Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (2) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
This is a very blessed direction of God the Holy Ghost, by John. The Reader should recollect, as he reads it, that the Lord the Spirit is about to close the sacred canon of scripture. And as the latter-day heresies, of which the Spirit had spoken expressly by Paul, (1 Timothy 4:1) were now beginning to appear in a more daring and open manner in the world, the Holy Ghost here gives one infallible mark, by which the child of God may try all. I pray the Reader to attend to it with that diligence it demands. There never was a day that needed it more. Never more false spirits coming forward with an impudent face, under the pretence of converting the whole earth, while multitudes of them openly deny the Godhead of Christ, and disown the person and work of God the Holy Ghost.
Let the Reader attend to what God the Spirit here saith, of the method whereby the Church is to try the truth from error. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And, on the contrary, every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. Surely, a volume could not have decided the point more plainly. And what is the confession of Jesus Christ's being come in the flesh, but the conviction wrought in the soul, by the regenerating power of God the Holy Ghost, that He, who in his divine nature is One with the Father, over all God blessed forever, is, in his human nature, One with his Church and people, and in the fulness of time, hath, come and tabernacled among them. Which expression corresponds to the whole purport of revelation on this point, and which the same beloved Apostle hath most sweetly declared, in a single verse of the Gospel which bears his name. The Word (saith he) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth; John 1:14
Reader! when you hear these very plain words of God the Holy Ghost, concerning the person and coming of the Son of God, in substance of our flesh, and behold the whole body of scripture, in both Testaments, bearing testimony to the same; perhaps you are astonished how it is, that such men should arise, who deny Christ's Godhead, and the Holy Ghost's Person and Ministry! So am not I! The word of God, in many parts, informs the Church of such heresies, and especially in the last times. And the same blessed word tells also of the heretics which shall bring them, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation; Jude 1:4. Hence, therefore, I am on the lookout for them. And if such heresies were not to arise, I should lose a blessed testimony in the Word of God, which hath foretold the Church of them, and armed the Church against them. And if such heretics were not to come forth among us, we should be at a loss to discover what false spirits they are, which the Church hath to expect, and to contend with.
But still perhaps you will say, by what specious arguments do such men support their wretched cause, so as to give even a plausibility to their system of infidelity? The answer is at hand. The spirit (which another Apostle elsewhere speaks of; Ephesians 2:2) that now worketh in the children of disobedience, can, and doth easily furnish them with weapons for the cause. By compliments to human reason, and by flattery to the pride of human learning, they work upon minds like their own, to deny the Lord that bought them; (2 Peter 2:1) and bring upon themselves swift destruction. Hence, by giving different interpretations to those scriptures, which speak too plainly against them to the main points of truth, and by charging others with being interpolations, and the like; they give a covering to their heresy, and lull infidels, like themselves, asleep, to their eternal ruin.
But, while neither the heresies themselves, nor the heretics which bring them ought to excite any surprise to the faithful, who are taught to expect them, it is, I confess, matter of astonishment with me, that any should be found, of the truly regenerated believers in Christ, which can manifest so little regard to the person and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, as to mingle with those who openly contemn both, in the denial of his Godhead. This was a peculiarity of conduct reserved for the nineteenth century. And, whatever plausible reasons may be held forth for such a junction, certain it is, that it is in direct disobedience to the positive command of the Lord, on the subject of heresy; I heard another voice from heaven, saying, come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues; Revelation 18:4
But, what is the great and infallible security against being led away by the heresies around, and the discovery of the false spirits which come forth to deceive? There is but one, and a sure one it is, which never hath failed, neither can fail, amidst all the present errors of the day, or all that may arise; namely, the regeneration of the heart, or the being born of God. Where God the Spirit hath quickened a sinner, which was before dead in trespasses and sins, this precious child of God hath in himself a full testimony to his sonship, in being born of God, and a confirmation also, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, being God and Man in One Person, the Christ of God.
Reader! look into your own heart, and see whether it be not a most firm and unquestionable security against this, and every other error, of either ancient or modern heresy or heretics. If so be the Lord the Holy Ghost hath regenerated you, and the Spirit witnesseth with your spirit, that you are born of God. For then hath he taught you the plague of your own heart. And what artifice of men, or devils, can bear up against this divine teaching, when you yourself also daily feel, and know how that heart is forever interrupting your spiritual pursuits, and warring against 'your soul! So, in like manner, when God the Holy Ghost hath taught you who Christ is, and the efficacy of his blood and righteousness; when you have felt the sovereignty of his grace, the compleatness and fulness of his finished salvation; have known the love of God, the sweetness and suitableness of his promises, and been fed by them from day to day, can an host of heretics persuade you that these precious things are false, and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God is not come in the flesh? Oh! how gracious hath our God been, to provide such blessed securities for his people against all perilous times like the present!