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But our Saviour saith, that we may know them by their fruits; what are those fruits, and how shall we know them thereby?

If you find that they are given to uncleanness, then they are not sent of God. So are false teachers many times, 2 Pet. ii. 1, "There shall be false teachers amongst you." "These do walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness," ver. 10. See the Epistle of Jude. God doth often give men up to fleshly sins for their vile errors.*

If you find that they are given to lying, then you may know that they are not of God. Truth doth not need our lies to maintain it with; but the doctrine of lies is often maintained with the practice of lying. "And hast found them liars," saith our text here.

If you find that the height of their religion is to maintain some opinion, and that doth consist in some voluntary humility, and keeping under the body, then are they not of God. Col. ii. 18-26.

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If find that their doctrine tends to draw men away from the ordinances of God, then though they pretend to be prophets, yet they are but false prophets. Deut. xiii. 1," If there arise among you a prophet, and he giveth a sign, and it come to pass, thou shalt not hearken to him," ver. 3. "And he shall be put to death," ver. 5. Why? "Because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God."

If you find that in truth he falls short of him whom he would seem to be, and yet in shew goes beyond him, then he is a deceiver. As for example: If a man say that he is an apostle, but pretends to do more than ever any apostle did, as to judge infallibly in all things; whereas the apostle saith sometime, "This say I, not the Lord;" yet in truth falls short of what an apostle did, who spake with tongues, and

* Pseudo-prophetæ quo modo probari possint: cettissima autem demonstratio hæc est, si deliquerit et contemnat voluptates corporales, imprimis vero sensum illum qui nobis est opprobrio et dedecori et si abominentur omnem libidinem et scortationem; an ignoras enim, qua ratione Zedekias filius Maasija et Achab filius Kolija de propetia gloriati fuerint, multos homines ad se pertraxerint, verbaque prophetiæ ab aliis instinctus divini afflatu prolata sub suo titulo ventitarint, et tamen in voluptatibus suis venereis perrexerint, ita ut sociorum et discipulorum suorum uxores stupraverint. Donec a Deo retecti et a rege Babyloniæ, meritissima pæna igne combusti fuerint. Jer. xxix. 22, 23.—Rab. Mos. Maiemon. More Nevochim, part 2, cap. 40.

did work miracles; surely this man is a false apostle. It is the way of an hypocrite to imitate the godly, and in outward things he will go beyond many a godly man, yet doth fall short of the weakest saint. Now though every hypocrite is not an heretic, yet every heretic is an hypocrite.

If you find that his great work and business is, to destroy the churches of Christ, then he is not of God, but by this fruit you may know him to be a false teacher. The apostles went up and down confirming the churches, not destroying them. But now, says Luther,* after we have taken much pains, even for ten years together, to gather and settle a church; then comes some fanatic person, and he destroys more in one moment, than we could build in ten years. But, says the apostle, "Mark those which cause division,” much more those that cause destruction, and avoid them.

"If they will not hear us (says the apostle John), they are not of God," 1 John iv. 6. "We are of God: he that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God, heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." Doth a man then forsake the assemblies of the saints, as the manner of some is, and teach men so to do? he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; he is a false teacher, and by this fruit you may know him. Yea, and by all these fruits you may know false teachers. You may know them by their call; you may know them by their doctrines; and you may know them by their fruits and their practices. And thus you see how those that are false apostles, or false teachers, may be tried and discovered. And is it a commendable thing in the eyes of Christ, to make discovery of them? Now then, as you desire that you may fall under the commendation of Christ here or hereafter, let it be your work and business in these times to make this discovery. Only know,

That it is the special work of church officers, to try and discover false teachers; for this epistle is directed to the angel of the church of Ephesus.

But though it is their work especially, yet it is a work in

* Decem annis laboratur antequam ecclesiola recte et pie instituta paratur, et ubi parata est, irrepit aliquis fanaticus et quidem idiota, qui nihil novit quam contumeliose loqui, contra sinceros verbi doctores, is uno momento evertit omnia. -Luther.

cumbent upon all the saints and churches; for though the epistle be directed to the angel of the church, yet the matter thereof doth belong to all; for saith the same epistle, "He that hath an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit saith unto the churches." And if this work do belong unto all the church, what an evil thing is it for those that are members of a church, to be beguiled with false teachers. Shall they be beguiled by them, that should discover them? This is directly contrary to their duty. It is your duty, and it is all your duty, to make this discovery. Therefore, yet more practically, Go to God for wisdom and the Spirit of discerning; it is Christ alone that doth see men's fruit under all their leaves: beg this discerning Spirit therefore at the hands of Christ.

