1. _It is a caricature of the true Gospel._--"And would pervert the gospel of Christ" (ver. 7). The perversion is not in the one Gospel, which is impossible of perversion (for truth is an incorruptible unity), but in the mind of the false teacher. He distorts and misrepresents the true Gospel by importing into it his own corrupt philosophy, as the wolf did with Baron Munchausen's horse. Beginning at the tail, it ate its way into the body of the horse, until the baron drove the wolf home harnessed in the skin of the horse. The Gospel has suffered more from the subtle infusion of human errors than from the open opposition of its most violent enemies. 2. _It occasions distractions of mind._--"There be some that trouble you" (ver. 7). A perverted gospel works the greatest havoc among young converts. They are assailed before they reach the stage of matured stability. Their half-formed conceptions of truth are confused with specious ideas, attractive by their novelty, and mischief is wrought which in many cases is a lifelong injury. The spirit that aims at polluting a young beginner in the way of righteousness is worse than reckless; it is diabolical. +III. The propagator of a perverted gospel incurs an awful malediction.+--"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel, . . . let him be accursed" (vers. 8, 9). Let him be devoted to destruction, as one hateful to God and an enemy of the truth. The word denotes the condition of one alienated from God by persistent sin. He not only rejects the truth himself, but deliberately plots the ruin of others. He reaps the fruit of his own sowing. It is impossible to do wrong without suffering. The greater the wrong-doing, the more signal is the consequent punishment. All perversions of truth are fruitful in moral disasters. It is a mad, suicidal act for man to fight against God. +Lessons.+--1. _There can be but one true and infallible Gospel._ 2. _The best human method for moral reformation is but a caricature of the true._ 3. _The false teacher will not escape punishment._ _GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._ Vers. 6, 7. _Remonstrance with Revolters against the Gospel._ I. +The apostle reproves with meekness and tenderness of heart.+ II. +He frames his reproof with great wariness and circumspection.+--He says not, ye of yourselves do remove to another gospel, but ye are removed. He blames them but in part and lays the principal blame on others.