, who has either
understanding or modesty left: and such truths, as have the closest
connexion, with the whole tenor of the preceding discourse. Whereas too
many have interpreted these words without any regard to all that went
before: as if they bore no manner of relation to the sermon, in the
close of which they stand.
2. By _prophets_ here (as in many other passages of scripture,
particularly in the New Testament) are meant, not those who foretel
things to come, but those who speak in the name of God: those men, who
profess to be sent of God, to teach others the way to heaven.
Those are _false prophets_, who teach a false way to heaven, a way
which does not lead thither. Or (which comes in the end to the same
point) who do not teach the true.
3. Every broad way is infallibly a false one. Therefore this is one
plain, sure rule, “They who teach men to walk in a broad way, a way
that many walk in, are _false prophets_.”
Again, the true way to heaven is a narrow way. Therefore this is
another plain, sure rule. “They who do not teach men to walk in a
narrow way, to be singular, are _false prophets_.”
4. To be more particular. The only true way to heaven, is that pointed
out in the preceding sermon. Therefore they are _false prophets_ who do
not teach men to walk in _this way_.
Now the way to heaven pointed out in the preceding sermon, is the way
of lowliness, mourning, meekness, and holy desire, love of God and of
our neighbour, doing good, and suffering evil for Christ’s sake. They
are therefore false prophets, who teach as the way to heaven, any other
way than _this_.
5. It matters not, what they call that other way. They may call it
_faith_, or _good works_: or _faith and works_: or _repentance_: or
_repentance, faith and new obedience_. All these are good words. But
if under these, or any other terms whatever, they teach men any way
distinct from _this_, they are properly _false prophets_.
6. How much more do they fall under that condemnation, who speak evil
of this good way? But above all, they who teach the directly opposite
way? The way of pride, of levity, of passion, of worldly desires,
of loving pleasure more than God, of unkindness to our neighbour, of
unconcern for good works, and suffering no evil, no persecution for
righteousness sake?
7. *If it be asked, why who ever did teach this? Or who does teach it,
as the way to heaven? I answer, ten thousand wise and honourable men:
even all those, of whatever denomination, who incourage the proud, the
trifler, the passionate, the lover of the world, the man of pleasure,
the unjust or unkind, the easy, careless, harmless, useless creature,
the man who suffers no reproach for righteousness-sake, to imagine
he is in the way to heaven. These are false prophets in the highest
sense of the word. These are traitors both to God and man. These are
no other than the first-born of Satan: the eldest sons of Apollyon,
the destroyer. These are far above the rank of ordinary cut throats;
for they murder the souls of men. They are continually peopling the
realms of night: and whenever they follow the poor souls whom they have
destroyed, _Hell_ shall be _moved from beneath, to meet them at their
coming_.
II. 1. But do they come now, in their own shape? By no means. If it
were so, they could not destroy. You would take the alarm, and flee for
your life. Therefore they put on a quite contrary appearance: (which
was the second thing to be considered.) _They come to you in sheeps
cloathing_, altho’ _inwardly they are ravening wolves_.
2. _They come to you in sheeps cloathing_; that is, with an appearance
of harmlessness. They come in the most mild, inoffensive manner,
without any mark or token of enmity. Who can imagine, that these quiet
creatures, would do any hurt to any one? Perhaps they may not be so
zealous and active in doing good, as one would wish they were. However,
you see no reason to suspect, that they have even the desire to do any
harm. But this is not all:
3. They come, secondly, with an appearance of usefulness. Indeed to
this, to do good they are particularly called. They are set apart for
this very thing. They are particularly commissioned, to watch over your
soul and to train you up to eternal life. ’Tis their whole business,
to _go about doing good, and healing those that are oppressed of the
devil_. And you have been always accustomed to look upon them in this
light, as messengers of God, sent to bring you a blessing.
