The True Test of an Apostolical Ministry [pp. 292-306]

Conformity to Apostolic Teaching.
tion, we proceed to consider what the test itself is. "Though
we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you
than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, if any one preach any
other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed." This is the test that Paul prescribes, conformity of
doctrine to the apostolic teaching under which the church among
them had been organized. It is wholly unnecessary to inquire
what was the gospel which Paul preached, and wherein the Galatians had departed from it. These are inquiries, which might
easily be answered, which the whole Epistle was designed to
answer; but for our present purpose it is quite enough to know
that the Galatians were in no doubt as to these points. They
knew what gospel Paul had preached, and what other gospel
their subsequent instructors preached; and knowing these
things, they are told by the Apostle, that conformity to what
he had originally taught them, is the test by which they ought
to have distinguished, not only between the truth and falsehood
of the doctrines which they heard, but between the claims of
authorized ministers and those who were usurpers of the name.
Observe, too, that he speaks of this conformity of doctrine as
of something which they were to measure for themselves, not
only able so to do, not only authorized, but bound, and that not
merely by his positive command, but by an obligation arising
from the very nature of the case, an obligation founded in
necessity. For if they did not judge, who would, who could,
who ought to judge? Their spiritual guides? But these were
the very spirits to be tried. Could they be judges in their
own cause, especially when it was undue confidence in them
which had produced the very evils here referred to? Could
the sin and folly of trusting them too much be retrieved by
trusting them still more? To whom then should they look?
To the Apostles? But the rule, which Paul lays down, extends
to them as well as others. The teaching even of Apostles is
subjected to this simple but inexorable law. Yes, even Paul
himself was to be judged by it, and by the breach of it to be
condemned. The duty, therefore, of comparing all that they
should hear with that which they had heard already, was devolved upon themselves, and all attempts to shift it upon others
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