the Church the work of the Gospel which office being thus conferred upon on them they were thenceforth to attend to it Setting them apart to the work of the Ministery to make it their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their work Having a ministery they were to wait on their ministring Rom. 12.7 thus it hath been and thus it should bee Not but that extraordinary cases admit of extraordinary courses In some cases how dispensed with Where there want fitting I mean Ministerial hands to be imposed that Ceremony may be omitted And necesitie requiring it some other service may be joyned with this Thus Paul saith that he upon such an account sometime laboured with his own hands exercised a Handicraft as he tells his Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.12 But in an ordinary course thus it should not bee The Ministers of Christ are to be set a part to the work of their Ministerie in a solemn manner And being thus set apart they are as I said to make it their worke which who so are not or doe not they give too just occasion for others to scruple and question the truth of their calling Services pro. to Ministers not to be undertaken by others Specially when any being not so called shall take upon them in an ordinary to way to intermeddle with such services as are properly and peculiarly Ministeral to dispence such Ordinances as are committed onely to them as viz. not onely to preach the Word but to administer the Sacraments which it seemeth some too many in these desolate times that I say not in this place adventure upon this too plainly sheweth and declareth them to be what they are such as say they are Apostles but are not pretenders to a calling which they have not And thus I have done with the first of these three heads wherein the Probation and Tryal of false teachers consisteth the first thing wherein and whereby they may and are to be tried their calling pass we to the second Tryal 2 The second thing is their Doctrine Their Doctrine This is the way which Saint John propoundeth for the trial of those false Teachers of his time 1 John 4.1 2. Trye the spirits saith he whether they be of God for many false prophets are gone out into the world But how should they try them why by their Doctrine So it followeth Hereby know ye the spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God If their Doctrine be false they cannot be true False as to fundamentals the principles of Christian Religion denying perverting them This is that which St. Peter saith of those false teachers which he fortelleth should come into the Church 2 Pet. 2.1 There shall be false teachers among you who privilie shall bring in damnable Heresies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heresies of destruction wicked opinions and Doctrines destructive to the souls of men Such Teachers who broach or hold forth such opinions are most properly called false-teachers who are to be tried by their Doctrine Quest. Q. How tried But the Question here runs on How shall their doctrine be tryed Answ A. By the scriptures the Churches touch-stone To this the Answer is obvious it is so among Protestants Only by the word the written word the Scriptures This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lydius Papis the Churches touch-stone whereby she is to try Doctrines and consequently teachers for this expresse is that known Text of the Prophet Isai Chap. 8. vers 20. to the law and to the testimony that is to Gods word the Scriptures which is his testimony testifying of him declaring his mind and will Hereunto must they repair who would not be deceived by false teachers bringing their Doctrines to this tonch-stone trying them by this If they speak not according to this word so it followeth it is because there is no light in them If they if any be they who they will never such pretenders to Illumination yet shall they speak otherwise then according to the word holding forth any doctrine that is not consonant and agreeable thereunto they are no other but Impostors this is an evident signe that their pretended light is no other but darkness This is that which Christians are to give heed to above what enter pretended Inspirations or Revelation When Dives in the parable begged it of father Abraham that he would send Lazarus to his fathers house that he might testifie unto his breethren what the state of the damned was what the torments of Hell were which were prepared for such as they were what saith he to him you have it Luk. 16.29 Abraham saith unto him they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them intimating that the testimony of the word is to be preferred before all other testimonies They may be false but this is undoubtedly true Thy word is truth Joh. 17.17 And therefore to this let Christians repair bringing the Doctrines of their teachers to this test This was the Touchstone which those Noble Bereans made use of in trying of Pauls doctrine How ever looking upon him as a man sent of God they received the word from his mouth with readiness of minde yet they searched the Scriptures dayly whether those things were so Act. 17.11 whether consonant and agreeable to the written word Like course are Christians to take specially when they meet with new doctrines new to them they are now to lay them to this rule Thus doe tradesmen in trying of weights and measures they bring them to the standard If they finde them either more or lesse then that they look upon them as not warrantable And so is it with doctrines if not exactly consonant and agreeable to the written word