4. They come, thirdly, with an appearance of religion. All they do, is
for conscience sake! They assure you, it is out of mere zeal for God,
that they are making God a liar. It is out of pure concern for religion,
that they would destroy it, root and branch. All they speak, is only
from a love of truth, and a fear lest it should suffer. And, it may be,
from a regard for the church, and a desire to defend her from all her
enemies.
5. Above all, they come with an appearance of love. They take all
these pains, only for _your_ good. They should not trouble themselves
about you, but that they have a kindness for you. They will make large
professions of their good-will, of their concern for the danger you are
in, and of their earnest desire, to preserve you from error, from being
intangled in new and mischievous doctrines. They should be very sorry
to see one who _means_ so well, hurried into any extreme, perplext
with strange and unintelligible notions, or deluded into enthusiasm.
Therefore it is, that they advise you, to keep still, in the plain
middle way: and to beware of _being righteous overmuch_, lest you
should _destroy yourself_.
III. 1. But how may we know, what they really are, notwithstanding
their fair appearance? This was the third thing into which it was
proposed to inquire.
Our blessed Lord saw how needful it was for all men to know _false
prophets_, however disguised. He saw likewise, how unable most men were,
to deduce a truth thro’ a long train of consequences. He therefore
gives us a short and plain rule, easy to be understood by men of the
meanest capacities, and easy to be applied upon all occasions. _Ye
shall know them by their fruits._
2. Upon all occasions you may easily apply this rule. In order to know
whether any who speak in the name of God, are false or true prophets,
it is easy to observe, first, What are the fruits of their doctrine, as
to themselves? What effect has it had upon their lives? Are they holy
and unblamable in all things? What effect has it had upon their hearts?
Does it appear by the general tenor of their conversation that their
tempers are holy, heavenly, divine? That the mind is in them which was
in Christ Jesus? That they are meek, lowly, patient lovers of God and
man, and zealous of good works?
3. You may easily observe, secondly, What are the fruits of their
doctrine, as to those that hear them? In many, at least, tho’ not in
all: for the apostles themselves did not convert all that heard them.
Have these the mind that was in Christ? And do they walk as he also
walked? And was it by hearing these men, that they began so to do? Were
they inwardly and outwardly wicked, till they heard them? If so, it is
a manifest proof, that those are true prophets, teachers sent of God.
But if it is not so, if they do not effectually teach either themselves
or others to love and serve God; it is a manifest proof, that they are
false prophets; that God hath not sent them.
4. An hard saying this! How few can bear it? This our Lord was sensible
of, and therefore condescends to prove it at large, by several clear
and convincing arguments. _Do men_, says he, _gather grapes of thorns
or figs of thistles_? ver. 16. Do you expect that these evil men should
bring forth good fruit? As well might you expect that thorns should
bring forth grapes, or that figs should grow upon thistles! _Every
good tree bringeth forth good fruit: but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit._ ver. 17. Every true prophet, every teacher whom I have
sent, bringeth forth the good fruit of holiness. But a false prophet,
a teacher whom I have not sent, brings forth only sin and wickedness.
_A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt
tree bring forth good fruit._ A true prophet, a teacher sent from
God, does not bring forth good fruit, sometimes only, but always;
not accidentally, but by a kind of necessity. In like manner, a false
prophet, one whom God hath not sent, does not bring forth evil fruit,
accidentally or sometimes only, but always and of necessity. _Every
tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the
fire._ ver. 19. Such infallibly will be the lot of those prophets, who
bring not forth good fruit, who do not save souls from sin, who do not
bring sinners to repentance. _Wherefore_ let this stand as an eternal
rule, _By their fruits ye shall know them_. ver. 20. They who in fact
bring the proud, passionate, unmerciful lovers of the world, to be
lowly, gentle lovers of God and man: they are true prophets, they are
sent from God, who therefore confirms their word. On the other hand,
they whose hearers, if unrighteous before, remain unrighteous still, or
at least, void of any righteousness which _exceeds the righteousness of
the Scribes and Pharisees_: they are false prophets; they are not sent
of God; therefore their word falls to the ground. And without a miracle
of grace they and their hearers together, will fall into the bottomless
pit.
