A Christians duty and safety in evil times Delivered in several sermons, upon four…A Christians duty and safety in evill times Delivered in severall sermons, upon four…

Thirdly, ¹try all Doctrines that you hear preached, because false Doctrines and Heresies come from the publishers of them very slyly and craftily into the minds of men: There is not more legerdemain showed by a cunning juggler, then by these false Teachers, they are subtle & cunning to pervert the minds of men: As the Apostle shows Ephes. 4.14. ²That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. The word in the Greek is very emphatical, [Greek or Hebrew], by mens cogging of a die: It is a word borrowed from cheating gamesters, that can throw with a die, what way they please. These Teachers can as easily convey errors into the minds of men, as a cunning gamester can cheat with a die. We have had many ⟨p. 77⟩such sly, and subtle conveyances, or else the truths of God could never have been perverted amongst us as they are. It is Observable, Rev. 9.8. That the locusts that came out of the East, ³had their faces like the faces of women. Interpreters expound them to be Jesuits, and factors for Rome; they had women's faces, insinuating and alluring countenances, inveigling, enticing, and bewitching of men with their follies. Of such the Apostle speaks, Rom. 16.18. For they that are such, ⁴serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bellies, and by good words, and fair speeches, deceive the hearts of the simple. Even as a foul faced whore, painteth her face, so do they their damnable errors, with eloquent insinuations; sometimes they tickle itching ears with such eloquent Notions as may make them admired. And sometimes they suggest high privileges, unspeakable advantages by what they deliver; As the Devil did to our first parents, ye shall be like