Exposition of Jude, Verse 7
Vers. 7. Euen as Sodome and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, which, in like manner as they did, committed, and followed strange flesh, are set foorth for an example, and suffer the vengeance of eternall fire.
IN this verse is laid downe the third and last example, proouing the first part of the former reason, and it is the first part of a similitude. The words [Euen as] signifying that the holy Ghost here instituteth a comparison, the former part or proposition whereof is in this verse, and the reddition or second part in the two next following. In the example consider three things: first, the people who were destroyed. Secondly, the sin for which they were destroyed. Thirdly, the destruction or punishment it selfe. First, the people destroyed were Sodome and Gomorrha, and the rest of the cities about them; which cities are named, Deut. 29.23. Admah and Z…b… im: the reason of whose destruction is noted by the Apostle; because they followed the sinnes of Sodome and Gomorrha: They sinned in like manner; so as they being found in the same sinnes, they were wrapped vp in ye same iudgements. Here first marke that the holie Ghost mentioneth not the persons who were destroyed, but their Cities, to signifie an vniuersal destructiō, an vtter ruine, and a total ouerthrow of thē; the which heaping vp of so many words, expressing the same thing, giueth vsus likewise to vnderstand that place in 2. Pet. 2.6. he turned their cities into ashes, condemned them, and ouerthrew them. Whence we may note that there is a difference betweene the people of God, & those who will not be obedient to his word, these meet with vtter destruction. Gods people may be destroyed indeed, but not vtterly: for we must alwaies beleeue the Catholike Church vponupon earth. Elias in his time could not behold it; but yet there were 7000. reserued from that general apostasie of those daies. When the Lord visiteth his owne house in iudgement, his manner is to leaue some remnants whom he saueth, lest their destruction should be like this of Sodome and Gomorrha. So Isaiah acknowledgeth:Isai. 1.9. Except the Lord of hostes had reserued vntounto vsus euen a small remnant, wee had been like to Sodome and the people of Gomorrha. Vse. This may teach vsus true humility in regard of our own deseruings, and true thankfulnes in regard of Gods gratious dealing with vsus: both of which must be often acknowleged of eueryevery member of the Church, and eueryevery man must confesse and say with the Church, Lam. 3. It is the Lords mercies that wee are not vtterly consumed. Secondly, in these people obserue the iustice of God, and his seuerity in such an vniuersall destruction, sparing none, but destroying euen the children with the parents, who sinned not in following strange flesh as their fathers did, which maketh this a strange and vnsearchable iudgement: whence the Atheists condemne these bookes of Moses (whence this iudgement is fetched) as attributing to God crueltie, and iustifying in him iniustice. But herein to cleere the iust proceeding of the most righteous God, we are to know, first, that the childe is Gods creature, and the life of it is Gods (hee being the Lorde of life) so as hee may take it away when he pleaseth, hauing power to doe with his owne as hee will. Secondly, children are part… of the parents, and therefore the Lorde may iustly infold them in the punishment of their fathers sinne, to manifest his greater detestation of it. Thirdly, children are borne in originall sinne, and therefore God may iustly inroll them with their parents, not onelyonly in temporall punishments, but in euerlasting condemnation also.
Thirdly, in this people who are made examples, note that as wicked a people as these hauehave had merciemercy offered them. Isai. 1.10. The Prophet calles the Iewes Princes, the Princes of Sodome, and their people the people of Gomorrha, that is; such Princes and people as matched Sodome and Gomorrha themselues in wickednes; and yet hee inuiteth them vntounto repent…nce, with proffer of merciemercy and promise of pardon: yea though their sins were as red as scarlet, he would then make them white as snow, vers. 18. Whence we may learne, that the merciemercy of God eueryevery way matcheth his iustice; in iustice he ouerthroweth Sodome and Gomorrha, and in merciemercy saueth those who were eueryevery whit as wicked as they, his free grace bringeth those to heauen, who by their sinne equalled themselues to those whom his iustice had detruded into hell. Yea it offereth and giueth repentance to them which are holden in the snare of the diuell, and ruled at his will, 2. Tim. 2.25. Manasseh himselfe who broke off his couenant with God, by making league with the Diuell, found merciemercy with God vponupon his repentance.2. Chro. 33. Vse. Let not the greatnes of our sinnes dismay vsus from seeking the Lord, thy sinnes are not aboue the sinnes of Sodome and Gomorrha, for which merciemercy hath been obtained; vse thou also meanes to turne vntounto God and there is merciemercy in store: but see thou abuse not this merciemercy vntounto sinne.