5. O _beware of_ these _false prophets_! For though they _come in
sheeps cloathing_, yet _inwardly they are ravening wolves_. They only
destroy and devour the flock: they tear them in pieces, if there is
none to help them. They will not, cannot lead you in the way to heaven.
How should they? When they know it not themselves. O beware they do not
turn you out of the way, and cause you to _lose what you have wrought_.
6. But perhaps you will ask, If there is such danger in hearing them,
ought I to hear them at all? It is a weighty question, such as deserves
the deepest consideration, and ought not to be answered, but upon the
calmest thought, the most deliberate reflection. For many years, I
have been almost afraid, to speak at all concerning it, being unable
to determine one way or the other, or to give any judgment upon it.
Many reasons there are which readily occur, and incline me to say,
“Hear them not.” And yet what our Lord speaks concerning the false
prophets of his own times, seems to imply the contrary. _Then spake
Jesus unto the multitude and to his disciples, saying, the Scribes and
the Pharisees sit in_ Moses’ _seat_, are the ordinary, stated teachers
in your church: _all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that
observe and do. But do not ye after their works; for they say and do
not._ Now that these were false prophets in the highest sense, our Lord
hath shewn during the whole course of his ministry: as indeed he does
in those very words, _they say and do not_. Therefore by their fruits
his disciples could not but know them, seeing they were open to the
view of all men. Accordingly he warns them again and again, to _beware
of_ these _false prophets_. And yet he does not forbid them to hear
even these. Nay, he in effect commands them so to do, in those words,
_All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do_.
For unless they heard them, they could not know, much less _observe
whatsoever they bad them do_. Here then our Lord himself gives a plain
direction, both to his apostles and the whole multitude, in some
circumstances, to hear even false prophets, known and acknowledged so
to be.
7. But perhaps it will be said, he only directed to hear them, when
they read the scripture to the congregation. I answer, at the same time
that they thus read the scripture, they generally expounded it too. And
here is no kind of intimation, that they were to hear the one, and not
the other also. Nay the very terms, _All things whatsoever they bid you
observe_, exclude any such limitation.
8. *Again, unto them, unto false prophets, undeniably such, is
frequently committed (O grief to speak! For surely these things ought
not so to be) the administration of the sacrament also. To direct
men therefore, not to hear them, would be in effect to cut them off
from the ordinances of God. But this we dare not do, considering the
validity of the ordinance doth not depend on the goodness of him that
administers, but on the faithfulness of him that ordained it, who
will and doth meet us in his appointed ways. Therefore on this account
likewise I scruple to say, hear not even the false prophets. Even by
these who are under a curse themselves, God can, and doth give us his
blessing. For the bread which they break we have experimentally known
to be _the communion of the body of Christ_. And the cup which God
blest even by their unhallowed lips, was to us the communion of the
blood of Christ.
9. *All therefore which I can say is this: in any particular case, wait
upon God by humble and earnest prayer, and then act according to the
best light you have. Act according to what you are persuaded, upon the
whole, will be most for your spiritual advantage. Take great care that
you do not judge rashly; that you do not lightly think any to be false
prophets. And when you have full proof, see that no anger or contempt
have any place in your heart. After this, in the presence and in the
fear of God, determine for yourself. I can only say, if by experience
you find, that the hearing them hurts your soul, then hear them not:
then quietly refrain, and hear those that profit you. If on the other
hand, you find, it does not hurt your soul, you then may hear them
still. Only _take heed how you hear: beware of_ them and of their
doctrine. Hear with fear and trembling, lest _you_ should be deceived,
and given up, like them, to a strong delusion. As they continually
mingle truth and lies, how easily may you take in both together?
Hear with fervent and continual prayer, to him who alone teacheth man
wisdom. And see that you bring whatever you hear, _to the law and to
the testimony_. Receive nothing untried, nothing till it is weighed in
the balance of the sanctuary. Believe nothing they say, unless it is
clearly confirmed by passages of holy writ. Wholly reject whatsoever
differs therefrom, whatever is not confirmed thereby. And in particular,
reject, with the utmost abhorrence, whatsoever is described as the way
of salvation, that is either different from or short of the way, our
Lord has marked out in the foregoing discourse.
