“Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many.”
(Matthew 24:5)

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That many did arise before Jesus came in the flesh, and give out they were the messiah, history shows; and history also proves that since the Saviour’s incarnation some have arisen of the same class, and have deceived many, who were ordained to be deceived by such liars.

“Who is a liar, but he thst denieth that Jesus is the Christ?”
(1st John 2:22)

He is antichrist. He hath neither the Father nor the Son. All such bold pretenders could give no evidence to spiritual men, either brfore Christ came or since, that they ever came forth from God; but were filled with pride, presumption, free will, and every delusive error. And their doctrine led their hearers, very naturally, into many extremes of folly; insomuch that the civil power was often obliged to interfere to keep public order. Still, many were deceived by them, which is a striking confirmation of the Saviour’s words: “They shall deceive many;” buy not one of the elect. These have an unction from the Holy One, and are taught of Him as the truth is in Jesus. No false christ, no damning error, shall fully and finally deceive any elect vessel of mercy.

Without doubt, every false christ was raised up by Satan with a view to defeat the eternal purposes of Yahweh; for Satan, though he has received a deadly blow, is so filled with desperate malice and presumption, that he cannoy rest until the day comes called “the judgment of the great day;” when the devil, and those who have been by him, shall receive their final doom, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire.

Now, a right knowledge of the true Christ is the greatest mercy that any sinner can have in this world; a deception in this matter is the most awful thing that a living man can contemplate.

Upon a right knowldge of Christ hangs his eternal all.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
(John 17:3)

Where there is a true knowledge of Christ there is a true knowledge of the Father; and in that man’s heart, where the Father and the Son dwell, there also dwelleth the Holy Ghost. “Ye are the temple of the Holy Ghost;” and “God dwelleth in you.”

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Henry Fowler
London, July 1st, 1833