The Apostle here describes the perfect man, or mature Christian, both negatively and positively. He is not a child tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine: But he is one, who, having embraced and professed the truth with a real love of it, grows up into Christ in all things.

We will, first, consider the negative part of this description.

Christ instituted the gospel ministry, that believers, arriving to maturity in faith and knowledge, should no more be children, tossed to and fro, and driven about with every wind, by the sleight of men, and the cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Several metaphors are here used to express that weakness and versatility, which some discover, and which honest Christians, under the ministry of the word, will endeavor to outgrow.

1. Christians must not remain children.

'In humility, meekness and teachableness let them be children; but in understanding, constancy and fortitude they should be men. While, as new born babes, they desire the sincere milk of the word, let them so use it as to grow thereby.

"Call no man your father on earth," says our Lord, "for one is your Father in heaven." Children have but little knowledge, and but a weak judgment. They are guided more by the opinions of others, than by personal conviction. They may be led right or wrong, according as the examples which they see, and the counsels which they hear, are good, or evil. They believe hastily, and act implicitly. They are governed by passion more than reason-by feeling more than judgment.-Now, in distinction from this childish temper, be ye fully persuaded in your own minds. Judge for yourselves what is right. Prove all things, and hold fast that which is good. Make the word of truth, not the opinions of men, the rule of your faith and conduct. Follow no man blindly, but look well to

your goings. Judge of truth and error-of right and wrong, not by your occasional feelings, or the current your affections; but by the calm and sober exercise of your understanding.

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2. The Apostle cautions us, that we be not tossed to and fro, like a ship rolling on the waves. "He that wavereth," says Saint James," is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. The doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways." In opposition to this unstable, fluctuating temper, we are required to "hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering."

The man who, without principle, knowledge and judgment, assumes the high profession of the Christian, may appear steady in a calm season: But, in times of temptation, he will be like a ship without pilot, anchor or ballast, tossed about by the power of a tempest. He is at the mercy of every rude gust. He is driven in any direction, as the wind happens to blow. He is elevated high, or sunk low, as the waves rise or fall. He makes no port; but floating at large, on the troubled element, he is, every moment, in danger of shipwreck.

The Christian, who embarks for the heavenly world, must consider, that the ocean on which he sails, is subject to changing winds, and perilous storms. He must not promise himself smooth waters, soft gales and clear skies; but go provided for all kinds of weather. The word of truth must be his compass, and faith his pilot; hope must be his anchor, and knowledge and good works his ballast; prudence must keep the watch, and sober reason hold the helm. Thus he may sail with safety in all seasons.

3. We must not be carried about with every wind of doctrine.

False doctrines, like winds, are blustering and unsteady. They blow from no certain point; but in all

directions; and they frequently, and sometimes suddenly, shift their course. They make great noise and bustle, disturb the atmosphere, and, by their violent motions, they spread confusion and ruin. Light bodies are easily taken up and driven about by every wind that blows. The gale which cleanses the wheat, disperses the chaff. The deep rooted oak stands firm in its place, while the dry leaves beneath it are caught up, wafted around, and made the sport of every gust. So the sincere Christian, rooted and grounded in the truth, and grown up to maturity in faith and knowledge, is stedfast in his religion, whatever storms may assault him. He remains in his place, whatever winds may blow. But the light and chaffy Christian: the hypocritical, unprincipled professor, is easily carried about by divers and strange doctrines. He shifts his course and changes his direction, as the wind of popular opinion happens to drive.

If we would be constant in our religion, we must be rooted in faith and love.

4. The Apostle warns us, that we are in danger from the sleight of men, and the cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

The true ministers of Christ use great plainness of speech, and by manifestation of the truth commend themselves to the consciences of men. Corrupt teach érs use sleight and craft, that they may ensnare the simple, and decoy the unsuspecting, and thus make proselytes to their party.

Christians should beware of evil workers, and watch against their dishonest arts. That they may escape the dangers to which they are exposed in corrupt times, they must attend to the plain and obvious precepts and doctrines of the gospel, make these their rule, and consent to no opinion, or practice inconsistent with them, however plausibly it may be recommended. They must furnish themselves with such knowledge in divine

things, as to discern the designs, and escape the artifice of evil men and seducers.

That Christians may the better secure themselves, from seduction, the gospel has warned them of the various crafts of those who lie in wait for them.

Deceivers come in sheep's clothing; with an ostentation of uncommon humility, meekness and heavenliness; but inwardly, they are ravening wolves, whose real aim is to scarter and devour the sheep.

They are deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness; and thus corrupting men from the simplicity that is in Christ; even as Satan transformed himself into an angel of light, and through his subtlety beguiled Eve from her fidelity to God. Like him, they make cautious advances, not alarming men, at first, by the grossest errors; but leading them along, step by step, from smaller errors to greater. Thus they wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

They practice not their arts directly on those, who, by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil; but they beguile unstable souls, deceive the hearts of the simple, creep into houses and lead captive the more tender sex, and, by their means, subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucré's sake.

Such teachers discover a peculiar malignity against the true ministers of Christ. Paul speaking to the Galatians concerning the deceivers who were among them, says, "They zealously affect you, but not well; they would exclude us, that you might affect them.” These crafty and designing preachers appeared among the Corinthians. There they represented Paul as making the gospel burdensome, while they preached it freely, and without a reward. And yet the reverse They, by their insidious arts, devoured those among whom they went, and even brought them into bondage, while Paul preached the gospel without

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charge; and though he asserted his right to live of the gospel, yet he waved the right, or used it with such moderation, as to give no cause of complaint.

Deceivers are confined to no sphere, and governed by no rule; but stretch themselves beyond their line, enter into other men's labors, and build on another man's foundation. Thus they cause divisions and offences; contrary to the doctrine of peace and unity which the ehurches have received.

They pretend to superior sanctity, and say to others, "Stand by yourselves, come not near to us; for we are holier than you ;" when, in reality," they who thus separate themselves, are sensual, and have not the Spirit."

They are watchful to take advantage of any unhappy circumstance in a church, such as the discipline of an offender, the death of a minister, or accidental contention, and, by such means, to introduce and establish themselves. Paul says to the Ephesians, among whom he had preached for several years, "I know that, after my departure, shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock; yea, even of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

Such teachers labor to unsettle men's minds from the established order of the gospel, and to prejudice them against the regular maintenance of the ministry, representing all order in churches as tyranny, and all stated provision for the ministry, as oppression. They promise men liberty; but are themselves the servants of corruption. They speak evil of things which they understand not, and allure through the lusts of the flesh, those who were clean escaped from them who live in error.

The gospel has thus particularly informed us of the cunning craftiness of those who lie in wait to deceive, that we may not be led away by the error of the wicked, nor fall from our own stedfastness.