Ver. 1. If there arise among you a prophet.] A public deceiver, that shall boldly obtrude upon you his erroneous opinions for divine oracles, seeking to drag disciples after him, (Acts 20:29) such as of late times were Servetus, Socinus, Arminius, Vorstius, Pelargus the first Anabaptist, Istolius Agricola the first Antinomian; H. N., that is, Henry Nicolas of Leyden, the first Familist. Howbeit Gerson tells us of a woman, one Maria de Valentiana, that had lately, before his relation, written a book with incredible subtlety, concerning the prerogative and eminence of divine love, to the which whatever soul had attained, is, according to her, let loose from all the law of God’s commandments.
Ver. 2. And the sign or the wonder come to pass.] For so it may happen by divine permission, for the exposing and shame of hypocrites; as when Jannes and Jambres turned water into blood, or at least seemed to do so. (Exodus 7:22)
Ver. 3. Thou shalt not hearken.] Heretics have their pythanology, their good words and fair speeches, wherein they can vent a spittle of diseased opinions, and whereby they deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:18) It is not safe, therefore, to hear them, or hold discourse with such, lest they insinuate and infect us, as the Montanists did Tertullian; as the Valentinians did various well-affected Christians; as Acacius the heretic did Anastasius, second Bishop of Rome, A.D., 497, who sought to rectify him. It is reported of Placilla the good Empress, that when Theodosius, senior, desired to confer with Eunomius, she dissuaded her husband very earnestly, lest being perverted by his speeches he might fall into heresy “Keep thee far from an evil matter,” saith Solomon. “Mark those that make divisions, and avoid them,” saith Paul. (Romans 16:17) And again, “There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, …, whose mouths must be stopped,” &c. (Titus 1:11) Sozomen, lib. vii. cap. 7.
Ver. 4. Ye shall walk after the Lord.] A special antidote against apostasy from the truth, (2 Peter 3:17,18) whereas those that have “put away a good conscience, do, as concerning faith, easily make shipwreck.” (1 Timothy 1:19)
Ver. 5. Shall be put to death.] This power is still in the Christian magistrate, to inflict capital punishment on gross heretics; such as was Servetus at Geneva, and Campian here, who spider-like was swept down by the hand of justice, and drew his last thread in the triangle of Tyburn, as the historian wittily phraseth it. Quid Imperatori cum ecclesia? was a question moved by the old Donatists. Libertas prophetandi, is much challenged by the Arminians, and other sectaries. But if in matter of religion every man should think what he lists, and utter what he thinks, and defend what he utters, and publish what he defends, and gather disciples to what he publisheth, this liberty, or licentiousness rather, would soon be the bane of any church. Speed’s Hist of Eng., 1176.
Ver. 6. Thy friend, which is as thine own soul.] Amicitia fit tantum inter binos qui sunt veri, et bonos qui sunt pauci. Entice thee secretly, saying.] Christ found the devil in Peter, persuading him to spare himself. Cassianus reports of a young man that had given himself up to a Christian life, and his parents, misliking that way, wrote letters to him to dissuade him, which when he knew, he would not once open them, but threw them in the fire. Mention is also made in ecclesiastical history, of one Phileas, a nobleman and constant martyr, who going to execution, seemed as one deaf at the persuasions, and blind at the tears of his dearest friends: as the waters use to break themselves on a rock, so was he inflexible.
Ver. 9. Kill him,] i.e., Deliver him up to the magistrate to be killed; for he bears not the sword in vain, like St Paul in a glass window, or George on a signpost.
Ver. 10. To thrust thee away.] By force, not of arms, but of arguments; as the Valentinians, Qui prius persuadebant quam docebant. Thus Jeroboam is said to have driven Israel from following the Lord. (1 Kings 14:16) Tertull.
Ver. 12. If thou shalt hear say.] Rumours are not always to be credited, nor always to be contemned.
Ver. 13. Children of Belial.] Renegade are the worst of men. See 1 John 2:19. Rabshakeh is held such a one; so Bertius, Tilenus, Staphilus, &c.