The Scribes and Pharisees seemed so grave and wise, that the people thought nothing good but what they allowed. They were altogether appliable to believe, to do, to speak, ⟨p. 212⟩and to think, whatsoever the Pharisees willed them. Christ saith unto them, Beware of 1false Prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. S. John therefore saith, Dearly beloved, 2believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: for many false prophets are gone out into the world. And further directeth us, how we should try them, hereby shall ye know the spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Again, hereby may you try them, Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth 3not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not to house, neither bid him God speed. Hereby S. Paul required the Galatians to try between him, and the false Apostles. If any man preach unto you otherwise 4than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For now do I preach mans doctrine or Gods? the Sadducees erred touching the resurrection, because they searched not the scriptures. God teacheth us by the prophet Isaiah, to make trial of teachers and doctrines. When 5they shall say unto you, enquire of them that have a spirit of divination, and at the soothsayers, ⟨p. 213⟩which whisper and murmur, should not a people enquire at their God? from the living to the dead? to the law, and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Paul putteth Timothy in mind wherefore he left him at Ephesus, 6to command some, that they teach none other doctrine: And to warn both the teachers and the hearers, that they give no heed to fables and genealogies, which are endless, which breed questions, rather than godly edifying, which is by faith. Thus are the people of God called to try the truth, to judge between good and il, between light and darkness. God hath made them the promise of his spirit, and hath left unto them his word. They of Berea, when they heard the preaching of Paul, searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so, as he taught them, and many of them believed. So do you:
The Scribes and Pharises séemed so grane and wise, that the people thought nothing good but what they allowed. They were altogether appliable to beléeue, to do, to speake, ⟨p. 212⟩and to thinke, whatsoeuer the Pharises willed them. Christ saith vnto them, Beware of 1false Prophets, which come to you in sheepes clothing, but inwardly they are rauening wolues. S. Iohn therefore saith, Dearely beloued, 2beleeue not euerie spirite, but trie the spirites whether they are of God: for manie false prophets are gone out into the world. And further directeth vs, howe we should trie them, hereby shal ye know the spirit of God: euerie spirit that confesseth that Iesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Againe, hereby may you trie them, Whosoeuer transgresseth, and abideth 3not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. Hee that continueth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the sonne. If there come anie vnto you and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not to house, neither bid him God speede. Hereby S. Paul required the Galathians to trie betwéene him, and the false Apostles. If anie man preach vnto you otherwise 4than that yee haue receiued, let him bee accursed. For now do I preach mans doctrine or Gods? the Saduces erred touching the resurrection, because they searched not the scriptures. God teacheth vs by the prophet Esay, to make triall of teachers and doctrines. When 5they shall saie vnto you, enquire of them that haue a spirite of diuination, and at the soothsaiers, ⟨p. 213⟩which whisper and murmur, shoulde not a people enquire at their God? from the liuing to the dead? to the law, and to the testimonie, if they speake not according to this word, it is bicause there is no light in them. Paule putteth Timothie in mind wherefore he left him at Ephesus, 6to commaund some, that they teach none other doctrine: And to warne both the teachers and the hearers, that they giue no heede to fables and genealogies, which are endlesse, which breede questions, rather than godlie edifying, which is by faith. Thus are the people of God called to trie the truth, to iudge betwéene good and il, betwéene light and darknesse. God hath made them the promise of his spirit, and hath left vnto them his word. They of Berea, when they heard the preaching of Paule, searched the scriptures dailie, whether those things were so, as he taught them, and manie of them beléeued. So do you:
- 1Mat. 7.
- 21. John 4.1. Iohn 4.
- 32. Joh.2. Ioh.
- 4Galat. 1.
- 5Isaiah. 8.Esai. 8.
- 61. Tim. 1.
