SEEMON XIII.
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ. — Phil. iii. 18.
Here is the reason given why they should be cautious whose example they followed, because there were crept into the church a licentious sort of christians, who framed and accommodated their principles and prac- tices to the ease and indulgence of the flesh.
In the words there is — (1.) An introduction ; (2.) The character and brand which he puts on these false teachers.
I. In the introduction three things are asserted —
1. The multitude of these deceitful workers, 'Many walk.'
2. His frequent giving warning of this pest formerly, ' Of whom I have told you often.'
3. His compassionate way of mentioning them for the present, ' And now tell you even weeping.'
1. The multitude of them. Error fretteth like a gangrene ; and God suffereth seducers to multiply in a church, partly to punish the small respect that hath been given to his truth : 2 Thes. ii. 10, 11, ' Witii all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved: and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that
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they should helleve a lie.' Partly that the 'approved mny he made manifest,' 1 Cor. xi. 19, and the light "haff distinguished from the solid grain. The use of litis is, we must not follow the drove, nor be carried away with the current and inundation of evil examples. Many walk; yet, ' Be ye followers of me.' We should keep with the sounder part. The errors of those that are counted godly draw away many. Vice is- a duel, error a war, in which many are killed.
2. His frequent warning. God's faithful ministers must give frequent warning of hazard from errors. Never any epistle was written by the apostles but you will find in them cautions and warnings of this kind. It is our duty not only to fodder the sheep, but hunt out the wolf. Error is touchy, and loath to be meddled with; yet we must warn, and warn often.
3. The compassionate manner wherein he speaketh of them. This is mentioned partly to show what a burden this was to his spirit, and a superaddition of sorrow to his sorrow. When Paul was at liberty he told them of these things ; now in prison he writeth about them ; for they were the same men of whom he spake before, ' that they added affliction to his bonds,' Phil. i. 16. Partly that his- warning might be the better received. The apostle did not inveigh against them out of envy and ill-will, but speaketh with sorrow and tears, out of pure zeai for the glory of God and love to souls. ■ ,
Doct. There should be more of compassion than of passion showed in nproviug persons that err and go astray from their duty.
Because the, apostle's example is of great use to us in like cases, let us a little inquire into the causes of Paul's grief.
1. Negatively. It was not hatred and ill-will to their persons, nor emulation of their credit, nor a desire of venting reproaches. Some men's zeal against error is as much to be feared as others lapsing into it; they encounter sin with sin, and speak against those who dissent from them, and it may be from the truth, out of little affection; as Ithacius had nothing good in him but his hatred of the Priscillianists, who were better men than himself, only fallen into separation from the church, and this so far transported him, that every zealous man was to him a Priscillianist. When wicked men, who have no love of God in their hearts, will be inveighing bitterly against errors, they do not reclaim the wandering, but fiuther alienate and harden them.
2. Positively. The causes were these four —
[1.] Pure zeal for the glory of God, which is more dear to God's servants than all their own interests. Compare Ps. Ixix. 9, with Rom. xv. 3, 'The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.' Carnal men are hot in their own cause, cold in God's ; but the con- trary is true of gracious spirits; as Moses, who was meek in his own cause, but zealous in God's. The dishonour done to God goeth near their hearts.
[2.] The church's welfare, which is highly prized by them : Ps. cxxii. 9, ' Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good;' Isa. lxii. 1, ' For Zion s sake I will not hold my peace ; ' Ps. cxxxvii. 6, 'If 1 do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave 1o the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.' Now to persons thus affected, when others do by their false doctrine and dis-
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orderly life seduce and disturb the church, it is a real grief to them.
[3. j Pity to souls, both of the seducers and the seduced, the ring- leaders and their proselytes, because they brought destruction upon their own heads. It is a grief to a serious christian to see people go to hell by droves. True christians are led by the Spirit of Christ, who was all made up of bowels of compassion. We find him weeping for friends and enemies. Friends, as Lazarus: John xi. 35, 'Jesus wept.' Enemies, as the Jews : Luke xix. 41, ' When he came near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.' Now his people have the bowels of Christ : Phil. i. 8, ' God is my record how greatly I long after you in the bowels of Jesus Christ.' When others incur God's displeasure and endanger their own salvation, it is grievous to them.