Exposition of Jude 2, Biblical exegesis · Verse 9 · Observations 2
OBSERVATIONS
1 The oppoſition between ſin and holineſs is univerſal; Obſerv. 1.they never meet but they fight. This enmity flies higher then men, it reacheth even to Angels alſo. Its in the heart, between a man and himſelf: outward between men and men, between men and Angels, between God and both, between Angels and Angels; Holineſs and ſin are irreconcileable. Their oppoſition is reciprocal. Holineſs can never tamely endure ſin, nor ſin quietly endure holineſs. Theſe antipathies can never be reconcil'd. Such is the oppoſition between them, that they cannot brook one another, notwithſtanding all the plauſible and rarely excellent qualifications that may be mixt with either. A Saint cannot love a ſinner, nor a ſinner a Saint, as ſuch: though either be never ſo beautiful, Affable, Noble, Learned. The Divel meeting with Holineſs, and Michael with ſin, though both in an Angel, fight and contend with one another. Its in this caſe as with the dreſſing of ſome meats, though the ſauce, the mixtures be never ſo pleaſant, the dreſſing never ſo cleanly and skilful; yet if ſuch or ſuch an ingredient be put in, the food wil be loathſome to ſome ſtomacks, and will not down. Such a one were a good man (ſaith a wicked perſon) were he not ſo preciſe, pure: And ſuch a one were an excellent companion, (ſaith a Saint) were he holy and heavenly. Between the Wolf and the Lamb there is an antipathy of natures. Sir Fr. Bacons N… Hiſt.Their guts (ſay ſome) made into Lute-ſtrings, will never ſound harmoniouſly together. If they live quietly (as is propheſied Iſai. 11.6) its becauſe the nature of the one is changed. They who act from contrary principles, by contrary rules for contrary ends, muſt needs thwart one another. The people of God, may hence be both cautioned and comforted. Cautioned, not to expect to be altogether quiet if they will be holy. Their Legacy left them is, in the world to find hatred and trouble. Joh. 16. ult.They muſt be men of contention, though Angels for their endowments. Cautioned a ſo they ſhould be, that they leave not their holineſs; for then, though mans contending with them ſhould end, yet Gods would begin; and the worlds friendſhip is bought at too dear a rate, when with the loſs of Gods favour. Cautioned laſtly, Pax cum viris, bellum cum vi…iis.not to hate the perſon of any under pretence of hating his ſin; abhor not the body, but the ſore: Zeal muſt not be deſtroying, but refining fire. No man is ſo good, as for all things to be beloved; no man ſo bad, as for any thing but ſin to be hated. The people of God may hence alſo be comforted; when they meet with moſt contention from men, it is but what Angels have met with from Divels: nay, what Chriſt hath met with from men and divels. As Chriſt is our Captain, ſo Angels, yea, Archangels are our fellow ſouldiers, nor ſhall we any more miſcarry, then either. The worlds bad word, is no bad ſign. Two things much ſpeak a man; his company that he keeps, and his commendation which he receives. Wicked men cannot ſpeak well of them who cry downe their ſin: nor is their diſcommendation any diſgrace.