Fourthly, note that in the same time this people of Sodome and Gomorrha was destroyed, Lot escaped, though he was in Sodom: for at the time of the execution the Angell led him out from among them, and not before. Which teacheth, that although the Lord seeme sometime to neglect his deare seruants, and leaue them in tribulation: yet the instant time of their necessitie sheweth his gratious and seasonable regard and remembrance of them. The Israelites had a promise, that after foure hundred and thirtie yeeres they should be deliuered from their bondage in Egypt: which promise the Lord was not vnmindfull of, neither for the substance nor circumstance of time; for in the very same night that the time was expired, their deliuerance was wrought according to the promise. Our dutie hence is to learne in the middest of our afflictions, with quiet hearts to rest and relie our selues vponupon God, waiting his time wherein hee will come in merciemercy vntounto vsus.
Fifthly, note that with this people of Sodom and Gomorrha, the other Cities Admah and Zeboim, because they followed their sinnes were likewise destroyed.Follow not the multitude to euill: neither let a common error preiudice the truth. Where we learne to auoide the wicked manners and fashions of the world, not imitating these lesser Cities, which imitated the greater in their wicked manners; but on the contrarie, follow the example of Dauid, in shedding riuers of teares when hee beheld men not keeping the lawes of God. Wee should not with drie eyes behold mens impieties: ye… for this end our hearts should be like vntounto Lots; when wee see the sinnes of our people breake out as the sinnes of Sodom and Gomorrha, our righteous hearts should be vexed within vsus in the daily seeing and …aring of such vncleannes. So much of the people punished.
Now followeth the second point in the example: namely, the sinnes for which Sodom and Gomorrha were destroyed, in these words: They committed fornication, and followed strange flesh. First, they committed fornication. Secondly, they committed sinnes against nature it selfe, following strange flesh. To vnderstand the vilenes of these sinnes consider two things: first, the cause and occasion of them: and that was abundance of prosperitie, and plentifulnes of Gods blessings. For Sodom was as a Garden of God, enriched with varietie of profits and pleasures: this caused Lot to chuse Sodom to dwell in. This ground nourished foure bitter rootes, from which these sinnes of fornication and following strange flesh did spring, reckoned, vp by Ezechiel, chap. 16.49. The sins of thy sister Sodom were first Pride, by reason of prosperitie. Secondly, fulnes of bread: that is, they gaue themselues to eating and drinking excessiuely: for so saith Luk. 17.28. Thirdly, Idlenes, which was the daughter of their securitie. Fourthly, Vnmercifulnes, and contempt of the poore: and these must needs nourish all sinnes of vncleannes: vntounto which adde a fifth sinne, mentioned Gen. 19.9. and 14. that is, contempt of heauenlie admonition and instruction; for they scorned Lot while hee warned them of their danger.
The second thing in their sinne is the measure of it. They sinned in like manner, &c. The originall signifieth and implieth not onelyonly a bare committing of sin, but a giuing of themselues ouer to commit their filthie lusts,foreign. and that impudently and shamelesly: which the Prophet Esay noted also chap. 3.9. They declare their sins at Sodom, they hide them not: shewing that they were past all shame in these most shamefull sinnes. Yea they boasted and gloried in them: both which may be gathered in Genesis 19.…. and 9.
Doctr. 1. By these sins we are taught to take a view of the sinnes of these last times vntounto which that of Ezechiel vntounto Ierusalem may bee properly applied: Thou hast iustified thy Sisters (namely Samaria and Sodom) in all their abominations. So these last times iustifie Sodome in her abominations, which I prooue thus: First▪ the Church of Rome is that Sodome wherein the two Prophets were slaine, Reuel. 11.8. It is there so called because it matcheth Sodom in her sinnes, in that it teacheth the sins of Sodom, in making lawes to inhibite lawfull mariage in sundry sorts of men▪ to tole…ate fornication, and such filthinesse; yea not onelyonly by the Scriptures, but, in many other sundrie ancient, and some of their owne recordes, it is manifest that Rome is a Sodome. Whence wee see not onelyonly the dutie of eueryevery Lot, and righteous person, namely to hasten out of her, but also the end and destruction that abideth her, to be euerlasting … ▪ Secondly, againe in these times i… must bee verified, and is also, which was applied by Christ vntounto them of his age, Luk. …7.28. It is in these latter times as it was in the daies of Lot, men eate and drinke, buy and sell, marrie, and giuegive in marriage, and thinke of nothing; and … the wonderfull … of many … that many … in the midst of the Church herein may match, if not exceede euen Sodom & Gomorrha themselues. Thirdly▪ whoso…uer (saith Christ) shall not beleeue and obey the doctrine of the Gospell,Mat. 10.15. it shall be easier for Sodome and Gomorrha in the day of iudgement, than for them. Which sentence might moue most men to tremble, who whilest they take themselues freed from Sodomes sins▪ fornication▪ and following strange flesh, they nourish a sinne within them, which maketh them as farre off their saluation as Sodom it selfe is, and that is the not receiuing of the Gospell as they ought: most men content themselues to liue ciuilly, and out of danger of humane lawes; but as for the doctrine of religion, and yet much more the power and life of it, it lieth horribly neglected. But Sodom it selfe shall bee saued before such men.