which God hath left as a standard for his Church to try them by if either more or lesse if any addition to the word or substraction from it if contrary to it or diverse from it they are to bee looked upon as false and he that teacheth them as a false teacher Objection Object But it may be said Scriptures obscure to pri vate and unlearned Christians How shall private Christians thus try them It may be they are unlearned weak and simple and not so able to judge the scriptures about the sense whereof it is not alwayes agreed among learned men the greatest Clerks sometimes differing in the exposition of them And how then shall they bee able to judge of them so as to try doctrines by them Answ 1 Answ 1. To this it is answered 1. Fundamentals clearly held forth That as for fundamental truths necessary to be known and believed they are plainly held forth written as with a sun-beam So plainly set forth as that a weak eye may see them Obj. Object 1 How is it that all doe not see them But if so how then is it
and personating the true apostles as the Devil did Samuel 1 Sam. 28. but as they were false in the former so in the later Not being what they would bee thought they did not intend what they pretended to And upon this account were they called false Apostles 2. Others there were who 2 In respect of their Doctrine as falsly pretending to the like calling under the name of Apostles they were broachers of Lyes Errours Heresies dangerous and pernitious Doctrines Such false teachers there were many in the Apostles times Such were those whom they in their Synodall Letter written from Jerusalem gave warning to the Churches of Act. 15.24 We have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your souls c. Some who pretended themselves to be Apostles or at least to have been sent forth by the Apostles with a Commission to preach they brought doctrine contrary to theirs doctrines destroying the very foundation of the Gospel and so tending to subvert the faith of believers crying up the Law the ceremonial law as being still in force And such false Teachers there were some in this Church of Ephesus Such false teachers in Pauls time in the Church of Ephesus So much wee may collect from that which Paul writeth to Timothy 1 Epistle 1.3 where he desireth him to abide at Ephesus to the end that he might charge some that they preach no other Doctrine No doctrine contrary to or diverse from that which Paul himself and other of the Apostles had preached which it seemeth there were some that then did And as there were some such false teachers then in that Church More foretold to follow so the same Apostle foretelleth it that there should come more and those more dangerous after his departure So he telleth the Elders of that Church whom he wisheth to be so much the more cautelous and circumspect upon that account Acts 20.28 c. Take heed to your selves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers c. For I know this that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock as bloody persecutors so Heretical Teachers who by their false doctrines should make a prey of the souls of men also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them such as should be broachers of false and heretical doctrines out of an ambition to make themselves singular and popular And what he foretold Which accordingly came to passe afterwards came accordingly to passe In the dayes of this our Apostle and Evangelist Saint John who survived the rest of the Apostles there were divers such false teachers who troubled these Churches of Asia with their heretical doctrines So much we may take notice of from what he saith 1 Epistle 4.1 Many false prophets are gone out into the world And again Epist 2. verse 7. Many deceivers have entred into the world Such were those famous infamous Hereticks Ebion and Corinthus and some others who whilest they cried up themselves the Apostles of Christ they were sworn enemies to him crying down his Divinitie his Godhead as the Socinians their off-spring at this day do Against whom Saint John purposely set himself as in the beginning of his Gospel so in the first and second Epistles And most probably some such were these whom our Text speaketh of They said they were Apostles pretending themselves to be sent by Christ But such they were not no true Apostles whether for their Calling or Doctrine In both upon due tryal they were found Lyars And were there such in those times whilst the true Apostles themselves were yet living No wonder that there are such in after ages Quòd si haec cùm fuit Ecc esiae Christianae conditio superstitibus adhuc ipsis veris Apostolis quis miretur nostri temporis successionem Aposto icam jactantes qui nè Christiani quidem sint Bez. Gr. Anno. in Text. what wonder then that there should be such in after ages what wonder that there should be one pretending to Apostolical authoritie to be Peters successor which the Pope doth what wonder that there should be some others who pretend to an immediate call from God to be sent by him and to have received Revelations from him who thereupon take upon them to broach new Doctrines diverse from nay contrarie to that which is held forth in the word which let it not trouble those who behold it If there were such in the Apostles times who were able to look through such pretenders to see their inside as Peter did by Simon Magus when he told him I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquitie Acts 8.23 who were able of their own knowledge to convince them how much more now But I pass on Having seen who Part. 