Who the false prophets are
We are, first, to inquire who these false prophets are. And this it is needful to do the more diligently, because these very men have so labored to wrest this scripture to their own (though not only their own) destruction (2 Peter 3:16). In order therefore to cut off all dispute, I shall raise no dust (as the manner of some is), neither use any loose, rhetorical exclamations to deceive the hearts of the simple, but speak rough, plain truths, such as none can deny who has either understanding or modesty left: and such truths as have the closest connection with the whole tenor of the preceding discourse. Whereas too many have interpreted these words without any regard to all that went before, as if they bore no manner of relation to the sermon in the close of which they stand.
1771 text
I. 1. We are, first, to inquire, who these false prophets are. And this it is needful to do the more diligently, because these very men have so laboured to wrest this scripture, to their own (tho’ not only their own) destruction. In order therefore to cut off all dispute, I shall raise no dust (as the manner of some is) neither use any loose, rhetorical exclamations, to deceive the hearts of the simple, but speak rough, plain truths, such as none can deny, who has either understanding or modesty left: and such truths, as have the closest connexion, with the whole tenor of the preceding discourse. Whereas too many have interpreted these words without any regard to all that went before: as if they bore no manner of relation to the sermon, in the close of which they stand.