Exposition of Jude, Exegesis of Jude · Verse 7 · Part 8
OBSERVATIONS.
1. The works of God, eſpecially his judgements, Obſerv. 1.have a language, as well as his word. Examples of judgement, are viſible Sermons, and ſpeak the pleaſure of God. When God forbears to puniſh, he is ſaid to keep ſilence. Then ſhall he ſpeak unto them in his wrath (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure. A word is ſignificative, and God is not only known by his word, but even by his works alſo, and particularly by his judgment which he executeth. Pſa. l 9.16. Idem Deo facere & loqui.A word is not more eaſily uttered, then the greateſt work is performed by God. There is nothing done by God, but (as a word is filia mentis produced by the mind) was firſt determined before in his ſecret counſell. There is no word ſo diffuſive and ſcattered among ſo many as the works of God are, (there being no ſpeech nor language where their voice is not heard.) In ſhort, Quot verbera, tot verba.No word or ſpeech requires ſo much attention, as the works of God do obſervation. It is a ſhame for us, that God hath ſpoken ſo often, and ſo loud, ſo long, ſo plainly by them, and that wee will not hear. If that voice be not loud enough, and if he hath ſtood too far to be heard, he will ſpeak more loudly, and come nearer to us to our coſt. Intreat the Lord to open the ear, as well as to ſpeak the word, and to teach, as well as to ſpeak.Pſal. 94.12
2 Great, Obſerv. 2.is the excellency of the word in point of purity. It ſets not forth ſins by way of meer relation, much leſſe by way of imitation, but by way of caution. As in it, the filthieſt of ſins are ſpoken of modeſtly and purely; ſo they are mentioned as puniſhed ſeverely. Gen. 39.5. Gen. 38.26. Lev. 18.6, 7.Sodoms filthineſſe is ſet forth in Scripture, but ſo likewiſe are Sodoms flames, and both to warn us, not to allure us. The Scripture mentions the ſcourge as well as the ſin of the holyeſt man, the Medicine as well as the Malady; how groundleſſe is their impiety who take liberty to ſin from reading of ſins (eſpecially of good men) in the Word; what is this but to read it with Satans ſpectacles, who, as he cites, ſo alwayes ſhews Scripture by halfs. To ſin without examples of caution is bad, to ſin againſt them is worſe, to ſin by them is worſt of all; the firſt is to walk, the ſecond to run, the third to flye to hell.
3 Publick and notorious offenders, Obſerv. 3.ought to be open examples. Sodom is not afraid to declare their ſin, and God declares it to make others afraid. Though puniſhment ſhould reach but a few, yet fear ſhould reach all: Secret puniſhment is a plaiſter not broad enough for an open, a ſcandalous fault. God threatens, even his otherwiſe dear David, that he who had made the enemies of the Lord to blaſpheme, 2 Sam. 12.12.ſhould be puniſhed before all Iſrael, and before the Sun. Private corrections for open crimes, are not plaiſters to cure, but only to cover the ſore. If ſin be impudent, reproof and correction ſhould not be baſhfull. If a Miniſter ſees that error and profaneneſſe ſeek no corners, he ſhould not hide truth in a corner. Publick offences are like a bag of poyſon thrown into a common fountain, ſerving for the uſe of a whole city: And the end at which God aimed in the puniſhing of offenders, Deut. 17.7.was that all Iſrael ſhould hear, and fear, and do no more any ſuch wickedneſſe. The Syrians cared not to fight with ſmall or great, but with the king of Iſrael, and Magiſtrates and Miniſters ſhould principally ſtrike at reigning ſins. All the reproofs of the Prophet's and Chriſt were bent againſt the impieties of their times. I verily beleeve that one main ſin, whereby God is provoked to make publick officers in Church and State, ſo contemptible as they are, is their fear to oppoſe publick and ſpreading ſins ſo freely as they ſhould.
4.Obſerv 4. In this our preſent condition we want as well the affrightments of fear, as the allurements of love to keep us from ſin. The burnt Sodomites ſhould make us fear the fire. The overthrow of the Iſraelites are examples to Saints under the New Teſtament. And let us (ſaith the Apoſtle) therefore (he means by the example of the unbeleeving Iſraelites) fear, leſt a promiſe being left us of entring into his reſt, any of you ſhould ſeem to come ſhort of it. I am (ſaith holy David) afraid of thy judgements. Pſal. 119.120. Jer. 10 7.Who (ſaith Jeremy) would not fear thee, Oh King of Nations? and Rev. 15.4. Who ſhall not fear thee, O Lord &c. for thy judgements are made manifeſt. Fear him (ſaith Chriſt) who is able to throw ſoul and body into hell. Faith is as truly due to Threatnings, as Promiſes; and Holy fear is the proper effect of that faith; By faith Noah being warned of God, moved with fear, &c. Nor is it poſſible or profitable, ſo long as we have ſuch an eager proneneſſe to ſin, to want a ſtoppage by fear. So unwilling are we to be weaned from the forbidden breaſts of ſinfull pleaſures, that we daily need to fear the wormwood and alloes wherwith the Lord imbitters them; & all little enough; only heaven perfects love and caſts out fear.
