Now if this be so commendable in the eyes of Christ,1 then why should we not all take some pains herein, and be found doing this Work of our Generation? Do ye think that there are no False Teachers, and False Apostles, and False Prophets, in these days of ours? Read what is said in Zechar. 13.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. First, the Prophet tells us, that in the days immediately before the Calling of the Jews, there shall be unclean Spirits in the Land, verse 2. and False Prophets, verse 3. Secondly, He tells us, That when the Jews shall be called, in that day, verse 1. there shall be so great a Zeal amongst them, against these False Prophets, that their Parents, and such as are near to them, shall be the first that shall punish them, verse 3. His Father and Mother that begat them, shall say, Thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lies; and yet these are high Gospel Times. Thirdly, He tells us here, That this Correction shall be a means to reduce them; for upon that it is said, verse 4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Prophet shall be ashamed, &c. But the thing that I bring this Scripture for, is to show you, that there shall be such People as these, immediately before the Call of the Jews, and that is in these days of ours. Only observe how the Prophet doth here describe them: 1. He tells you that they shall be such as were originally Husbandmen; for upon their Reducement, he shall say, I am no Prophet, I am an Husband-man. 2. He tells you here, That they shall be such as shall wear a rough, hair, or plain Garment to deceive, ver. 4. 3. He tells you, That they shall come in the Name of the Lord, and say, they are not sent by men, but by God immediately, verse 3. 4. That yet these men shall be acted by the very Spirit of the Devil; for says the Lord, I will cause the false Prophet, and the unclean Spirit, to pass out of the Land; that is, such as do work and act by the inspiration of the Devil, having the fierce and unclean ⟨p. 412⟩Spirit of the Devil: These are the men that shall arise in these days of ours. Do you think then, that we are free from false Teachers now? or do you think that it is not incumbent upon all? only upon Officers, to try and discover them? Here the whole Church are commended for it. Or do you think that it is nothing to be commended by Christ? Those that he commends now, he will commend before the Father, and all the Angels, and Saints another day;
Now if this be so commendable in the eyes of Christ,1 then why should we not al take some pains herein, and be found doing this Work of our Generation? Do ye think that there are no False Teachers, and False Apostles, and False Prophets, in these daies of ours? Read what is said in Zechar. 13.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. First, the Prophet tels us, that in the daies immediately before the Calling of the Jews, there shal be unclean Spirits in the Land, verse 2. and False Prophets, verse 3. Secondly, He tels us, That when the Jews shal be called, in that day, verse 1. there shal be so great a Zeal amongst them, against these False Prophets, that their Parents, and such as are neer to them, shal be the first that shal punish them, verse 3. His Father and Mother that begat them, shall say, Thou shalt not live, for thou speakest lyes; and yet these are high Gospel Times. Thirdly, He tels us here, That this Correction shal be a means to reduce them; for upon that it is said, verse 4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Prophet shall be ashamed, &c. But the thing that I bring this Scripture for, is to shew you, that there shal be such People as these, immediately before the Call of the Jews, and that is in these daies of ours. Only observe how the Prophet doth here describe them: 1. He tels you that they shal be such as were originally Husbandmen; for upon their Reducement, he shal say, I am no Prophet, I am an Husband-man. 2. He tels you here, That they shal be such as shal wear a rough, hair, or plain Garment to deceive, ver. 4. 3. He tels you, That they shal come in the Name of the Lord, and say, they are not sent by men, but by God immediately, verse 3. 4. That yet these men shal be acted by the very Spirit of the Devil; for saies the Lord, I will cause the false Prophet, and the unclean Spirit, to pass out of the Land; that is, such as do work and act by the inspiration of the Devil, having the fierce and unclean ⟨p. 412⟩Spirit of the Devil: These are the men that shal arise in these daies of ours. Do you think then, that we are free from false Teachers now? or do you think that it is not incumbent upon al? only upon Officers, to try and discover them? Here the whol Church are commended for it. Or do you think that it is nothing to be commended by Christ? Those that he commends now, he wil commend before the Father, and al the Angels, and Saints another day;
- 1Applicat.
