Brethren, there are men in the church whom you must mark and whom you must avoid.

These men are difficult to mark and avoid because they have won over the hearts of so many in the church. These men have good words. They know the Reformed vocabulary, and they use it: sovereign, unconditional, grace, covenant, Christ, faith. The simple in the church—who are inexperienced in spiritual warfare or are deliberately naïve about the possibility of error within the church—sit under the preaching of these men with all their good words and read their articles with all their good words, and they are deceived.

These men have fair speeches. They know what the people like to hear and what will keep the people on their side. They know exactly what speech will reassure the man who objects to their false doctrine: “Well, all I meant by that statement was this well-known and much-beloved Reformed doctrine, although I maybe didn’t say it so clearly.” They know exactly what speech will flatter the people and make the people love them: “After all, we belong to the best of all denominations, you know. Does anyone really think that we, of all people, could get this doctrine wrong?” They know exactly what speech will turn the people against the “troublemakers” who are trying to mark them: “The real problem is that certain people in our midst are way too critical. They don’t listen to sermons to worship but only to find fault.” The simple in the church hear these fair speeches and are deceived.

Nevertheless, these men whom you are to mark can be clearly known. The standard for evaluating them is the doctrine which ye have learned. The doctrine of the scriptures, which, through much controversy and strife and contending against the lie has been set down in the Reformed confessions and developed and confessed in this Christian church. These men depart from the doctrine which ye have learned, and they lead the church to depart. By their departure from the doctrine, they cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned.

Brethren, mark these men. Mark them by truthfully observing their departure and by acknowledging what is so hard for so many to admit: These men (regardless that we love them!) have caused divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which we have learned.

Brethren, avoid these men. Avoid them by putting them out of their offices and by putting them out of your assemblies, except they repent.

Urgent matter for the brethren! I beseech you! Mark them and avoid them!

For these men are spiritual predators. They do not serve the Lord Jesus Christ. They have not spoken their good words and fair speeches at the command of Christ but in the service of themselves. Their own belly, which stands for all of the carnal lusts and appetites of their own flesh, has been their master, and they have served their own belly well. In serving their own belly, they will prey upon you and devour you.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them!