5. There is a proneneſſe to ſin in every age of the world. Obſerv 5.Why ſhould God make Sodom an example of Caution to ſucceeding ages, if theſe were not forward to make Sodom an example of imitation? Peter ſaith expreſly, that theſe overthrown cities were made an example to thoſe who after ſhould live ungodly. The world alwayes was, Mundus ſemper fuit, eſt, & erit mundus, Lutb.is and will be the world (ſaith Luther.) The ſeverall ages of the world have differed in their other faſhions, but ſin was never out of faſhion. Look over all times and places, and it will be found true in both the whole world lies in wickedneſſe; And of all times (ſo true was that prediction of the Apoſtle) the laſt dayes are the moſt perillous. We now live in the ſink, the dregs of time, Satan now labours to do much miſchief, and poſteth the faſter becauſe he ſhall not long have day-ſight. Men likewiſe by long practiſing, and by the ſinfull experiments of former times, are now grown (as in other things ſo) in ſin greater Artiſts then heretofore. How carefull ſhould we be that God may have ſome the more for us (even in theſe worſt of times) who may love holineſſe, when moſt leave it; controul, if not conquer ſin; who may ſhine as lights in the world; and who, if they can do no good to others, yet may get no hurt from others: To conclude this; Though evill times ſhould not damp our zeal, yet neither ſhould they make us impatient: The tares and wheat will grow together till the approaching Harveſt. Mean while, none is ſo much provoked, as that God who is moſt patient. Nor ſhould we forget, that all foregoing ages have abounded with thoſe ſins and difficulties, which much imbittered the lives of holy men who lived in them; in which reſpect we may wiſely make uſe of that counſell of Solomon, Say not thou, What is the cauſe that the former times were better then theſe? Eccleſ. 7.10.The errours and impieties of theſe, were in former times, and are now but newly acted over; and let us rejoyce, that though the ſins of the times ſhould make us mourners for them, yet they cannot make us followers of them.
6.Obſerv. 6, In all ages God is the ſame. He hates the ſame ſins in after times, which he hated in the former. Sodomy is now as abominable in his ſight as heretofore; He is the ſame yeſterday, and to day, and for ever; in him there is no ſhadow of change; he loves the ſame holineſſe now which he ever loved. How great a terror is this to thoſe who live in thoſe ſins againſt which God hath formerly declared his wrath. God will not go out of his way to gratifie their luſts; no, it is the duty of the ſinner to change: Pſal. 7.12.If he turn not, he will whet his ſword, &c. Much may this comfort thoſe who walk in the ſteps of former Saints. 1 Tim. 1.16.Paul was a pattern to thoſe who hereafter ſhould beleeve: They find God as ready to accept them as any heretofore. Pſal. 22.4.This comforted the Pſalmiſt, Our Fathers (ſaith he) truſted in thee, and thou didſt deliver them. We are forward to entertain hard thoughts of God: if he continue not the ſame favours to us, which he afforded to others: we think he changeth, whereas we alone are to be blamed. Its not the ſhore which moves, but the boat: If we will turn to God, we know where to have him; our prayers and repentance will make a change in us, and make us fit to be accepted, they make no alteration in him at all: as they who being in a ſhip, and pull at a rope faſtned to a Rock, move not the Rock to them, but themſelves to the Rock.
7. God is gracious even in his greateſt ſeverity. Obſerv. 7.Even when he was puniſhing of Sodom with fire and brimſtone, he had thoughts of preventing the like puniſhment upon others for the time to come. He warns even when he wounds, and puniſheth a few, that he may ſpare many: he takes occaſion by the ſin and puniſhment of Sodom, to do good to following ages; his juſtice magnifies his mercy. God layes up Manna with the rod; and is not forgetfull to feed us, even when he ſmites: In his ſmiles he will be feared, in his frowns he will be loved: in the midſt of judgement he remembers mercy. If God be ſo ſweet in his bitter adminiſtrations, how ſweet will he be when he is altogether imployed in the wayes of grace! We ſhould herein look upon the Lord as our pattern; ſeverity ſhould not make us forget and throw off tender-heartedneſſe: We ſhould have mercifull ends in our ſevereſt puniſhing of offenders, and not wound like murderers to deſtroy, but like Chyrurgeons to cure, and to prevent the ſpreading of ſin yea puniſhment.
