Ambassadors turned agents
Is this an unheard of, is it an uncommon thing? No, God knows 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 those 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 (Exodus 10:5). 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, he says, of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15).
1771 text
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.