A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

False teachers.] What this falsehood is, you have formerly perceived; observe now how it insinuates it self: this is always in the semblance of Truth. For Error is so foul a hag, that if it should come in the own shape, nuda facie, all men would loath it. If Jezebel had not painted her self,¹ she had not gotten so many doting adulterers. Those Wolves come evermore in sheeps-clothing: Sub pelle ovina Lupus rapax. As the fowler by the benefit of his stalking horse murders the fowls: who but for their familiar knowledge of the beast their friend, would mistrust the man their enemy. Mary, saith Christ,² shall come in my Name: Nomine meo, non suo; not in their own name, for then their words would not be taken. The sects of former ages came in other names: as the name of Stoics, of Peripatetics: and in the Church, the name of Pharisees, the name of Sadducees: but since Christ all come Nomine meo, in his Name. Sub specie veritatis veritatem vulnerant; They wound the Truth in her own coat: as Jacob put on the garments of Esau his brother, to deceive Isaac his Father: so these in the apparel of their elder brother Christ, seek to beguile the Church their Mother. It is no wonder if there be false Teachers,³ when there shall be false christs. Strong impudence of men, that they dare call themselves by his Name on earth, that sits on the right hand of Majesty in heaven. Now that this Prophecy of our Saviour was true, experience hath justified. Among the Persians, one Manes, with his twelve Apostles, called himself the Comforter of Israel. Bencosben was received of the very Rabbi's for thirty years together, as their Messiah. Stella in Luc. reports that in Setuvall, in the kingdom of Portugal, in our time, arose one that called himself the Messiah. Your selves have heard of David George, and of ungracious Hacquet, with his two prophets of mercy and justice, who impiously usurped that incommunicable name of the Messiah

False teachers.] What this falshood is, you have formerly perceived; observe now how it insinuates it selfe: this is alwayes in the semblance of Truth. For Errour is so foule a hag, that if it should come in the own shape, nuda facie, all men would loath it. If Iezabel had not painted her selfe,¹