8.Obſerv, 8. It ſhould be our great deſire by all our own ſufferings for ſin, to prevent the like ſin in, and ſufferings of others. We muſt not be like thoſe that have the Plague, who love to inffect others with it. A gracious heart rather deſires to hear of converts by his falls and woes, then to have companions in either. They who have been by ſin examples of imitation, ſhould pray that by their ſufferings they may become examples of Caution; How rare is this heavenly temper in ſufferers? Moſt Chriſtians when they are in troubles, only deſire the removall of them, perhaps the ſanctifying of them to themſelves; but who prayes for the ſanctifying of them unto others! Its ordinary for men under their ſufferings, to have thoughts of impatience againſt God, and of revenge againſt the inſtrument of their troubles; but unuſuall for men to have aimes of benefiting beholders by their troubles. If the Lord would throughly affect us with love to his glory, and hatred to ſin, we ſhould be willing to have the houſe pulled down upon our own heads, ſo as ſin may be deſtroyed in others; and hereby we may do more good at our death then we have done throughout our whole lives.
The ſinners of theſe laters times ſin more heinouſly then they who lived in former ages. Obſerv. 9.The ſins committed by thoſe who have others for an example, are greater then thoſe committed formerly, though they be the ſame for kind. He who falls by ſtumbling at the ſame ſtone at which he daſh'd who went before him, falls without apology. Wee in theſe times ſtand upon the ſhoulders of thoſe who lived of old, and therefore ought to ſee further; we may behold by what meanes they ſtood, where alſo, and how they fell, and how by either they ſped. More exactneſſe in working and walking becomes us who have more light to guide us. How happy were we if as we ſtrive to excell our forefathers in other arts, we did not come behind them in that heavenly art of a holy life, though their helps were fewer then ours! It is a common obſervation concerning our buildings, that though they are of more curious contrivement, yet leſſe ſubſtantiall and durable then thoſe of old time; Non tulit nos ſine exemplo… ut inveniat ſine delicto, vel tollat ſine patrocinio.I fear this may be more truly ſaid of our religion then of our buildings; It will be more tolerable at the laſt day for thoſe who lived in the times of Sodom, then for ſinners in theſe days, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Ʋnto whomſoever much is given, of him ſhall be much required, Surely, as we pay dearer for our worldly commodities, we muſt pay much dearer for our ſinfull pleaſures then our fore-fathers have done. We had better never have heard of Sodoms ruin, then not to mend our lives by the example.
10.Obſerv. 10 Its our duty to make an holy improvement of the worſt things which fall out in the world. Even Sodom and Gomorrha were our examples, and we ſhould make lye to cleanſe us of their aſhes. A good man ſhould ſail (as they ſay of skilfull Mariners) with every wind, and (as Samſon) take honey out of the carcaſs of the Lion. Veſpaſian raiſed gain out of an excrement; the Eſtrich concocts iron. Even the waters of jelouſie which rotted the bellies and limbs of ſome, made others healthfull and fruitfull. The ſins of the worſt ſhould, and ſometimes do teach the godly to walk more cloſely and humbly with God. Were we not wanting to our ſelves, the ſin of Sodom might be to us felix culpa, an happy fault. But alas, moſt men more imitate then ſhun the ſins of others, nay which is much worſe, they rather take occaſion to oppoſe, deride, and ſo get hurt by ſeeing the holy ſtrictneſſe of the godly, then to grow more watchfull and holy by obſerving the ſinfull looſeneſſe of the wicked. But here is the excellency of grace, to make a man like David, Therefore to love the Commandments of God, Pſal. 119. i 27.becauſe wicked men make void the Law.
11.Obſerv. ult. It is our wiſdome to learn how to behold the examples of caution which God hath ſet forth (eſpecially in Scripture) with moſt advantage to our ſouls. Againſt that which God ſhews, we muſt not ſhut our eyes. To this end.