2 Satan is overmatch'd in his contentions. Obſerv. 2.Michael an Archangel, a good Angel, contends with him. Although all the Angels are equal by nature, Corpora craſſiora & inferiora per ſubtiliora & potentiora, quodā erdinereguntur; Omniacorpora per ſpiritum vitae; & ſpiritus vitae irrationalis, per ſpiritum vitae rationalem; & ſpiritus vitae rationalis deſertor & peccator, per ſpiritum vitae rationalem & pium, & juſtum, & ille per ipſum Deum. Aug. de trin. l. 3. c. 3.and created with equal power, yet was the power of the faln Angels much impaired by, and for their Apoſtaſie; and as the holy Angels exceeded them in other qualifications, ſo likewiſe in this of power. Good Angels, though they are not Omnipotent, yet had they not that chaine put upon them, which was put upon the bad, immediately after their fall, whereby they are both reſtrained from what they would; and oft, from what they can. This ſubjection of the bad Angels is manifeſted by Anguſtine, from that order which God hath placed among the Creatures: The bodies (ſaith he) which are more groſs and inferior, are ruled in a certain order by the more ſubtle and ſuperior. All bodies are ruled by a ſpirit of life, and the irrational ſpirit of life by the rational; and that rational ſpirit of life which fell and ſinn'd, by that rational ſpirit of life which is holy and righteous; and this holy Spirit by God himſelfe. Nor do we ever in Scripture read of any contention between the good and evil Angels, wherein the good had not the victory, Revel. 12.8. The Divel and his Angels fought and prevailed not: Dan. 10.and ver 9. He was caſt out unto the earth. The Divel never fights, either himſelf, or by his Inſtruments, but he is foyld, but he falls: Beſides, the good Angels ever contend for and by a great God, under a glorious and victorious Head and Captain, Jeſus Chriſt; againſt a curſed, yea, a captivated enemy, who cannot lift up an hand further then the Captain of the good Angels, pleaſeth; in a good cauſe, for the honour of God, and the welfare of the Church; ſhould they ever be foyld, their Captain would loſe the moſt glory. How good is God, to order that the beſt Creatures ſhould be the ſtrongeſt! How happy Saints, in that they have, though an inviſible, yet an invincible Life-guard, an Army of Angels to pitch their tents about them, Pſal. 34.7.whoſe ſafety thereby, can be no more then ſhadowed by mountains of full horſes, and Chariots of fire! If any thing do ſometimes befall them afflictive to their ſenſe, yet nothing can befal them deſtructive, nay, not advantageous to their ſouls. How great is our intereſt to continue our Guard! Theſe holy Spirits are driven away by our filthy converſation, like Doves that cannot endure noyſom places. They will protect none, whoſe protection drawes not allegiance to their great Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt. Oh give not the good Angels cauſe to ſay of us, as David of Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.21. Surely in vain have we kept all that they have, &c. A man without Angels is not without Divels. Miſerable is it for the poor ſinner to be like a Lamb in a large place, expoſed to the cruelty of the Wolf, in ſtead of being defended by the care of the Shepherd. Miſerable (laſtly) is the condition of every enemy of Chriſt and his Church, who joynes with that Head, and fights under that Leader which is ſure to be foyl'd; that walks according to the Prince of the power of the air; that wars againſt the Angels of God, yea, with him, the God of thoſe Angels. And how can they expect, who have fought for Satan againſt Michael in their life time, that Michael ſhould contend with Satan for their ſouls at their deaths?
3.Obſerv. 3. In all contentions our care ſhould be that our cauſe be good. Michael contended in a righteous quarrel. Its commonly ſeen, the hotteſt contentions are beſtowed upon the unholieſt cauſes. Idolaters cry out louder and longer for Diana of the Epheſians, wicked men more ſtrenuouſly ſtrive for the promoting of the Divels Kingdom, then the Saints do for the advancing of Chriſts. How loud did Baals Prieſts cry to their God for help, 1 King. 18 26, 28.and how cruelly did they gaſh their bodies when the reputation of their dumb and deaf Deity was hazarded! How eager were the men of Ophrah, Judg. 6.28.that Gideon might be put to death for throwing down of the Altar of Baal! But what a ſhame is it, that blind Zeal ſhould be more eager and active then that which is inlightned! The goodneſs of that for which we contend, only commends the greatneſs of our fervor in contending for it. The more fiery and furious a horſe is which wants eyes, the more dangerous to himſelf, and others, is his career. The higher and ſtronger the winds are which drive the Ship upon the ſands and Rocks, the more deſtructive and inevitable will be the wrack of the Ship. We muſt firſt be ſure we have a clear, a Scripture-way, and then how ſweet and ſutable a connexion is it to be fervent in ſpirit, when ſerving the Lord? We ſhould miſtruſt and fear our courſe is wrong, Rom. 22.11.when we find our hearts moſt eager and impetuous; and when we are ſure our courſe is right, we ſhould be aſhamed that we are ſo faint and ſluggiſh.