Doct. 2. In that fornication and following strange flesh are the sinnes of Sodom; wee are taught to auoide this sinne of fornication and al sinnes of vncleannes. For first, the heauie curse of God is passed not only against Sodom and Gomorrha for th…se sinnes; but wh…esoeuer they be found they be sins that burne to destruction, Iob. 3….22. they set families on fire, and deuoure them vtterly, waste and consume them. Againe, no fornicators, adulterers, wantons, 1. Cor. 6.9.b…gga…ers, shall euen be admitted into the kingdome of heauen: and in verse 13. the same Apostle propoundeth sixe reasons why we should flie fornication: first, our bodies are the Lords, and must be seruiceable vntounto him. Secondly, wee looke they should be raised to glorie in the last day, and therefore wee must in the meane time keepe them honorable. Thirdly, they are the mēbers of Christ, we may not th…n make them the member… of an …. Fourthly, whereas all other sinnes are without the body, this directly is against the body. Fifthly, the body is the … of the holy Ghost, and th…se sinnes make it the Diuels … and …. Sixthly, our bodies are bought with a price, and it is sacriledge … glorifie God in the body as well … soule, … both are alike his. Now if any man … solicited by temptation vntounto …, and would know how … might ouermaster them, hee must begin with his heart, and obteine and reteine within it the feare of God, which onelyonly is able to ouerrule him. This grace alone preserued Ioseph, being daily inticed by Po…iphars wife. How should I doe this wickednes and sin against God? Gen. 39.9.
The third point in this example is the punishment it selfe▪ in which three things may bee noted: first, the matter of it; they suffered the punishment of eternall fire: by fire, we must not vnderstand our fire, no… such materiall and bodily fire as ours is, but an eternall fire: that is, the endlesse and comfortlesse apprehension of Gods wrath for sinne eternally burning, that is, alwaies terribly tormenting the sinner, called fire, because as burning of fire is the most horrible and sensible torment vntounto nature, so much more terrible is this torment▪ which elsewhere is called by other names, as the worme that neuer dieth, &c. Where in the fearefulnes of the punishment marke the grieuousnes of this sinne: it were therefore to bee wished that whoredome might bee punished with death. The theefe doth not more, if so much harme against families and Common-wealths, as sinners of this kinde and qualitie. The second thing is the … of their punishment, … when they gaue themselues wholie to fornication, & were come to the height in their sins. Where note, that though the Lord be slow to wrath,The Lord is slow to anger, but much … wrath. yet hee recompenseth that slownes with the heauines of it when hee commeth; seeing▪ he commeth not till he must needs, and that is not till sin bee at the height and most of necessitie bee taken downe: as appeareth in those foure hundred yeres allotted for the filling vp of the Amorites sinnes.Gen. 15.16 Let vsus then beware of abusing Gods patience, by adding to our sinnes; for then he is adding vntounto, and heaping his iudgements, and wee shall finde that though he come slowly,To auoide Gods stroke strike down thine owne sinnes. yet he will strike surely, if we giuegive not … a stroke to our sinnes by repentance, as in … his iudgements may bee preuerned. The third thing noted here is the vse of this punishment; namely, … they … an example to the whole world. Which … that … so … all … of the son … for God teacheth not …nely … by his word … of it,Gods iudgments are his real sermons. but really also by his workes in the execution of his iudgements. Iob saith that God speaketh to men once or twice, therein teaching that corrections are the speeches of God in mens … so as no person or people can go cleere away with that plea, that they wanted all meanes of instruction, seeing the whole earth is filled with the iudgements of God.