Matthew 12:33-35

Matthew 12:33-35 . Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, &c. That is, you must allow they are both good, or both bad: for if the fruit be good, so is the tree; if the fruit be evil, so is the tree also. “Judge, therefore, by my works, of the power by which I work: if it be not a good work to heal the sick, and blind, and lame, and cast out devils, and preach repentance and forgiveness of sins, to convert and save souls, then God is not the author of them. If they be bad works, they have a bad cause; if they be good works, they have a good author: either say plainly, (you that ascribe them to the devil,) that the works are good and the devil is good; or else that the devil is bad and the works are bad: or, if you confess that the works are good, confess that they are done by the Spirit of God.”

Baxter. O generation of vipers Perverse, venomous, deceitful creatures; how can ye, being evil Being envious and malicious, speak good things It is surely a force upon nature whenever you do so; and you will easily return to such uncharitable and impious language as we have now been hearing from you; the thoughts of your hearts showing themselves by the words of your mouths. For out of the abundance of the heart The overflowing pride, envy, and malice thereof, the mouth speaketh Utters words of the same nature with the corrupt source from whence they flow. A good man, out of the good treasure of the heart The wisdom and piety, the truth and grace lodged there, bringeth forth good things. Freely and abundantly, to the edification of all with whom he converses. And an evil man A man full of corrupt affections and dispositions; a man of an earthly, sensual, and devilish mind, out of the evil treasure The corrupt principles and inclinations which are within him, bringeth forth evil things Wicked words and actions, and that naturally and readily: “and even when he labours most artfully to disguise himself and his character, breaks out, like you, in some unguarded moment, into such language as betrays the shame he would conceal.”