Take heed that you do not lie in any sin or error, for all sin and error blinds. How shall you see the error of another, you be blinded with your own sin and error?

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In case any thing doth arise, which hath any difficulty in it, consult with others, for ye are not alone; and saith David, "I will inquire in thine holy temple."

Be sure that you keep to the Scripture, and take heed that you do not judge of doctrines by impressions. Let the light within you be your principle, enabling you unto what is good; but let it not be your rule to judge of doctrines, that is the word alone.

Take heed that you have not too great a charity towards, and opinion of, those that are suspected to be false teachers. Ye shall know them by their fruits, saith Christ. And lest you should think that they may be good, I tell you, nay, says Christ, in the next words, for a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit: no man gathers grapes off thorns, or figs off thistles: "but evil men and seducers," says the apostle. If seducers, you are to look upon them as evil men, as well as on drunkards, swearers, and profane persons; which because some have not done, they have been deceived, instead of making this discovery.*

And if you would be sure to make up a right judgment in this great discovery, then stay your time, and wait long

Plerique enim hominum ita impostorum liberalitate fascinantur ut quicquid proponunt monstruosæ doctrinæ tamen pro bonis habeant. Quibus Christus respondet, non modo hujusmodi homines bonos non esse, sed ne esse quidem posse. -Cartwrighti Harm. p. 271.

VOL. IV.

before you close with any of their opinions; for saith Christ, Ye shall know them by their fruit. Now the fruit of a tree is not presently seen; an ill tree in winter may seem to be as good as the best: stay therefore your time, and you shall know them by their fruit, and so be able to make this discovery, which is so pleasing to, and commendable in the eyes of Jesus Christ.*

It may be some will think and say, This doth not concern or reach my condition; I am troubled with and labour under such or such a temptation; and in all this, nothing hath been spoken unto that temptation. But remember, that our Lord and Saviour Christ hath not said to some, but to all," Beware of false prophets;" not behold, but beware: we behold what is open, and beware of what is hidden.† And both Christ and his apostles tell us, "That in the last days there shall arise false Christs, false prophets, false apostles, and false brethren; insomuch, as if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect:" and is this nothing then unto your condition? It may be it is your temptation, that you do not take heed and beware enough. I dare boldly say, he is under a temptation, that thinks these things do not reach him, or concern his condition. And what is the reason that many poor souls are so misled in these days of ours, but because they have not been prepared, and underlaid with knowledge for to make resistance. All their work and business hath been about some particular temptation, striving against some temptation: if they have heard any thing about that, well; if not, then they think the matter concerns not them; and so not being grounded in the faith, when deceivers come, they are taken captive by them. But I know you all desire to be commended by Christ at that great day, when he shall say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And this discovery of false teachers, is a matter of great commendation in his eyes now; and what he commends now, he will commend then: wherefore up and be doing. It may

* Si quis ex foliis et floribus judicium formare velir, non expectata fructuum maturitate plane hallucinetur, sic etiam qui de initiis quibusdam judicium sibi singant, &c. tandem enim eorum amentia omnibus innotescet. 2 Tim. iii.— Cartwrighti Harm. p. 270.

† Attendite a falsis prophetis, diligenter cavete non dixit aspicite, sed attendite, quod aspicere est ad allud quod palam videtur, attendere autem est cum sollicitudine inquirere.-Abulens. in Matt. vii. p. 218.

be this may be some pains and labour to you; but Christ saith, "I know thy works and thy labour." It may be it may cost you much trouble and sorrow; but he saith also, "I know thy labour and thy patience." It may be some may think you are too busy and severe in the work of this discovery; but he hath said, "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and that thou canst not bear them which are evil, and hast tried them which say, they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars." Wherefore let us comfort and encourage one another with these words.

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