3. Is this an unheard of, is it an uncommon thing? Nay, God knoweth it is not. The instances of it are almost innumerable. We may find them in every age and nation. But how terrible is this? When the ambassadors of God, turn agents for the devil? When they who are commissioned to teach men the way to heaven, do in fact teach them the way to hell? These are like the locusts of _Egypt, which eat up the residue that had escaped_, that had _remained after the hail_. They devour even the residue of men that had escaped, that were not destroyed by ill example. It is not therefore without cause that our wise and gracious Master, so solemnly cautions us against them: _Beware_, saith he, _of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps cloathing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves_. 4. A caution this of the utmost importance. That it may the more effectually sink into our hearts, let us inquire, first, who these false prophets are, secondly, what appearance they put on, and thirdly, how we may know what they really are, notwithstanding their fair appearance. I. 1. We are, first, to inquire, who these false prophets are. And this it is needful to do the more diligently, because these very men have so laboured to _wrest this scripture, to their own_ (tho’ not only their own) _destruction_. In order therefore to cut off all dispute, I shall raise no dust (as the manner of some is) neither use any loose, rhetorical exclamations, to deceive the hearts of the simple, but speak rough, plain truths, such as none can deny, who has either understanding or modesty left: and such truths, as have the closest connexion, with the whole tenor of the preceding discourse. Whereas too many have interpreted these words without any regard to all that went before: as if they bore no manner of relation to the sermon, in the close of which they stand. 2. By _prophets_ here (as in many other passages of scripture, particularly in the New Testament) are meant, not those who foretel things to come, but those who speak in the name of God: those men, who profess to be sent of God, to teach others the way to heaven. Those are _false prophets_, who teach a false way to heaven, a way which does not lead thither. Or (which comes in the end to the same point) who do not teach the true. 3. Every broad way is infallibly a false one. Therefore this is one plain, sure rule, “They who teach men to walk in a broad way, a way that many walk in, are _false prophets_.” Again, the true way to heaven is a narrow way. Therefore this is another plain, sure rule. “They who do not teach men to walk in a narrow way, to be singular, are _false prophets_.” 4. To be more particular. The only true way to heaven, is that pointed out in the preceding sermon. Therefore they are _false prophets_ who do not teach men to walk in _this way_.