Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 9 · Part 16
Metaphors, Similes, AND Other borrowed Terms, &c. CONCERNING FALSE TEACHERS.
Falſe Teachers compared to Wolves.
Acts 20.29. I know, that after my departure ſhall grievous Wolves enter in among you, not ſparing the Flock, &c.
A Wolf is in Hebrew Zeeb, Gen. 49. in Chaldee, Deeba, and Deba; the Arabians call him Zebab; the Greeks, Lycos, and Lagos, and Lycania; and Lycos, among ſome of the Arabian Writers, is borrowed from them, as Munſter hath noted in his Lexicon of three Languages: The Italians call it Lupo; in French, Loup; in Spain, Lobo; in Germany, Valff; in Engliſh, Wolf.
The common Epithets of this Beaſt, amongſt ſeveral Authors, are theſe, Sowre, Elianus. Geſner. Topſell.wild, fierce, bold, greedy, wary, ſwift, bloody, hard, degenerate, gluttonous, hungry, fleſh-eater, famiſhing, harmful, cruel, furious, inſatiable, treacherous, martial, ravenous, nightly, &c.
There are five ſorts of Wolves: The firſt is called Toxenter, a ſwift Wolf; the ſecond Kind are called Harpages; and theſe, ſaith my Author, are the greateſt Raveners, to which (ſaith Topſall) our Saviour alludes, Mat. 7.15. The third Sort are called Lupus Aureus, a Golden Wolf, by reaſon of his Colour; the fourth, Acmone; the fifth, Ictinus. I know, that after my departure ſhall grievous Wolves, &c. Not Wolves only, but grievous Wolves, ſuch as are called by ſome foreign, Snatchers, or ravening Wolves.
Note. Some Falſe-Teachers may fitly be compared to Wolves, to ravening Wolves.
| Metaphor. | Parallel. |
| A Wolf is a cruel and devouring Beaſt; Topſell, p. 571, 578. 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. Acts 20.29 |
| 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 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,2 pet. 2.1. in a ſlie manner they ſeek to inſinuate themſelves into the good Opinion of Men, and with wretched Hypocriſy and Sophiſtry counterfeit 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, Mat. 7.15. but inwardly are ravening Wolves. By good Words, and fair Speeches,Rom. 16.18. 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, Eph. 4.14. and cunning Craftineſs, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. |
| 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,Dr. Frantzius. 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; by which means they have gone forth, and have been devoured by Wolves. | III. So Romiſh Wolves, and other Falſe-Teachers, and vile Hereticks, whilſt the Light of God's Word ſhines freely and gloriouſly forth in a Nation, keep cloſe, and do as it were hide themſelves: but if once it ſeems to look like Even-tide with a People, (as at this very time it doth with poor England) then out come theſe cruel, ravening Wolves, and adventure publickly to read Maſs, and contend for their moſt notorious and execrable Hereſies, and curſed Fopperies. Many Deceivers alſo there are in the World, who labour to get the very Words and Tones (as I may ſay) of Chriſt's true Miniſters, inſomuch that ſome good Men, nay, Teachers themſelves, have been beguiled by them; and 'tis no marvel, for Satan himſelf is transformed into an Angel of Light, 2 Cor. 11.14. Therefore it is no great thing, if his Miniſters alſo be transformed, and appear as the Miniſters of Righteouſneſs, &c. |
Inference.
LEt us learn from hence to take heed of Falſe-Teachers, and enquire into their inward Parts; labour to ſearch throughly into their Doctrine, and not be deceived with the outward Show of Holineſs in their Lives: for they come (remember) in Sheeps Cloathing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves.
Falſe-Teachers compared to Foxes.
Cant. 2.15. Take us the Foxes, the little Foxes, &c.
MOſt Expoſitors underſtand, by theſe Foxes, theſe little Foxes, the Holy-Ghoſt means Falſe-Teachers, who may be compared to Foxes in theſe reſpects following.
Parallels.
I. THe Fox is ſubtil and crafty; ſo (you have heard) are Falſe-Teachers.
II. The Fox is not only crafty, but cruel to harmleſs Creatures: So are Falſe-Teachers to the Souls of Men.
III. Foxes invade in the Night-Time, like Wolves, &c. So do Deceivers, whilſt Miniſters ſleep, or are ſecure, or neglect their Watch.
IV. Foxes are great Spoilers of Vineyards: So Falſe-Teachers do great hurt to the Church of God.
V. Foxes never go ſtrait forward, but by crooked Windings, &c. So Falſe-Teachers never keep to the plain Letter, and expreſs Meaning of the Word of God, but have their Shifts and Evaſions, and unnatural Inferences, whereby they ſeek to defend their evil Doctrine, &c.
VI. Foxes are often taken by Traps that are laid for them, &c. So are Falſe-Teachers often found out and diſcovered by the true Miniſters of Chriſt: But theſe, as natural brute Beaſts, were made to be taken and deſtroyed. 2 Pet. 2.12.
[See more of Foxes under the Head of Metaphors concerning Wicked Men, and Perſecutors.]
