That the teacher or preacher of the gospel, sent and authorized by God, may by the study of the scripture be furnished for all turns, enabled to discharge his whole duty toward the souls of others. Which may therefore stir up every man to be emulous of the best, to be sure to rid himself from these pollutions of the Gnostics; and then, as he shall be more valued by Christ, so he shall be fitter to serve him in purity and every other Christian duty. But be sure to keep thyself from all those carnal affections which younger men are most subject to; and not only those of impurity, which the Gnostics indulge and allow to all, that they may insnare them, but also contentions, and factions, and emulations, and love of glory, &c. And on the contrary, be thou an emulous and earnest pursuer and follower of innocence, fidelity, and firm charity, conjunction and agreement with all those that in purity and sincerity adhere constantly to Christ. As for those idle and unprofitable questions that are set on foot by the Gnostics, that tend to no benefit, and have nothing of true knowledge in them, keep thyself carefully from them, for they will breed debates and quarrels, and nothing else. And there is nothing more unlike a true Christian than that; he that is such must be mild and quiet and peaceable toward all others; and being in place as thou art, must be ready and industrious to instruct others in the truth, and not apt or forward to punish those that do amiss: (see note [b] 1 Cor. xiii.) 25, 26. With great calmness and temper dealing with those that are of different opinions from us, though in opposing us they oppose the truth, as counting it not impossible or hopeless, but that by the grace of God they may be brought to repentance, and so come to acknowledge the truth at length, and recover out of Satan's snare, by whom they have been caught, to do the will of God; that is, that being delivered out of Satan's hands they may prove fit instruments of God's service. ### CHAP. III. THIS know also, that in the last days ¹ perilous times shall come.