and undeceive those whom they had so fatally led astray b.
But it is not our intention to confine our remarks to that particular occasion. Similar conduct obtains amongst us at this day ; and it calls for similar reproof. We propose therefore to consider, I. Who are obnoxious to this reproof —
All ranks and orders of men who attempt to inva- lidate the messages of the Most High, are guilty of the evil here spoken of. It is justly imputable to,
1. Unfaithful ministers —
[Not only amongst the Jews, but even in the Christian Church, there were many, who, professing themselves to be ambassadors of heaven, were only deceivers of the people0. Their habit has at all times been, to " say, Peace, peace, when there was no peace d. Would to God that none of this cha- racter yet existed in the world ! But are there not still some who keep out of view the desperate depravity of the human heart, the absolute necessity of a new birth, the impossibility of being saved by any righteousness of our own, and the duty of giving up ourselves wholly and unreservedly to God as his
redeemed people ? Are there not those who decry
these things as enthusiasm ; and who tell their hearers, that there is a smoother and an easier way to heaven than what the
Scriptures have marked out ? If then such persons
exist, say whether they do not resemble the prophets and the prophetesses spoken of in our text ? ]
2. Unbelieving people —
[Whether seduced by others or not, all are prone of themselves to speak peace unto their own souls : they will not receive the declarations of God concerning them : they cannot endure to think that they are in such danger as God's word declares them to be ; or that the way to heaven is so strait and narrow as his Gospel represents it. They substitute some terms of their own in the place of those which God has pre- scribed ; and they persuade themselves that they shall be saved at last, though they conform themselves in no respect either to the principles or practice of the Christian code
Are not these then daubing their wall with untem-
pered mortar, and sewing to their arms pillows which shall be rent away ? - — ]
b See the whole chapter.
c 2 Cor. xi. 13. Gal. i. 6—8. 1 Tim. iv. 1. 2 Pet. ii. 1, 2.
d ver. 10. with Jer. vi. 14.