2 What this Angel did to them where His undertaking the issue of it and what these false Apostles were come we now in the next place to see what this Angel did to them He Tryed them and found them Lyars wherein we have two things His undertaking and the Issue of it His undertaking Thou hast tried them The Issue of that Tryal And hast found them Lyars of these severally beginning with the first the undertaking of this Angel Thou hast tryed them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Original which word coming firstly from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 transfodio His undertaking he Tryed them transadigo to pierce through it properly signifieth an exact scrutin and tryal of a thing Like as when a thing is pierced through it is tryed what is within whether it be sound or no. And such a tryal it was that this Angel made of these Teachers Not taking their word not trusting their outside he made a thorow tryal of them Exploraris saith Beza thou hast proved them by making a diligent search concerning them Doct. And thus are all such Teachers to be tryed Teachers to be Tryed mark it this is the Doctrine I am now to prosecute Such as pretending to a Call from God shall bring any new Doctrines contrary to or diverse from that which the word holdeth forth and the Church hath received they are to undergo an exact scrutinie to be throughly tryed For this we shall need no other warrant then that known Text of Saint John which is express and full 1 John 4.1 Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or no. Every spirit that is every Doctor or Doctrine Every Teacher that shall pretend to the Spirit or every Doctrine which shall be held forth under the name of a Revelation as received by inspiration from Gods Spirit These are not presently to be received believed but to be tryed proved This is that which the Apostle requires concerning those who pretending to a gift of Prophesie should stand up to speak in the Church 1 Cor.
14.29 Let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge Such as pretended to a gift of Prophesie which in those times was not rare they were to be heard by the Church but not presently believed but they must be tried by those who had the gift of discerning spirits the other true Prophets whether they had such a gift as they pretended to and whether that which was spoken by them were by the motion of the spirit of God or whether it were a fancie of their own brain a humane or Diabolical delusion Yea Generally all Teachers thus are all Teachers and all Doctrines to be tryed That Rule and direction of the Apostle is general 1 Thes 5.21 Proving all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All things All Teachers all Doctrines and opinions by whomsoever held forth This is one of the things for which those Beraeans are commended being called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more noble then some other Christians Acts 17.11 for that when they heard the Apostle Saint Paul the great Doctor of the Gentiles the chief teacher of his time Preach they brought his Doctrine to the Test trying and examining whether those things which were spoken and delivered by him were so whether they were consonant and agreeable to the Doctrine of Moses and the Prophets that Doctrine which they had already received Now if true Apostles were thus to be tryed how much more false ones those who have nothing to prove them so but their word This Paul had He had the signes of an Apostle as he tels his Corinthians 2 Cor. 12.12 Among other those wonders and mighty deeds which he there speaketh of his miraculous works some of which are recorded in that Chapter foregoing Acts 16. for which no question he was then famous through the Churches and yet they try his Doctrine and for so doing are commended Especially suspitious ones How much more then are they to be tryed who have nothing but their word to gain credit to their calling and Doctrine As for their works it may be they are such as justly render them suspicious And being such great Reason that the Churches of Christ should be jealous of them and so try them before they trust them Great Reason for it I say considering the Danger first of then In being deceived 1. Reason 1 The danger of being deceived by false Teachers which are The danger of being deceived which credulous and simple souls are very subject to by such Teachers False Teachers which 1. Many for their Number Are many This is the Reason which Saint John giveth why he would have those to whom he writeth to make this Tryal 1 Joh. 4.1 a Text forecited Try the spirits c. why Because many false Prophets are gone out into the world Where there are many deceivers many cheaters many Trepanners as now they call some of that crue walking abroad men had need to try before they trust And such is the condition of the world in respect of false Teachers spiritual Trepanners However some ages are fuller of them then other yet in all ages there are many 2. Subtile for their nature And secondly as they are many for their number so they are very crafty and subtile for their nature It was Satans practise at the first when he went about to deceive the woman he made use of the Serpent speaking in and by that creature which as the Text saith was more subtile then any beast of the field Gen. 3.1 Such was and is that Creature being naturally smooth and gliding winding and insinuating and craftie c. And hereupon Satan who himself is called the old Serpent Revel 12.9 he maketh choice of that creature to convey his first Temptation and