FALSE LIGHT AND TRUE

 

FALSE LIGHT AND TRUE
For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14

One principal occasion of the Apostle's writing this epistle, was what he had been informed of concerning some false teachers that were come among them, that endeavored what they could to draw them off from the doctrine the Apostle had taught them, and to that end did to their utmost to vilify his person, and set up themselves as apostles of Christ in opposition to Paul and other true apostles. The Apostle speaks of these in the verse next before the text: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ." "And no marvel," says the Apostle in the text and 2 Corinthians 11:14; "for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." In like manner, as these false teachers pretended to be the true apostles of Christ, and pretended to be sent by him, and to act as Christ's servants to reveal his truth and promote his interest; so the devil himself, as bad and as much of an enemy to God as he is, yet puts on the disguise of an holy angel, who are pure and spotless, and are not enemies to God, but his servants and prime ministers of his kingdom. The doctrine that I would observe is in much the same words.

DOCTRINE.

Satan oftentimes transforms himself into an angel of light.

The devil to gain his purposes poses under many transformations, and puts on many disguises. He manages all by deceit. If he acted openly and without disguise, and appeared what he is indeed, viz. a wicked, malicious, cruel spirit, he would frustrate his own ends, which are to oppose God, and to seek the ruin of men. 

If he appeared in his true shape, others would be aware of him, and would be upon their guard against him, and would not so readily fall in with his motions, and be influenced and led by him. 

When the devil first began his work in this world in tempting our first parent, it was under a transformation. He transformed himself into the shape of a serpent, or else actually entered into one of those animals, that he looked upon to be the best disguise for his purpose at that time. 

So he frequently transforms himself into many other forms, as he thinks will best suit his occasion; and commonly puts on a saint-like show, and appears as a good and holy angel; for the devil is a great hypocrite and father of hypocrites.

Satan once was an angel of light: he was perfectly innocent and holy, a bright and glorious seraph. And though now he be fallen, and is become an angel of darkness, yet he often finds it for his purpose to put on the appearance of what he once was.

I would take notice of several instances wherein he doth thus.

I. He doth so in doing the part of a teacher in the many false doctrines that he teaches in the world. Satan takes upon him to be a teacher, and the far greater part of the world subject themselves to his instructions. He is exceeding busy in the world to teach men one false doctrine or other.

Thus the whole antichristian kingdom, they have their doctrines from the devil. The vast Mahometan empire has no other teacher than Satan; the Jews, they have the doctrines that they receive from him; and so the many sorts of heretics that are in the world.

Satan in teaching these false doctrines transforms himself into an angel of light in the following respects.

First. He teaches those false and wicked doctrines under color of divine truth. God improves1 the angels as his ministers some way or other to guide and instruct men, and therefore ministers of the gospel are called angels (Revelation 1:20). The seven golden candlesticks are seven churches; and the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, that is, the ministers or teachers of the churches. They are called angels, because they are teachers of divine truth.

Satan transforms himself into an angel of light in that he pretends to diffuse abroad the light of truth, to give men the light of the knowledge of the truth. Truth and knowledge are often in Scripture compared to light, as ignorance and error are compared to darkness. All Satan's real design is to blind men, and lead 'em into error; but he doth it under pretense of teaching them the truth.

He pretends that the doctrines that he teaches are from God, and that they are the doctrines which God hath revealed to the world. He don't tell them that the doctrines that he teaches are from hell, as indeed they are but pretends that they are from heaven, are holy doctrines; and that all [are] bound to receive them with the greatest veneration as sacred truth; and that it is a great crime, and will be highly provoking to God, for any to call them in question.

Thus he makes the Mahometans believe that what he teaches them about Mahomet is from God; that the Alcoran is the book of God; that the whole of it was revealed to him by God; and that Mahomet was a true prophet of God. And he makes them think that they, in believing as they do,2 are accepted of God of all people in the world. 

So the doctrine that he teaches the papists, 'Tis under color of being from the true God and his infallible spirit, [under] pretense of promoting [the] interests of Christ and his kingdom. 

So what he teaches the Quakers from the Holy Spirit of God, which he makes them believe dwells in them. And the innumerable heresies there are, he makes them believe that they are all divine doctrines. 

And how many false and hellish doctrines are there that he teaches men under pretense of its being taught in the Scriptures! He comes as a preacher of the word of God, with his places of Scripture to confirm what he teaches.

Satan makes abundance of use of the Scriptures to establish and confirm his doctrines, though he greatly abuses it, and wrests it from its true meaning. This was a practice that he made use of so long ago as the apostles' times, "which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest" (2 Peter 3:16).3

Second. He teaches those doctrines under pretense of seeking their salvation. He teaches those doctrines that have the most direct tendency to their everlasting ruin; but he hides that from them, and makes them believe that they are the only doctrines by which they can be saved; that none but they that believe them shall go to heaven; and that those that believe otherwise shall be damned.

Herein he transforms himself into an angel of light, or makes an appearance of acting as a good angel. The good angels, they seek men's salvation: they are sent forth to be ministers to them that shall be the "heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). He makes as though he would guide men in the ways of salvation, when indeed he is leading of them down to the pit of everlasting misery.