Bo0kiV. FALSE-TEACHERS COMPARED To FOXES. 843 M E T A P H 0 R. P A R A L L E L. nefs, they could never do that Hurt to the Church of God, and Mens Souls. Hence the J\ poftle ·Cautions the Saints, to be 110 more Childrm tojftd about with every Wind of Doflrine, by the Slight of Men, and cunning Craftinejs, whereby they lie in wait to de– ceive, Epb. iv. •+· Ill. Wolves, Naturalifts tell us, keep clofe in their Dens or Lurk– in"'- places in the Day-time, and ab~m Even·ticle fecrerly come out, feeking their .Prey. Moreover, it is Jaid, they will learn thofe Tones that the Shepherds ufe; nay, and that fome Shepherds have rhem– Ji:lves been fo deceived by them, that they have taken their Tone for a Man's Voice, and as if fome Man had called them; by which means thry have gone forth, and have been devoured by Wolves. • Ill. So Romifh Wolves, and other Falfe– Teachers, and vile Heretic;, whilft the Light of God's Word fhines freely and gloriouily forth in a Nation, keep clofe, and do as it were hide them– felves: But if once it feems to look like Even-tide with" People, as at this very Time it doth with poor Er.g!and, thc:n our come thefe cruel, raven· ing Wolves, and adventure publicly to read Mafs, and contend for their moft notorious and execrable Herefies, and curfed Fopperies. Many Deceivers alfu there are in rhe 'vVorld, who labor to get the very \Vords otnd Tone,, as I may fay, of Chrift's trucMinifters, infomuch thatfomcgood Men, nay, Teachers themfelvcs, have been beguiled by them.; and it is no marvel, for .Satan l1imfelf is tranf– formed into an Angel of Light, 2 Cor. xi. 14-. thertfore it is no great Thing, if his Minii\ers alfo be transformed, and appears as the .Mini!lers of Righteoufnefs, &c. N F E R E N C E. LET us ·learn from hence to take heed of Falfe-Teachors, and enquire into their in– ward Parrs; labor 10 learch thoroughly into their Docrrine, and not be deceived with the outward Shew of H olinefs in their LiO'es: For they come, remember, in Sheeps .Cfoathing, but inwardly.are ravening Wolves. FALSE-TEA CH ER'S COMPARED TO F 0 X E s. ffake us tbe Foxes, the lillle Foxes, &c. Cant. ii. 15. MOST Expofitors underfhnd, by thefe -Foxes, thefe little Foxes, the. H oly Ghoft means Falfo-Teachers, who may be compared to Foxes in thefe refpeets following. P A R A L L E L S. '!. THE Fox is fuhtil and crafty, fo you have heard, are F1lfe-Tcachcrs. I!. The .Fox is not only crafty, but cruel to harmlefs Creatures: So are Falfe– Teachers to the Souls of Men. Ill. Foxes invade in the Night-time. like Wolves, &c. So do Deceivers, whilf.l: Minifiers fieep, or are lecure, or negleft their ·watch. IV" Foxes are great fpoilers of Vineyards: So Falfe-Teachers do great Hun to the Church of God. V. Foxes never go fuait forward, but by crooked Windings, &c. So Falfe-Teacners never keep to the plain Letter, and exprefs Meaningof the \:Vord of God, but have their Shifts and Evafions, and unnatural Inferences, whereby they feek to defend their evil Docrrine, &c. ·vr. Foxes are often taken by Traps that are laid ror them, &c. So are Falfe– Teachers often found out and difcovered by the true Minifters of Chrift: But theft, as .nat11ral brute Beafts, were made to be taken a11d dejlroyd, 2 Pet. ii. 12 • .[See more of Foxes under the Head of Metaphors concemh1g Wicked Men, and &r– fecutor-s.J -'* ~Dr. Erantzius, FALSE·:
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