founders. In ancient ecclesiastical history they are known under the name of gnostics, and in the Jewish war under that of zealots or robbers. These were the men who destroyed the spiritual system of judaism, as taught by Christ in Judea; and who with their religion brought the Jews themselves into destruction. They are, therefore, the people against whom Josephus has levelled all the force of his genius, and on whom he has poured the bitterest indignation of his soul. But let us first see what the apostles Peter and Jude say of them.

• “But as there were false prophets among the people, so there will be false teachers among you, who shall craftily introduce destructive heresies, denying even the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves speedy ruin. And many will adopt their pernicious opinions. By reason of these the way of truth will be evil spoken of. By covetousness they will be led to feign doctrines, and make gain of you. Their punishment is long since preparing, nor does the day of their condemnation slumber. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to Hades, and delivered them in chains to dark places for judgment, And spared not the ancient world (while he saved Noah one of eight as a teacher of righteousness) but destroyed it as ungodly by bringing in a flood. And he turned

into ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and dooming them to be overthrown, made them an example for those who should hereafter lead an ungodly life. But he saved Lot a just man, and greatly distressed by the impure conduct of the wicked. For while that righteous man dwelled among them, he saw and heard their unlawful deeds, and his righteous soul from day to day was sorely harassed. The Lord is able to rescue the godly from danger: while he reserves the unjust for punishment, after the day of judg ment; especially those who pursue the unclean desires of the flesh, and despise government; who being presumptuous and obstinate, are not afraid to speak evil of dignities: whereas angels, who surpass them in might and authority, bring not against them a railing accusation before the. Lord. But these men, like brute animals, made to be taken and destroyed, revile the things which they do not understand, and shall perish by their own depravity, when they shall receive the reward of their wickedness, inasmuch as: they deem it pleasure to riot by day, and foully tarnish your profession by the wanton and deceitful tricks, which they practise in your love-feasts. Their eyes are completely adulterated, and refrain not from sinful lust. They allure into their snares the souls of the unstable. Having their hearts disciplined in deeds of covetousness, they

are heirs only of the curse. Having forsaken the true God, they wander in pagan error, and have acted, like Balaam the son of Bosor, in preferring the wages of unrighteousness. But a reproof corrected his transgression, a dumb ass speaking with a human voice having stopt the infatuation of the prophet. These are springs. without water; clouds blown by a tempest; for whom black and perpetual darkness is reserved: for they speak vain, and high sounding words, and again entangle in lust and wantonness, such as have once actually escaped the impurities of those who live in pagan error. While they promise them liberty, they are themselves the slaves of corruption: for every man is a slave to that which controuls him. For if they are again entangled and brought into subjection by those polluted practices of the world, which they had escaped, by acknowledging our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; their last condition is worse than the first since it were better for them not to have acknowledged the way of righteousness, than, after this acknowledgment, to turn aside from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it hath happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog went back to his own vomit, and the sow that is washed again wallows in mire." 2 Peter, chap. ii.

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I next transcribe the description which the

apostle Jude has given of these men. "Beloved, while I was preparing with much earnestness to write unto you concerning the common salvation, I find it rather necessary to send to you a written exhortation, earnestly to contend for the faith as it was once solemnly delivered to the saints. For certain men have cunningly introduced themselves amongst us, who were long since ordained for this condemnation, as being men who are ungodly, who turn the free gospel of God into lasciviousness, and who deny the only supreme God and our Lord Jesus Christ."

"I wish to remind you (though ye already know it well) that the Lord, after having delivered the people from Egypt, yet destroyed, at a later period, those who became unbelievers. The angels also who have not preserved their original condition, but left their own habitation, he has reserved ever bound in dark places for the judg ment of the great day. As Sodom and Gomorrab, and the surrounding cities, which like them gave themselves up to follow impurities, and even unnatural lusts, stand forth a conspicuous example, having received the judgment of even yet unextinguished fire; in like manner these filthy dreamers pollute themselves, despise authority, and revile men in power. But Michael the archangel, when disputing with the accuser about the body of Moses, dare not to bring

against him a railing accusation, but only said, 'The Lord rebuke thee.' But these men vilify those things of which they have no knowledge, and what knowledge they naturally have, that they employ, as if brute beasts, to corrupt themselves.

"Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain, and have greedily pursued the error of Balaam for a reward, and are doomed to destruction by a gainsaying like that of Coreh. These are foul stains on your love-feasts: and when they feed with you, they without dread glut themselves. They are clouds without water, trees fruitless, rotten, rooted up, and thus doubly'. dead; waves of the sea, raging and pouring out their shame as a foam; wandering stars, to whom' is for ever reserved the blackest darkness. And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these; saying, behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, and to convict all that are ungodly; bringing to light the impious deeds which they have committed, and refuting the harsh speeches which profane sinners have spoken against him. These murmur and complain against God. They walk after their own lusts, with swelling speeches in their mouths; admiring the persons of men for the sake of gain. Beloved, remember the words formerly spoken