Falſe-Teachers compared to Wells without Water.
2 Pet. 2.17. Theſe are Wells without Water, &c.
FAlſe Teachers are in this place compared to Wells without Water.
Parallels.
A Well is a fit Receptacle for Water, and 'tis expected Water ſhould be therein; but if it be empty, it greatly deceives and diſappoints them that come to draw Water out of it: So Miniſters ſhould be ſtored with much Grace and heavenly Doctrine, &c. But thoſe who come to a Falſe-Teacher, to receive Inſtruction and Comfort for their Souls, are grievouſly deceived.
II. A Well that hath no good Water in it, may notwithſtanding have much Dirt and Filth, and ſome foul and ſtinking Water: So Falſe-Teachers, tho they are empty and barren of goood Doctrine, yet it may be they have much corrupt, deteſtable, and abominable Filth of falſe Doctrine, Error, and Hereſy in them, which fooliſh Ones are greedy of, draw out, and take down, to the poyſoning and utter ruine of their Souls.
Falſe-Teachers compared to Clouds without Rain.
2 Pet. 2.17. Theſe are Wells without Water, Clouds that are carried with a Tempeſt, to whom the Miſt of Darkneſs is reſerved for ever.
Jude 12. Clouds they are without Rain, carried about of Winds, &c.
AS Falſe-Teachers are compared to Wells without Water, ſo likewiſe they are to Clouds without Rain, carried with a Tempeſt, &c.
Parallels.
SOme Clouds ſeem as if they had much Water or Rain in them, tho empty: So ſome falſe Teachers do ſeem very like the true and faithful Servants and Miniſters of Chriſt; they in outward Show appear devout, and talk like Saints, pretending to much Humility and Godlineſs, as if they were the very Men that God had appointed to diſpenſe his Word, and heavenly Truth: But alas! they are but meer empty Clouds, being only filled with airy and unprofitable Notions. Some Clouds (as Pliny obſerves) are nothing elſe but meer empty Vapours, and theſe are often carried very ſwiftly with the Wind: So Falſe-Teachers are carried away as empty Vapors, with the Wind of Deluſion, or falſe Doctrine.
II. Clouds prevent or hinder Mortals from beholding the glorious ſhining of the Sun, and tend greatly to darken the Heavens: So Falſe-Teachers obſtruct (in a great meaſure) the glorious Goſpel in its Light and Splendor, from ſhining upon the Souls of Men, and tend to darken the bleſſed Light of Divine Truths, in a Nation where they abound, and are countenanced.
Falſe-Teachers compared to Deceivers.
2 John 1.7. For many Deceivers are entred into the World, who confeſs not that Jeſus Chriſt is come in the Fleſh; this is a Deceiver, and an Antichrist.
DEceiver, or one that cauſeth to err, is by the Greeks called, a Deſpiſer; by the Chaldee, a Mocker, Mat. 27.63. foreign, a notable Cozener, Impoſtor. Ainſworth. See Liegh's Crit. Sacr. ſeduced, and ſeducing others: Such our Saviour and his Apoſtles were reputed, but falſly; others are truly ſo called, who deal fraudulently and falſe-heartedly with God, Men, and their own Hearts.
| Deceiver. | Parallel. |
| A Deceiver, or cunning Impoſtor, hath many Ways whereby he ſecretly, and with much craftineſs ſeeks to trapan and beguile his Neighbour: As, (1.) He will pretend himſelf to be a ſpecial Friend, and ſo inſinuate into a Man's Affection. (2.) He ſtrives to find out the Diſpoſition of the Perſon he intends to cheat. (3.) He will (the better to accompliſh his Deſign) change his Name, and pretend himſelf ſome worthy and noble Perſon, and of ſome eminent Family. (4.) He will watch the fitteſt Opportunity to effect his Enterprize. (5.) He will ſometimes put a Vizard on his Face, and often change his Habit, that he may deceive the more ſecurely. (6.) And if he is in danger to be taken, he will exclaim againſt the Deceiver, and cry out, Stop Thief, &c. | FAlſe-Teachers, who are cunning to deceive, have many ways to delude poor Creatures: As, (1.) They commonly pretend much Pity and Compaſſion to the Souls of Men, and hereby they endeavour to wind themſelves into their Affections; and when once a Perſon harbours a good Opinion of them, their Work is half done. (2.) They ſeek to find out what Parts they have, and what Principles they hold, with whom they converſe: for if they perceive they are Men and Women well rooted and grounded in the Orthodox Faith, and able to defend the Truth, they have little hopes of prevailing; but if they find that they are Perſons of a weak Judgment, and mind more abundantly the Converſation of Men, than what Doctrine they hold, or do more mind and regard the Circumſtantials of Religion, than the grand Fundamentals thereof; they will purſue ſuch cloſe. (3.) They do always change their Names; for if their Names were known, they could not beguile ſo many: Were Error, Falſe-Doctrine, Blaſphemy, Hereſy, Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing, Foxes, cunning