10. I cannot conclude, without addressing a few plain words, to those
of whom we have now been speaking. O ye false prophets, O ye dry bones,
hear ye for once the word of the Lord. How long will ye lie in the name
of God? Saying God hath spoken: and God hath not spoken by you. How
long will ye pervert the right ways of the Lord, putting darkness for
light, and light for darkness? How long will ye teach the way of death,
and call it the way of life? How long will ye deliver to Satan the
souls, whom ye profess to bring unto God?
11. *_Wo unto you, ye blind leaders of the blind! For ye shut the
kingdom of heaven against men. Ye neither go in yourselves, neither
suffer ye them that are entering to go in._ Them that would strive to
enter in at the strait gate, ye call back into the broad way. Them that
have scarce gone one step in the ways of God, you devilishly caution
against _going too far_. Them that just begin to hunger and thirst
after righteousness, you warn, not to be _righteous overmuch_. Thus you
cause them to stumble at the very threshold; yea, to fall and rise no
more. O wherefore do ye this? What profit is there in their blood, when
they go down to the pit? Miserable profit to _you_. They _shall perish
in their iniquity: but their blood will_ God _require at_ your _hands_!
12. Where are your eyes? Where is your understanding? Have ye deceived
others, till you have deceived yourselves also? Who hath required this
at your hands, to _teach_ a way which ye never _knew_? Are you _given
up to_ so _strong a delusion_, that ye not only teach but _believe a
lie_? And can you possibly believe, that God hath sent you? That ye are
_his_ messengers? Nay; if the Lord had sent you, the _work of the Lord_
would _prosper in your hand_. As the Lord liveth, if ye were messengers
of God, he would _confirm the word of his messengers_. But the work
of the Lord doth not prosper in your hand: you bring no sinners to
repentance. The Lord doth not confirm your word: for you save no souls
from death.
13. How can you possibly evade the force of our Lord’s words? So full,
so strong, so express? How can ye evade _knowing_ yourselves _by your
fruits_? Evil fruits of evil trees! And how should it be otherwise!
_Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles?_ Take this to
yourselves, ye to whom it belongs. *O ye barren trees, why cumber ye
the ground? _Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit._ See ye not,
that here is no exception? Take knowledge then, ye are not good trees:
for ye do not bring forth good fruit. _But a corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit._ And so have ye done from the beginning. Your
speaking as from God has only confirmed them that heard you, in the
tempers, if not works, of the devil. O take warning of him in whose
name ye speak, before the sentence he hath pronounced take place.
_Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast
into the fire._
14. My dear brethren, harden not your hearts. You have too long
shut your eyes against the light. Open them now before it is too
late; before you are cast into outer darkness. Let not any temporal
consideration weigh with you: for eternity is at stake. Ye have run
before ye were sent. O go no farther. Do not persist to damn yourselves
and them that hear you! You have no fruit of your labours. And why
is this? Even because the Lord is not with you. But can you go this
warfare at your own cost? It cannot be. Then humble yourselves before
him. Cry unto him out of the dust, that he may first quicken _thy_
soul: give _thee_ the faith that worketh by love: that is lowly
and meek, pure and merciful, zealous of good works; rejoicing in
tribulation, in reproach, in distress, in persecution for righteousness
sake. So shall _the Spirit of glory and of Christ rest upon thee_, and
it shall appear, that God hath sent thee. So shalt thou indeed _do the
work of an Evangelist, and make full proof of thy ministry_. So shall
the word of God in thy mouth be _an hammer that breaketh the rocks in
pieces_. It shall then be known by thy fruits, that thou art a prophet
of the Lord, even by the children whom God hath given thee. And having
_turned many to righteousness, thou shalt shine as the stars for ever
and ever_!