poisonous suggestion by And in a like way doth he deceive her posteritie still making use of Serpents subtile heads sharp wits smooth tongues insinuating spirits for the conveying of the poison of heretical and damnable doctrines by them So as simple souls being over-credulous as that their mother was they are apt to be deceived by them by their subtiltie of which the Apostle making use also of this allusion speaketh 2 Cor. 11.3 As also by their Innocencie Deceiving by their Lives which sometimes are seemingly pious Such was the Serpent at the first as all the other creatures were innocent and harmless And such false teachers oftimes seem to be very innocent in their lives exemplarie for their strictness Such were the Scribes and Pharisees in our Saviours time whited Sepulchres as he cals them Mat. 23.27 And such were those false prophets whom he describeth Mat. 7.15 they were such as came in sheepes cloathing seemingly most innocent creatures And such were those false Apostles whom Saint Paul giveth warning to his Colossians of very strict no question themselves in those observances which they taught and pressed upon others of which the Apostle saith that they had in them a shew of humilitie and neglecting of the bodie not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh Col. 2.23 They were very temperate very abstemious And such were divers of the same stamp in after ages Among whom one Sect was known and distinguished by the name of Encratitae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vide Danaeum in August de Haeresibus cap. 15. so called from their extraordinarie continence and abstinence which was such as that they absteined not onely from unlawful lusts but also from Marriage and from eating any kinde of flesh as also wine not so much as allowing it in the Lords Supper in regard of the great abuse of the creature but using water instead of it yet holding forth foul and heretical Doctrines And such false Teachers often are as many Monkes and Fryars at this day eminent for strictness in their lives and conversations And as their Lives 4 By their doctrins some of which are sound and useful and their errours plausible so their Doctrines many of them it may be are true and Orthodox yea pious and very useful which they Preach and press making use of them as Coy-Ducks to bring in their Errors after them And for their Errors happily they are very plausible and taking specious at the first hearing having as the Apostle there saith Col. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shew of wisdom yea of Pietie and Holiness Thus did these false Apostles spoken of by Saint Paul transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ the ministers of Satan transform themselves into the Ministers of righteousness 2 Col. 11.13 15. And thus do false Teachers sometimes transform themselves into true acting their parts putting on the habits and speaking with the tongues of the true servants the faithful Ministers of Christ Being as I said Innocent if not Exemplarie in their lives holding forth plausible Errors and those mixed with many sweet and precious truths which are like wine or some other pleasant liquor wherewith poison being mixed it is taken and swallowed down
Which that none of you may be 2. Use 2 Christians exhorted to try Teachers By way of exhortation in the second place let me desire you to propound this Angel as a pattern for your imitation See that you try before you trust This will you do in matters of civil concernment How much more then in spirituals in things which concern the welfare of your souls your eternal salvation Herein you cannot be too wary And therefore take heed what Teachers you hearken to Yea though haply they be of great name and note much cryed up by many what ever their parts and gifts be yea what ever their life and conversation be yet do not so far make your selves servants to any of them as to pinne your faith upon their sleeve be not over credulous especially if they be such as these in the Text such as pretending to an extraordinary calling shall hold forth new doctrines such as the Church of God hath not been acquainted with Now bee jealous of them fearing what you have just cause to do that they are not what they pretend to be They say they are Apostles but are not Therefore bring them to the trial A thing which Christ himself commendeth Argument 1 A thing commended So he doth in this angel here among whose good works hee reckons up this for one his trial of such Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles and are not This tended to his praise Now this is one of the things which the Apostle willeth Christians to have an eye unto Phil. 4.8 If there be any vertue any praise any thing truly praiseworthy from men much more if commended by God think on these things so think of them as to do them Now were there no other Argument this alone should be sufficient to induce Christians to this practice doing this in a conscientious way with a respect to the honour of Jesus Christ which questionlesse this Angel here did for the asserting and vindicating of his name and truth whatever they meet with from men they shall have his approbation and commendation But secondly Argument 2 Commanded this is not onely commended but also commanded Those forenamed Texts are expresse being not onely counsels but precepts Try the spirits whether they be of God Prove all things So as this is not onely a Liberty but a duty a thing not onely expedient but requisite not onely what may be done but must be done Teachers especially if suspitious