Serpents, Deceivers, &c. but writ upon their Foreheads, moſt People would be afraid of them; but they, contrary-wiſe, call themſelves Chriſt's Miniſters, Witneſſes of Jeſus, Friends of Truth, the Lamb's Followers, &c. Alſo 'tis common with them to pretend themſelves to be the Orthodox Men, Sons of the Church, of the Holy Church, of the Catholick Church, Maſters in Iſrael, Guides of the Blind, &c. (4.) They ſtudy to find out the fitteſt Seaſon and Opportunity to accompliſh their Deſign, and Helliſh Purpoſe, viz. They watch for ſuch a Time, when the Profeſſors of the Goſpel and Truths of Jeſus begin to decline in their Zeal, and to loſe much of the Power of Godlineſs, and ſeem to make a mighty Stir about the Form thereof, and are much divided amongſt themſelves; when Iniquity doth abound, and the Love of many waxeth cold; in a word, when Men begin to grow ſecure, or the true Shepherd is off of his Watch, then theſe Wolves and Deceivers get abroad, and, like that wicked Enemy, ſow their Tares of Error and Deluſion. (5.) The Jeſuits, thoſe crafty Deceivers, have often appeared in a Diſguiſe externally, and do uſually change their Garbs, &c. Sometimes they are Holders-forth in a Quakers Meeting; at other times they will counterfeit themſelves to be Lawyers: Sometimes they will take on them the Habit of Prieſts, ſometimes Merchants, ſometimes Shoo-makers, &c. And all this, that they may the more ſecurely carry on their wicked Deſigns and Purpoſes to pervert poor Souls, &c. (6.) And laſtly, When theſe Falſe-Teachers and Deceivers begin to fear they ſhall be diſcovered, and perceive there is a Cry raiſed againſt them, and that they are cloſely purſued, and in danger to be taken, then (to ſave themſelves) they cry out againſt others. None are more ready to exclaim againſt Falſe-Teachers and Deceivers than they, endeavouring to caſt all the Infamy and black Aſperſions imaginable upon the true and faithful Miniſters of the Goſpel, loading them with all the fouleſt Calumnies they can deviſe, that they themſelves may in the mean while paſs the better for true Men, and be the leſs ſuſpected. Thus thoſe blind Guides in Iſrael ſerved our Saviour himſelf: Some ſaid, He is a good Man; Joh 7.12. & 8.48. Mat. 27.63. others ſaid, Nay, but he deceiveth the People. — Say we not well, that thou art a Samaritan, and haſt a Devil? Sir, we remember that the Deceiver ſaid, whilſt he was yet alive, After three days I will riſe again. And thus they exclaimed againſt the Apoſtles: Paul was called a Mover of Sedition; and by Falſe-Teachers he with others were called Deceivers: As Deceivers, and yet true, &c.Acts 24.14. — After that way which they call Hereſy, ſo worſhip I the God of my Fathers, &c. |
| II. Some Deceivers have been notorious in the horrid Practice of beguiling others: They have been ſuch Crafts-Maſters at it, that they have deceived Multitudes; and not only the common Sort of People, but divers great Men and Princes have been cheated by them. | II. So the Pope, and his Hierarchy, thoſe curſed Deceivers in the Romiſh Church, have been notorious in the Helliſh Trade of beguiling the Souls of Men. How many Millions have they deceived! O the Multitudes they have led blindfold to Hell! The Kings of the Earth have been beguiled by her, and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk, and bewitched with the Wine of her Fornication. |
| III. Some Deceivers have ſo far prevailed, that they have utterly ruined whole Families, cheating People of their beſt and chiefeſt Treaſure. | III. So Falſe-Teachers have ſometimes ſo wonderfully prevailed, that they have utterly corrupted, ruined, and undone, by their falſe Doctrine, many Nations, Cities, Towns, and Families, cheating them of the Truth of Chriſt, and his bleſſed Ordinances; and not only ſo, but thereby alſo of their Souls,Mat. 16.26 which are of more worth than all the World. |
| IV. Grand Impoſtors, old Cheats and Deceivers, 'tis obſerved, rarely reform their Helliſh Lives, and become true Men, but grow worſe and worſe, till Juſtice ſeizes them. | IV. So Falſe-Teachers, Hereticks, and Seducers, ſeldom or never are recovered, and brought back by unfeigned Repentance, to the true Church of God: And therefore the Apoſtle Paul ſaith,1 Tim. 3.13. Evil Men, and Seducers, ſhall wax worſe and worſe, deceiving, and being deceived, &c. |
| V. The End of Cheaters and Impoſtors (we ſee) oft-times is ſad. If he be a notorious Offender, and be taken, he dies without Mercy. | V. So the laſt End of Falſe-Teachers and Hereticks will be ſad and miſerable: They are ſaid to bring upon themſelves ſwift Deſtruction. The Beaſt, 2 Pet. 2.2, 3. Rev. 19.20 and Falſe-Prophet ſhall be caſt alive into the Lake of Fire, burning with Brimſtone, &c. |