Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Wolf is a cruel and devouring Beast;1 he is not contented to kill to fill his Belly, but will spoil and destroy a whole Flock, &c. | SO some False-Teachers are very cruel and bloody, destroying Multitudes of Souls; 'tis not one or two, but the whole Church of God they strive to devour; hence said not to spare the Flock.2
II. Wolves are not only cruel, but subtle and very crafty also, watching the fittest Time to seize upon their Prey. They will silently approach the Sheep-Fold, to see whether the Dogs be asleep, or ⟨p. 292⟩the Shepherd wanting; when he is careless or negligent of his Flock, then comes the Wolf to destroy, and suck the Blood of the poor Sheep. Those Beasts that have Horns, he cometh upon at their Tails, lest by their Horns they prove too hard for him. They will, after they have made great Slaughter, to hide their Villainy, wash their bloody Mouths, &c. | II. So some False-Teachers are very crafty, and subtle to deceive, and prey upon the Souls of Men. They privily bring in damnable Heresies,3 in a sly manner they seek to insinuate themselves into the good Opinion of Men, and with wretched Hypocrisy and Sophistry counterfeit ⟨p. 292⟩much Purity, Humility, and Angelical Sanctity, boasting of peculiar Illuminations, and Communion with God, &c. And therefore they are said to come in Sheeps Clothing, 4but inwardly are ravening Wolves. By good Words, and fair Speeches,5 they are said to deceive the Hearts of the Simple. None have pretended to more seeming Zeal, and outward Holiness, than some vile and notorious Heretics; to put off their counterfeit Coin, they are content to mix it with some good Silver. Were it not for their outward Show of Piety and Holiness, they could never do that Hurt to the Church of God, and Mens Souls. Hence the Apostle cautions the Saints, to be no more Children tossed about with every Wind of Doctrine, by the Slight of Men, 6and cunning Craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
⟨p. 291⟩III. Wolves, Naturalists tell us, keep close in their Dens or Lurking-places in the Day-time, and about Even-tide secretly come out, seeking their Prey. Moreover, 'tis said,7 they will learn those Tones that the Shepherds use; nay, and that some Shepherds have themselves been so deceived by them, that they have taken their Tone for a Man's Voice, and as if some Man had called them;
Metaphor. | Parallel.
A Wolf is a cruel and devouring Beast;1 he is not contented to kill to fill his Belly, but will spoil and destroy a whole Flock, &c. | SO some False-Teachers are very cruel and bloody, destroying Multitudes of Souls; 'tis not one or two, but the whole Church of God they strive to devour; hence said not to spare the Flock.2
II. Wolves are not only cruel, but subtil and very crafty also, watching the fittest Time to seize upon their Prey. They will silently approach the Sheep-Fold, to see whether the Dogs be asleep, or ⟨p. 292⟩the Shepherd wanting; when he is careless or negligent of his Flock, then comes the Wolf to destroy, and suck the Blood of the poor Sheep. Those Beasts that have Horns, he cometh upon at their Tails, lest by their Horns they prove too hard for him. They will, after they have made great Slaughter, to hide their Villany, wash their bloody Mouths, &c. | II. So some False-Teachers are very crafty, and subtil to deceive, and prey upon the Souls of Men. They privily bring in damnable Heresies,3 in a slie manner they seek to insinuate themselves into the good Opinion of Men, and with wretched Hypocrisy and Sophistry counterfeit ⟨p. 292⟩much Purity, Humility, and Angelical Sanctity, boasting of peculiar Illuminations, and Communion with God, &c. And therefore they are said to come in Sheeps Cloathing, 4but inwardly are ravening Wolves. By good Words, and fair Speeches,5 they are said to deceive the Hearts of the Simple. None have pretended to more seeming Zeal, and outward Holiness, than some vile and notorious Hereticks; to put off their counterfeit Coin, they are content to mix it with some good Silver. Were it not for their outward Shew of Piety and Holiness, they could never do that Hurt to the Church of God, and Mens Souls. Hence the Apostle cautions the Saints, to be no more Children tossed about with every Wind of Doctrine, by the Slight of Men, 6and cunning Craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
⟨p. 291⟩
- 1Topsell, p. 571, 578.
- 2Acts 20.29
- 32 pet. 2.1.
- 4Mat. 7.15.
- 5Rom. 16.18.
- 6Eph. 4.14.
- 7Dr. Frantzius.
