Clavis cantici, or, An exposition of the Song of Solomon

And as their master Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, so do they themselves into the ministers of Christ: All such beasts whatever their shape be, are hateful to Christ and his Church. 3. These false teachers or foxes, are said to spoil the vines, for foxes hurt not a Vineyard, or flock of lambs more than false teachers do the Church. 1. Corrupting the purity of Doctrine. 2. Obscuring the simplicity of Worship. 3. Overturning the beauty of Order, and bringing•in confusion. 4. Spoiling her bond of unity, and renting the affections, and dividing the ways of her members, thereby dissipating the flock. 5. Extinguishing the vigour and life of Christian practise; diverting from what is more necessary, to hurtful and vain janglings, which do still increase to more ungodliness, and have never profited them who were occupied therein, Heb. 13. 7. 6. By ruining souls, carrying them headlong to the pit, 2 Pet. 2. 1. and 3. 16. There is no hurt nor hazard the Church of Christ meets with, or ever met with, more grievous and dangerous, than what she meets with from such, although this be an exercise and trial, ordinarily incident to her.

And as their master Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, so do they themselves into the ministers of Christ: All such beasts whatever their shape be, are hateful to Christ and his Church. 3. These false teachers or foxes, are said to spoil the vines, for foxes hurt not a Vineyard, or flock of lambs more than false teachers do the Church. 1. Corrupting the purity of Doctrine. 2. Obscuring the simplicity of Worship. 3. Overturning the beauty of Order, and bringing•in confusion. 4. Spoiling her bond of unity, and renting the affections, and dividing the wayes of her members, thereby dissipating the flock. 5. Extinguishing the vigour and life of Christian practise; diverting from what is more necessary, to hurtful and vain janglings, which do still increase to more ungodlinesse, and have never profited them who were occupied therein, Heb. 13. 7. 6. By ruining souls, carrying them headlong to the pit,