evil for Christ's sake. They are therefore false prophets, who teach as the way to heaven, any other way than this.
5. It matters not, what they call that other way. They may call it faith, or good works: or faith and works: or repentance: or repentance, faith and new obedience. All these are good words. But if under these, or any other terms whatever, they teach men any way distinct from this, they are properly false prophets.
6. How much more do they fall under that condemnation, who speak evil of this good way? But above all, they who teach the directly opposite way? The way of pride, of levity, of passion, of worldly desires, of loving pleasure more than God, of unkindness to our neighbour, of unconcern for good works, and suffering no evil, no persecution for righteousness sake?
7. * If it be asked, why who ever did teach this? Or who does teach it, as the way to heaven? I answer, ten thousand wise and honourable men: even all those, of whatever denomination, who incourage the proud, the trifler, the passionate, the lover of the world, the man of pleasure, the unjust or unkind, the easy, careless, harmless, useless creature, the man who suffers no reproach for righteousness-sake, to imagine he is in the way to heaven. These are false prophets in the highest sense of the word. These are traitors both to God and man. These are no other than the first-born of Satan: the eldest sons