they must be tryed Quest But who shall try them and How shall they try them Two useful questions Take the resolution of each 1. Quest 1 Who shall be the tryers of these teachers Who are to try them Answ 1 Answ 1 To this I answer First Generally all Christians Generally all Christians To them are those forenamed exhortations directed of trying of spirits and proving all things General Lessons for all Christians who being spiritual are made judges of all things So 1 Cor. 2.15 He that is spiritual judgeth all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the spiritual man not the Pope to whom some of his Parasites apply that Text. Nor yet onely the Clergy as they have been called the Ministers of the Gospel to whom custom in former ages hath appropriated that Title calling them spiritual persons in way of distinction from the so called Laity But every Christian who is enlightened and regenerated by the spirit of God He is this spiritual man who judgeth all things understanding and discerning the truth of God so much as concerneth his own salvation And being thus qualified he not onely may but ought to exercise this his judgement upon those whoever they are that bring doctrines contrary to or diverse from that truth trying them This are private Christians to do according to those abilities that measure of the spirit of discerning which God hath given them But Secondly Ans 2 This are the Ministers of Christ after a more special manner to do Specially the Angels of the Churches the ministers of Christ As it is in trying of gold if any pieces be suspicious every one before hee receiveth them will try them for himself having his scales for that purpose but the Gold-smith doth this after a more exact manner having not onely his scales for the weight but his touch-stone for the mettal Thus though all Christians are to try suspicious teachers doctrines yet the Ministers of Christ are to do it after a special manner Ministers Tryers by office they being tyrers by Office Such were the Apostles in their times Such were the Apostles and Evangelists who exercised this power upon divers trying and discovering them to bee what in truth they were nothing lesse then what they pretended So did Simon Peter upon Simon Magus the father of Hereticks as he is called a broacher and maintainer of divers blasphemous and damnable Heresies Peter tryeth and discovereth him to be what in truth he was not what he gave out himself to be and was by many taken for as you have the story Acts 8.21.23 And the like did Paul to Hymeneus and Alexander whom as he saith he delivered to Satan that they might learn not to blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. last proceeding against them by Ecclesiastical censures for the Heresie which they held forth in denying the Resurrection of the dead to whom Philetus also as it seemeth was joined whom upon the same account he taketh notice of 2 Tim. 2.18 19. And what himself did he willeth his Evangelist Timothy also to doe the like If a man teach otherwise saith he to him 1 Tim. 6.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preaching other doctrine then that which the Church had already received from Christ and his Apostles and consent not to wholesom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness from such saith he withdraw thy self have no communion with them whether Ecclesiastical or Fraternal but look upon them as they are as contagious persons not fit for Christian societie And the like he requires from Titus A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admonition reject Tit. 3.10 Thus did Paul set himself against the whole generation of false teachers willing all the Ministers of Christ in a special manner to do the like This did our Apostle and Evangelist Saint John whose zeal against that infamous Heretick Cerinthus is famous with whom he would not so much as enter into the Bath least the houses should fall on his head Vide Danaeum in August de Heres Chap. 8. and at whom he is conceived to strike as elsewhere in his Gospel in his first chapter so in those two places of his first Epistle 1 John 2.22 and 4.3 And the like did this angel here in the Text the minister or ministers of this Church of Ephesus To him or them it is that this commendation is here given for dealing with these false apostles
these of being proud and covetous 3. Not seldome Luxurious Yea and in the third place Luxurious So Saint Peter describeth them 2 Pet. 2. where foretelling the same that Paul there did that there should be false teachers in the Church which should privily bring in damnable Heresies verse 1. he sheweth what ones they should be And many saith hee shall follow their pernitious wayes verse 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exitia their perditions Vid. Beza Gr. Annot ad loc or destructions or as divers other copies read it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luxurias as the vulgar Latine renders it their luxuries their lascivious wayes and courses which were pernitious ways To which also in the next words hee joyns their covetousness And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandize of you verse 3. Under a feigned kinde of speech framed to a shew of more then ordinary Piety and Charity and Meeknesse they shall endeavour to lay hold of your estates with the ruine of your souls as Diodate explains it Such may false Teachers oft-times bee found proud covetous luxurious So they are there set forth more fully verse 10. where he giveth this further Character of those whom he spake of They