beyond : we must not be led by tlielr influence, either to reject truth, or to embrace error ; but must be on our guard against them ; and " follow them only so far as they themselves are followers of Christ."]
2. Who corrupt and pervert the Gospel —
[Thus it was with the Judaizing teachers : they blended the observation of the Mosaic ritual with an affiance in the Lord Jesus Christ ; and thus, in fact, destroyed the very foundations of the Gospel. St. Paul tells us, that they perverted the Gospel, and introduced another Gospel, which was, in truth, no Gospel at alP : and he guards us against them with a holy vehemence, which might appear almost to border on impiety : " If any one, even though he be an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." " I repeat it," says he: " if an angel from heaven so corrupt the Gospel, let him be accursed."
But are there no such teachers in later ages ? Yes ; in every age of the Church they are very numerous. Men are prone to unite something of their own with the meritorious work of Christ, as a joint ground of their hope ; and they are very specious in their arguments : they seem as if they had a great zeal for morality, and were only afraid of countenancing licentiousness. But, whatever be their pretences, we must be on our guard against them. Hear how pointedly the Apostle speaks : " Beware of dogs, beware of evil-workers, beware of the concision." Beware then of all such persons, and of their fatal errors : for " by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified," either in whole or in part : nor " can any man lay any other foundation than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."]
3. Who distract and divide the Church —
[Many there were of this description even in the Apostolic age ; men who would bring forward their own particular no- tions with a view to draw away disciples after them. Some would insist upon something under the name of science or philosophy'^: others would deny some of the plainest truths of Christianity '^ : others would plead for a latitude in the indulgence of some particular sins*^: others would exalt one teacher or Apostle above all the rest^. In short, they were men of an unquiet, disputatious, forward, contentious dispo- sition^; loving to have any kind of pre-eminence, and to raise their own credit or interest on the divisions and dissensions of the Church. *! Now, says St. Paul, " Mark men of this description, and avoid them'." " Receive them not into your
^ Gal. i. 6—9. <= Col. ii. 8. " 2 Tim. ii. 16—18.
'^ Rev. ii. 14, 15. f 1 Cor. iii. 4. s 1 Tim. vi. .3—5.
'' John iii. 9. Gal. vi. 13. ' Rom. xvi. 17. VOL. xr. T