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27. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.†
Hear the same caution from the lips of our Divine Master — “Beware of false prophets. Take heed what ye hear.” (Matthew 7:15. Mark 4:24.) All instruction is not to life. Teachers of evil, “Ministers of Satan,”† abound. And their instruction, causing to err from the words of knowledge, is more palatable to the perverseness of the heart; more alluring to the inexperience of the young, than solid Scriptural teaching.† The Apostle reproved the Galatian Church for listening to teachers, causing them to err fatally from the words of knowledge.† And would he not have warned us against the same teaching, so fearfully prevalent: placing ordinances in the stead of Christ, or conjoined with him; man's proud work of “voluntary humility” and external service in the room of pure simplicity of reliance on the Redeemer's work? When the soul has thus “fallen from grace” (Ib. 5:4), what ground of confidence can we bring before God? What is his service, but the bondage of outward ceremonies, leading to cheerless despondency?
This instruction is not generally a bold and direct departure from truth. But, as in the first temptation (Genesis 3:1-6), it caused to err so gradually, that the deviation from the straight line is scarcely perceptible till the mischief has been accomplished. Had Eve at once ceased to hear, she would not have erred from the words of knowledge. But the success of the first attempt has emboldened the seducer to deal out his deadly poison to her enfeebled children. And what faithful pastor does not feel a “godly jealousy” for his flock, lest by the same beguilement “they should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ”? (2 Corinthians 11:3.)
Insinuating infidels, who endeavour to shake the principles of young persons under the pretense of removing needless scruples, and enlarging their minds, and delivering them from the shackles of bigotry — such persons shun them as the plague. Let us sound a caution also against false teachers of a more plausible, and therefore more dangerous character. Let their devices and disguises be fully laid open. It is the “wolf,” not in his native dress, but “in sheep's clothing.” (Matthew 7:15.) “Cunning craftiness” is the distinctive character of the instruction. (Ephesians 4:14.) All that is pleasing is brought out as a cover for the delusion. Perhaps never was the poison commended in so attractive a form. All the charms of elegant fiction are employed to give effect to it. A lovely picture of practical religion is exhibited. Or the deliverance from the fowler's open snare is portrayed with glowing color of interest. Superficial readers are captivated by the external loveliness. Parents — sometimes even Christian parents — commend to their children these pictures as models of domestic religion or Church orthodoxy. But the wise watchman would raise his warning voice — Cease, my son, from hearing. — To hear — to regard — is to err. All these beauteous sketches of fancy are the framework that conceal principles most unscriptural. Weigh them in the balances of the sanctuary, and they will be found wanting. Trace them to their source, and it will be found to be a corrupt fountain. The Church, not Christ, is the foundation principle. A human standard, not the word of God, is the rule. Cease from hearing.†
Indeed everywhere we would give the warning, that needlessly to tamper with error, is “entering into temptation.” Nay, it is most hazardous to deal with it at all, ere our minds are thoroughly grounded in the truth and we have obtained “the good thing of the heart established with grace.”† Yet we have senses given for discernment. Use increaseth this discernment.† Increasing clearness should be the matter of daily supplication.† We are bound therefore to exercise our senses by the plainest commands.† Our Divine Master distinctly rebukes indolence.† When the words came with the stamp of an apostle, the appeal to the unerring standard was highly commended.† Should we give up our judgment to the Church, be it remembered that “every one of us shall bear his own burden, and shall give an account of himself to God.”† Be the son, not the slave, of the Church. Reverence her just authority; but maintain that right of private judgment which constitutes our personal responsibility.
This Christian independence however must be held with humility and simplicity. The duty of private judgment must be felt as one's own burden, to be cast on none but God. Hence we must carefully restrain self-will. We must attend the ordinances in the spirit of learners rather than as judges; desiring to gather instruction in child-like simplicity, and watching lest the appetite for wholesome food should give place to a spiritual lust. (See 2 Timothy 4:3.) While the right of judgment is our great privilege, never let us forget, that the licentiousness of it is a cankering evil. If the Romanist enslave the right, let the sound Protestant discipline its exercise.
But what — if our lot be manifestly cast, and our sphere of Christian obligation opened, where words of knowledge are not found? We would suggest at commencement, that particular cases require particular application. There may be cases, when the call would be direct to cease from hearing. If the teaching be heretical, or wholly unevangelical, if the teacher's life be immoral or scandalously worldly; if the children and servants of the family are manifestly in danger of being caused to err, the path may be made plain to depart. And yet in this case much exercise of mind, much personal sacrifice would be called for to separate from the Minister, not from the Church. And under no circumstances let the ungodliness of the Minister be an excuse for the neglect of Christian ordinances. At the same time, in many more cases than are ordinarily supposed, the mature Christian will remain in his place, continue in prayer, abound in labour of love, meekly use, as occasion may allow, the weapons of admonition and reproof, display a consistent example, and take up his appointed cross. In some cases, when the offense is open, and the error manifest, sound discipline may bring the heretical or ungodly teacher to punishment, and thus open the way for better instruction.
To the mass — who are mainly dependent upon the Ministry for instruction, some forbearance must be admitted, even should they be constrained by hunger to cease from hearing those, who would give them a stone for bread. At least the main guilt lies on “the stranger,” not on them, that flee from him, for they “know not his voice.” (John 10:5.) Fearful indeed will be the witness of many a soul neglected, if not “destroyed, for lack” of hearing the words of knowledge. Assured as we are, that the preaching of Christ is the alone preservation from this tremendous evil, if Christ be preached, and sinners are converted to him by other less accredited teachers, “we do rejoice, yea, and we will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18.) Yet where Christians can abide, let them do so — Let them “trust in the LORD, and do good.”† The words of knowledge always, will they hear from the Church, if not from her Ministers. The deficiency in privilege will be abundantly supplied. Christian activity will be a quickening means of grace. The constant application of the touchstone will be a preservation from error. The food of the word will be more precious. And who knows but an enlightened Minister may be given to the power of believing prayer, and to the living influence of godly meekness, patience, and consistency?
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