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I. GOD WILL MANIFEST ALL THOSE HIDDEN CAUSES AND ENDS OF THY FALSE DOCTRINES. Now the Scripture gives these causes.

1. Pride and self-conceit, or overweening of thy own abilities and sufficiency; such a man is in the highway to all errors: "For the humble and meek God will teach" (Psalm 25.). The valleys are fruitful when the high mountains are barren.

2. Ignorance and weakness of judgment. And truly this is the most innocent cause of errors when men, through ignorance and weakness, go in a false way; yet this doth not excuse (2 Peter 3:16).

3. Hypocrisy. The Scripture brandeth that for a heavy cause sometimes of the errors in religion.

4. Ambition and affectation of high places in the Church of God, and to be above others. This hath made men build hay and stubble.

5. Discontents and impatiencies at some things which have fallen out in the Church hath been a great cause to make divisions and to sow tares amongst the wheat.

6. Envy and sinful emulation to the gifts and abilities of others that have been above them. This hath made men bring in strange doctrines. So then, as some sharp thorny bushes have pleasant blossoms on them, so many specious and fair opinions that are set out with much glory may yet grow upon such thorny and corrupt causes.

7. A contemplative delight in a man's own notions and conceptions he hath. This hath caused more errors than anything, especially in learned men.

II. THE NATURE OF EVERY MAN'S DOCTRINE, AND, IF FALSE, THEN THE MASK WILL BE PULLED OFF. It will appear counterfeit coin, and you know to be guilty of that is a capital crime. God's authority and stamp will not be found on it. Rehoboam, when the golden vessels were taken out of the Temple, he put brass ones in the stead.

III. God will manifest every man's work IN THE CUNNING SUBTILTY HE HATH MANAGED IT WITH. For the Scripture speaks of the crafty ways men use that they do adulterate the Word of God. For —

1. Before hearers are publicly prepared for them, they go privately and secretly vent their wares. They are said to creep into houses (2 Timothy 3.). They are the moles that creep under ground, whereas Christ said He taught nothing but what He did publicly; all did hear.

2. Their craft is seen in mingling some truths with their error, that while we take one we may swallow down the other.

3. This craft is seen either in sweet and winning words, full of love and kindness, or else in pretence to deep and sublime mysteries.

4. Their circumspection to observe the fit seasons to disseminate their errors. Thus, while all were asleep, tares were sown upon the fittest subjects — women, as being more affectionate. "They lead captive silly women" (2 Timothy 3:6). Take we heed how we build, and that is by avoiding the causes of error, pride, ambition, envy, discontent. Alas! thou hast cause enough to be humbled; the more thou knowest, thou wilt see thy ignorance the more. A poor man thinketh a little stun of money great treasures.

(A. Burgess.)

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KJV: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

WEB: But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or stubble;