False Teachers Compared to Wolves

    FALSE TEACHERS COMPARED TO WOLVES

    "I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" &c., Ac 20:29.

    A Wolf is in Hebrew Zeeb, Ge 49., in Chaldee, Deeba, and Deba: the Arabians call in him Zebah; 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,[1] are these, sour, wild, fierce, bold, greedy, wary, swift, bloody, hard, degenerate, gluttonous hungry, flesheater, famishing, harmful, cruel, furious, insatible, treacherous, martial, ravenous, nightly, &c.

    [1] Elianus, Genser, Topsell.

    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 Topsail, our Saviour alludes, Mt 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 aragiv, snatchers, or ravening Wolves.

    Note. Some False Teachers may fitly be compared to Wolves, to ravening Wolves.

    METAPHOR

    I. A Wolf is a cruel and devouring beast; he is not contented to kill to fill his belly, but will spoil and destroy a whole flock, &c.[2]

    [2] Topsell, p. 571, 578

    PARALLEL

    I. So some False Teachers are very cruel and bloody, destroying multitudes of souls; it is not one or two, but the whole Church of God they strive to devour; hence said "not to spare the flock," Ac 20:29.

    METAPHOR

    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 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.

    PARALLEL

    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, in a sly 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 sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves," Mt 7:15. By good words, and fair speeches, they are said to deceive the hearts of the simple, Ro 16:18. 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 boldness, they could never do that hurt to the Church of God, and men's souls. Hence the apostle cautions the saints, "to be no more children tossed about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive," Eph 4:14.

    METPHOR

    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, it is said, they will learn those tones that the shepherds use; nay, and that some shepherds have themselves being 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.[3]

    [3] Dr. Frantzius.

    PARALLEL

    III. So Romish Wolves, and other False Teachers, and vile heretics, 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 publicly 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 it is no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light, 2Co 11:14. therefore it is no great thing, if his ministers also be transformed, and appear as the ministers of righteousness, &c.

    INFERENCES.

    Let us learn from hence to take heed of False Teachers, and enquire into their inward parts; labour to search thoroughly into their doctrine, and not to be deceived with the outward show of holiness in their lives; for they come, remember, "in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening Wolves."