dently recognized
leaders in the Christian fellowship, who were undoubtedly ardent
admirers of the _Person_ of Jesus, as revealed in His earthly life and
example: yet Paul does not hesitate to mention his own tears at the
fatal omission in their preaching; for they were enemies of the _Cross_
of Christ.

Again, it is predicted in II Pet. 2:1, 2 that a fierce enmity against
the Cross should appear: "But there were false prophets also among the
people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily
shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought
them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow
their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil
spoken of." Here again the denial is against the purchase or redeeming
_work_ of Christ rather than His Person or character. They are offended
at the Lord who _bought_ them, though they may be devoted to the Lord
who _taught_ them. These Satanic agents are here, as before, described
as those who seem to be teachers in the true faith, yet they bring in
damnable heresies, in all covered subtlety, which crystallizes in a
denial of the redemption that is in Christ. Being only blinded
unregenerate men, they may suppose themselves to be ministers of
righteousness and apostles of Christ; their humanitarian dreams may
inspire tireless effort and zeal; their doctrine may become world-wide
in its influence; and they may drive their mighty ecclesiastical
machinery by the injunctions of Scripture: yet if the curtain could be
lifted, their "angel of light" would be found to be Satan; working
through them to resist the purpose of God; and themselves the ministers
of Satan; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared as
with a hot iron, daring in their exalted position to devitalize the
Gospel of its power unto salvation, and dragging immortal souls after
them into hell.

It is not strange that there is resentment against the mystery of the
Cross which does not exist against any other inexplicable fact in the
world. It is not strange that the ministers of Satan, appearing as the
apostles of Christ and ministers of righteousness, should fortify their
lies and hypocrisies by contending for every phase of revealed truth;
grounding their authority so positively in the Scriptures of truth: yet
subtly omitting, or violently denying, the one and only point upon which
the interests of God and Satan divide. It i