ITHERTO the Apostle propounded an exhortation, and confirmed it also in the foregoing Chapter. In the two following Chapters he strengthens it, by removing the impediments, that might make this exhortation of no effect. And the chiefe impediments are fals teachers and profane scoffers: of these former he speaks Chapter 2. Of the latter chapter 3. The false teachers he doth first, describe: secondly, reprove: he describes them from the beginning to those words in verse 3. whose judgement, &c. Then he reproves them, 1. in generall in these words, that they are damned men; which he doth afterwards prove, 1. by the usuall course of Gods justice, from verse 4. to the 10. 2. By their deserts, whereby they bring upon themselves the revenging justice of God, from verse 10. to the end of the Chapter. In the description of the false teachers he makes, 1. A comparison of the like betwixt the false teachers and those that were false prophets among the people of Israel, partly that he might joyne together this discourse with the former, where he spake of true Prophets; and partly that he might meet with the scandall which might arise by such seducers; and partly that he might stirre up the faithfull so much the more, to beware of their seducing. In the first respect, the last words of the former Chapter, and the first of this Chapter, make such a discreet axiom as this; although there were many Prophets among the People of Israel, that were holy men of God, and were moved by the Spirit of God in those things that they spake; yet among the same people also there were many false Prophets. This discretion is shewed in these words: But there were. In the second respect these words make a copulate axiom thus: Like as there were false Prophets among the People of Israel, so also shall there be false teachers among you. In the third respect there is intimated and implicitely contained such a connex axiom as this: If there shall be false teachers among you, like as there were false Prophets among the people of Israel, then must you be alike careful to beware of these, as the Israelites were warned heretofore to beware of them. After that description which is made by way of comparison, followes an absolute description; wherein the false teachers are described by their effects. Which effects have either an immediate reference unto the false teachers themselves, or unto others by them. Those that have reference unto the false teachers themselves, are 1. The bringing in of heresies, which are set forth by their adjunct, that they are damnable, whereof he gives a reason also, taken from the nature of heresies, which is said to be such, that it brings in a denying of the Lord. 2. The second effect is, that they bring upon themselves swift destruction. In respect of others the first effect is, that they shall have many followers, who are pointed out by another effect accompanying this seducing, namely, a speaking evill of the truth, or of the Gospell, which shall come to passe by their meanes. The other effect is the abuse of those whom they do seduce for gain; which abuse is set forth by the helping cause, namely by fained words.
The Doctrines arising herehence.
Doctrine 1. There are alwayes false prophets and false teachers in the Church.
This is gathered from these words: there were, there shall bee.
Reason. This comes to passe in a threefold respect, 1. in respect of God. 2. In respect of the Devill. 3. In respect of men. First, in respect of God, and that 1. that they which are approved in the Church may be made manifest, 1 Corinthians 11.19. Deuteronomy 13.3. 2. That the obstinate wicked may perish in their ungodlinesse and cruelty, 2 Thessalonians 2.10,11,12. 1 Kings 22.20,21,22. Secondly, in respect of the Devill, because he is alwayes the father of lyes, and a murtherer, and that envious one, which soweth tares among the good seed. Thirdly, In respect of men, because the wisdome of the flesh is enmity against God and his truth.
The use hereof according to the Apostles intention is twofold:
Vse 1. To admonish us, not to be offended, nor to be too much troubled in minde, when we see heresies to arise in the Church, but to say as the Apostle did, There were, there shall be.
2. To instruct us, not to believe every spirit, but to try whether they are of God, 1 Iohn 4.1.
Doctrine 2. Every heresie hath damnation joyned with it.