“But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” See into what danger the Galatians had run by following evil counsel. By departing from the simplicity of the faith, they were bringing themselves under the curse, and in danger of hell fire. For “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:6. The tongue has devoured more than the sword, for the sword would never be drawn if it were not for the unruly tongue. No man can tame it, but God can. He had done it in the case of the Galatians, when their mouths were filled with blessing and praise; but what a change had again taken place! As the result of their later instruction, they had descended from blessing to bickering, and instead of talking to edification, were about to devour one another. [Sidenote: “The Leaven of Malice and Wickedness.”] Verses 8 and 9, following the question, “Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” manifestly apply here as well as there, since biting and devouring are very strong evidences of not obeying the truth. “This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you.” God is the God of peace. Of Christ, the Prince of peace, it was said, “He shall not strive” (Matt. 12:19); therefore “the servant of the Lord must not strive” (2 Tim. 2:24). The Gospel of Jesus Christ is “the Gospel of peace.” Eph. 6:15. When there is bickering and strife in the church, be sure that the Gospel has been sadly perverted. Let no one flatter himself on his orthodoxy, or his soundness in the faith, while he has a quarrelsome disposition, or can be provoked to quarrel. Dissension and strife are the marks of departure from the faith, if one was ever in it; for, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:1. We are not merely at peace with God, but we have peace with Him—His peace. So this new persuasion, which led to strife and the devouring of one another with the tongue of unholy fire, did not come from God, who had called them into the Gospel. Only a step aside often leads to a wide divergence. Two lines of railway may seem to lie parallel, yet insensibly they diverge until they lead in opposite directions. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” A seemingly “little error,” no matter what it be, has in it the germ of all wickedness. “Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10. A single false principle adhered to, will wreck the whole life and character. The little foxes spoil the vines. [Sidenote: The Works of the Flesh.]