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I. THE ALLUREMENT OF THE WEAR. It was Christ's charge to Peter (Luke 22:32). It is Satan's charge to his agents — Now you are confounded, confound your brethren.

II. THE WAY OF THIS ALLUREMENT IS BY PROMISE.

1. Promises are the cheapest things man can part with, and yet the strongest enchantments.

2. Fair promises are strong snares to entangle fools.

3. It is ill to promise and to deceive; but it is worse to promise with a purpose to deceive.

4. Seducers refuse no way, so they may deceive; they swear, they forswear, propose and interpose, to make strong their party.

III. THE FORCE OF THAT PROMISE IS LIBERTY. Sensuality and a carnal freedom is the spell that conjures these wild spirits, and brings them in subjection to their heretical teachers. They may promise them civil liberty: this they are not sure to perform; or consciential: this they will not perform; or spiritual: this they cannot perform; but profane excess, riotous intemperance, the uncontrollable swing of their lusts, this they will endeavour to perform.

IV. THE CONVICTION OF THAT FORCE. "They themselves are the servants of corruption." All sin is a servitude; and that which flatters men with the greatest opinion of liberty, makes them the most miserable vassals (2 Timothy 2:26). They may think that they have the world at command, and not the world them. They have a secret and insensible tether, which that enemy ties to their heels, and holds in his hand: while they run whither he allows them, they shall have scope enough; but if they offer towards goodness, he instantly snatches them up.

V. THE PROOF OF THAT CONVICTION. "For of whom a man is overcome," etc. The metaphor seems to be taken from war; where the conqueror brings the vanquished into captivity. And this misery of the captive differs according to the disposition of the victor; if he be imperious, and given to cruelty, he doth so much the more embitter the slavery.

1. It is an ignominious state.

2. A hard and troublesome condition.

3. Intolerable.

4. Useless.

5. Irretrievable, sold to sin with small hope of recovery.

6. Pitiable, the grief of every Christian.

7. Destructive. The end of every service is wages, and this is a wages without end, even everlasting pain.

(Thos. Adams.)

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KJV: These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

WEB: These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.