1. Let us give our aſſent to the truth of examples, as delivered in Scripture, which doth not only relate the judgments themſelves, but their cauſes alſo, the ſupreme, God; the deſerving, ſin. Faith takes into its vaſt comprehenſion, every part of Gods word. It hath been the Divels policy to ſtrike at the truths of Scripture-ſtories, either by denying, or adulterating them. *Prophani quidam ex Schola Porphirii ut miraculū elevarent Confinxerunt Moſem peritiſsimum naturae, obſervaſſe fluxum & refluxum maris Erithraei & refluente illo ſuos traduxiſſe. Riv. in Exod.Porphiry, to overturn the miraculouſneſſe of the Iſraelites paſſing through the Red ſea, ſaith, that Moſes took the advantage of a low ebbing water, and ſo went through ſafely, which the Egyptians not underſtanding, were drowned by the flowing of the water. Strabo likewiſe perverts the truth of this ſtory of the deſtruction of Sodom and Gomorrha, Graeci Scriptores Sodomam cum vicinis civitatibus, eam ob cauſam incendio periiſſe ſentiunt, quod regio illa cavernoſa eſſet & ſulphurea, atque ita hujuſmodi exitio obnoxia. Muſcul. in 19. Gen.by attributing it to naturall cauſes, and reporting that theſe cities were ſeated on a ſoyl ſulphureous, and full of holes, from which, fire breaking forth, conſumed them. Examples of the dreadfulleſt aſpect, will never affright us from ſin, when we look upon them in the Divels dreſs. Let us not ſport at examples, and make them our play-fellows. Read not the example of Lots wife as the Poeticall fiction of turning Niobe into a ſtone. What judgement thou readeſt beleeve, though never ſo ſevere, never ſo farre beyond thy apprehenſion.
2. Look upon examples with deep and diligent obſervation. They muſt ſink into us, we muſt ſet our hearts to them: Steep our thoughts in them, and ponder them in their certainty, cauſes, ſeverity. Poſting paſſengers cannot be ſerious obſervers of any place. How profitable is it ſometime to dwel in our meditations upon theſe monuments of divine juſtice? Aſſent muſt be followed with conſideration: Tranſient thoughts become not permanent examples.
3. Look upon theſe examples with an impartiall examination. Enquire within whether was ſuch an one whom vengeance overtook, a greater ſinner then I am. Ask thy conſcience that queſtion, which the Prophet put to the Iſraelites, are there not with me, even with me, the ſame ſins againſt the Lord? Ranſack thy ſoul to find out the traytor; hide not that in ſecret, which hath made ſo many publick examples.
6. Behold examples in a way of particular application; not with ſelfe exception, but as bringing thee tydings of thine own ruine. Without repentance, never ſay, What is this to me? unleſs I repent, I ſhall likewiſe periſh. Moſt hearing of examples of Gods judgment, ſay to themſelves as Peter to Chriſt, Theſe things ſhall not be to us. Look not upon any outward thing, as able to ward off the blow, or priviledge thee from puniſhment. Wealth cannot raiſe a ranſome, power cannot prevail, wiſdome cannot contrive, ſecrecy cannot ſhelter one from wrath: God hath as many arrowes in his quiver as he had before ever he began to ſhoot any. We have no protection againſt the arreſt of juſtice. Outward priviledges, nay, ſaving grace it ſelfe, can give thee no diſpenſation to ſin.
5. With an eye of prudent prevention. Fly from that wrath of which thou art now warned; it's eaſier to keep out then to get out of the ſnare; even beaſts will avoid the places where they ſee their fellowes have miſcarryed. Happy would they, who are thy examples, think themſelves, had they the opportunities of preventing that which they now feel. While the enemy is in the way, agree with him; while judgment is approaching, conſider whether thou beeſtable with thy ten, to meet him that cometh againſt thee with twenty thouſand. Oh weak ſinner, while he is (as yet through his forbearance) at ſome diſtance, ſend an Embaſſage, and deſire conditions of peace, in the way of ſincere turning to the Lord. All the armies and examples of vengeance, which compaſſe thee about in the world, ſhall retire from thee, if thou wilt throw the head of Sheba over the wall, the ſin that God ſtrook at in others.
6. Laſtly, Look we upon examples with humble thankfulneſſe. Not as rejoycing in the ſorrows of others, but as bleſſing God for his mercy towards our ſelves. How happy were we, and how cheap our Schooling, to have all our learning at the coſt of another! Admire that free grace which made a difference between us and the filthieſt Sodomites; our ſins have ſome aggravations which neither theſe, nor the ſins of thouſands in hell admitted. It was the meer pleaſure of God that Sodomites were not in our room, and we in theirs, and that we ſhould not equalize thoſe in puniſhment whom we have exceeded in ſin.