are such saith he as walked after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness and despise government presumtuous are they self-willed c. And again verse 14. Having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable souls an heart they have exercised with covetous practises c. Thus Saint Peter with whom Saint Jude also concurs describing them after the very self same manner by the same Characters as we shall finde it verse 4. and 10. of his Epistle And such as they described them Vtrumque ambitiosum hominem prorsus corporis uoluptatibus deditum fuisse demonstrant ipsius errores Danaeus in August de Haeres cap. 8. such the after ages found them Such was that forenamed Cerinthus a most ambitious and voluptuous person as besides the Records which are left of him is justly collected from some of his Errours in special that Millenarie opinion of his the thousand years reign of the Saints after the Resurrection wherein they should as he apprehended enjoy all kinde of carnal and sensual pleasures whereof hee was the first broacher And such were those Nicolaitanes whom the Greek Scholiast conceiveth Saint Peter to have an eye at in that Text forecited 2 Pet. 2.2 and whom our Evangelist Saint John maketh mention of by name verse 6. of this chap. Rev. 2. they were an impure generation whose deeds were deservedly hated both of God and men And of the same kinde were the Gnosticks whom some look upon as a branch of the same stock the of-spring of those Nicolaitanes if not the same A proud generation Gnostici propter excellentiam scientiae sic se appellatos esse vel appellari debuisse gloriantur eum sint superiobus omnibus vaniores atque turpiores Aug. de Haeres So much their very name which they gave to themselves imports Gnostici Gnosticks so called propter excellentiam scientiae as Augustin giveth the reason of it for the eminency of their knowledge wherein they thought themselves to excel all others But not more proud then vile being given up to all kinde of filthinesse from whence they had another name given them which far better agreed to thē then the former being called Borboritae quasi coenosi as the same father interprets it sc propter nimiam turpitudinem for their wallowing like swine in the mire of all kinde of filthinesse as Saint Peter also describeth some of the Apostates of his time 2 Pet. 2. last where wee have that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And such were divers others of those ancient Hereticks in and near unto those primitive times as the writings of the Fathers set them forth such as whose lives did sufficiently proclaim them to be what in truth they were nothing lesse then what they gave out themselves to be And I might shew the like in some of the ring-leaders of Sects and Heresies of latter times But I suppose even your own observation and experience may furnish you with but too many instances in this kinde of men pretending to more light then others who thereupon have taken upon them to mint new doctrines and to lay out new wayes yet their practises have plainly shewn that they were out of Gods way walking in darknesse I shall proceed no further You see how and in what way such teachers as these in the Text are to be tryed What then remains but that as occasion is offered meeting with such teachers you put them upon the tryal trying them by their Calling Doctrine Life which doing questionlesse you shall finde what the angel of this Church is here said to have done you shall find them Lyars Part. 2 And so I am fallen upon the second part of the Text The issue of this trial wherein wee have the Issue and successe of this undertaking The angel of this Church making tryal of these pretended Apostles he found them lyars Of which very briefly Lyars 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 False apostles called lyars Perkins Exposition in Text. a broad and a foul word yet not found fault with but approved by Christ being here given to these False Apostles From whence Mr. Perkins observes not amisse that Though Railing and taunting cannot beseem any Obs Broad Language warantably given by Magistrates and ministers to some offenders yet Magistrates and Ministers in their places may give out severe speeches against offenders in token of detestation of their sins and not offend For this he instanceth in John the Baptist who called the Scribes and Pharisees a Generation of Vipers Mat. 3.6 And so in our Saviour who called Herod a Fox Luke 13.32 And in Paul who writing to his back-sliding Galathians puts the Fool upon them Gal. 3.1 And so the same Apostle having to deal with Elimas the sorcerer a great and dangerous seducer he being filled with the Holy Ghost saith the Text set his eyes upon him and said O full of all subtilty and mischief thou childe of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousnesse c. Act. 3.9 10. And thus it is here said of this Angel the Minister or Ministers of this Church of Ephesus having tryed these false Apostles he found them Lyars Found lyars how Found them Even as an Inquest or Iury that passeth upon a Malefactor is said to find him guilty judging and declaring him so So did this Angel here finde these False Apostles having brought them to the tryall upon good evidence he found them Lyars judging and pronouncing them so to be So the Prophets both Isay and Jeremie call those Wizards and Diviners who in their predictions promised a long continuance and flourishing state to the Babylonian Monarchy That frustrateth the tokens of the Lyars saith Isay chapter 44.25 A sword is upon the