of it great intellectual powers are not necessary : nor is general erudition necessary. All that is want- ing is, a humble, teachable spirit, that will seek instruction from God, and receive with child-like simplicity all that God has spoken in his word. Such an one, provided he seek with diligence, and with a determination of heart to fulfil the will of God as far as he can learn it, will assuredly be guided into all truth. But that very simplicity of mind which is necessary to the attainment of truth, subjects a per- son, if he be not much upon his guard, to be im- posed upon by those, who, " by good works and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple." Against such teachers St. Paul felt it necessary to caution his converts frequently^; since, though agents only of the prince of darkness, they put on the appearance of angels of light ^ Against such he here cautions the Hebrew Christians, entreating them to bear in mind what they had been taught by those who had been over them in the Lord, and not to suffer them- selves to be turned aside from the truth which they had received.
In the words here addressed to them, we see,
I. A caution given —
There were, even in the apostolic age, "many vain-talkers and deceivers, and especially amongst the circumcision, who by their subtle disputations subverted whole houses ■=," and " caused the way of truth to be evil spoken of*^." In this day likewise there are not wanting teachers of a similar descrip- tion, who bring forward some favourite notions of their own, "in order to draw away disciples after them^" Against these we must at all times be on our guard, lest at any time we be " carried away,"
1. By legal doctrines — [It was against these more particularly that the Apostle here cautioned the Hebrews. The great scope of his epistle
a Rom. xvi. 17, 18. ^ 2 Cor. xi. 13—15. <= Tit. i. 10, 11. d 2 Pet. ii. 1—3. ^ Acts xx. 29, 30.