4. Satan contends with the ſtrongeſt, even with the ſtrongeſt Angel. Obſerv. 4.No Excellency can exempt any one from his onſets. He adventured upon Chriſt himſelf. The moſt famous Worthies mentioned in Scripture, Job, Marth. 4.David, Peter, &c. could not eſcape the Divels encounter. This Serpent ſet upon our firſt parents in their innocency. He commonly ſingles out the Leaders for combate: and they often meet with the ſharpeſt aſſaults. That Chriſtian which is moſt Angelical ſhall find Satan moſt Diabolical. The Divels malice being moſt againſt God, is moſt againſt them who have in them moſt of God: in them he labours to be revenged on him: In the ſervants he ſtrikes at the Maſter. And God in Wiſdom ſo orders it, that they who have moſt ſtrength ſhould be moſt exerciſed, to make his graces the more manifeſted to all Beholders. God was not delighted that Job ſhould be aſſaulted and tempted, but that thereby Satan ſhould be overcome. And ſuch is the Divels malice, that he will trouble thoſe moſt in the way, whom he knowes he can leaſt hinder of the end. He contends, though he conquers not. Where he cannot deſtroy our grace, he will labour to diſquiet our peace. Satans aſſaults are no ſign of Gods hatred, nor ſhould they be any occaſion of our cenſures. If we be not ſo fiercely ſet upon as others, in ſtead of cenſuring them for having no grace at all, let us rather think that they have more then our ſelves. They whom Satan leaſt troubles, commonly leaſt trouble him. In ſhort, what need have weaklings of watchfulneſs, when the Divel fears not an Archangel? A weak Chriſtian, when watchful, is in leſs danger then the ſtrongeſt when ſecure. He who ſets upon an Angels ſtrength, will not fear humane weakneſs. If he comes upon thoſe who have nothing to help forward his Conqueſt, he will come with a courage upon thoſe who bring him weapons. In the beſt of us there's a ſtrong party for Satan to joyn with all.
5.Obſerv. 5. The more God advanceth any in gifts and employments, the more Satan moleſts them. If this Archangel were not (though ſome think he was) employed about the burying of Moſes's body, yet ſure we are, he was here employed in contending for God; and that he was a choice, if not the cheifeſt of all the ſervants that God kept in this great family of the world; the great miniſter and meſſenger of God to perform his maſters pleaſure in matters of higheſt concernment. Perſons of publick employment are moſt fiercely aſſail'd by Satan; they who are ſet apart to offices, whereby God is moſt glorified and his Church relieved, are ſet upon by Satan the enemy of both. We never read that Moſes, David, Paul, &c. were moleſted by the Divel, till they were appointed to be Gods Archangels, (as it were) his Meſſengers, in delivering, governing, teaching the Church. God never imployes any in ſervice, but 'tis to oppoſe Satans Kingdome; and the higher their ſervice is, the hotter is the oppoſition which they make; and whoſoever diſturbs Satan, ſha…l be ſure to hear of him: the more watchful any one is to do his duty, the more watchful is Satan to do him hurt,: commonly God ſhewes his ſervants in their entrance into duty, what they are like to meet with in the continuance thereof; and thereby he gives them ſuch proof of his faithfulneſs in ſupporting them, that all the rage of hell afterward ſhall onelyonly prevent ſecurity, not overthrow faith; awaken, not diſhearken them: And ever as the ſervants of God are afflicted, ſo are they fitted for his ſervice; God is but trayning them to a due expertneſs in high emploiments. The more any one contends for God, the more let him expect to contend with Satan: They who moſt ſtop the divels mouth, leaſt ſtop his malice: Reckon upon Satans wrath, if thou goeſt about Gods work; they deceive themſelves who expect to be quiet and ſerviceable at the ſame time, ſuch groundleſs apprehenſions are but the inlets to apoſtacy, and make us to forſake our duty, becauſe we cannot perform it with our outward eaſe. To conclude; Satans oppoſition ſhould not diſcourage us from duty, nay we ſhould look upon it is an hopeful ſign of the conſcionable diſcharge of our duty. Let us be ſure that we are imployed by God in his work; and that we labour to perform it after his mind, and then let us account oppoſition our encouragement and crown, as being that which almoſt only meets us in a good Cauſe.
6 Decent burial belongs to the bodies of the departed. Obſerv. 6.God himſelf buried Moſes; nay (as moſt think) the grand Argument whereby Satan diſputed with the Archangel, Vid. Jun. in loc.for the publickneſs of Moſes his Sepulcher, was the known fitneſs of beſtowing a comely burial upon the bodies of Gods ſervants; nor did Michael at all contend that Moſes might not be buryed, but that the Divel might not be at the Funeral, or not have the interring of him. Gen. 23.Nature it ſelf teacheth a decency of Burial. The very Heathens readily entertained Abrahams motion to ſell him a Burying place; yea, they had it in their own practice; Ver. 6.In the choice of our Sepulchers bury thy dead. And want of burial is ſo hateful, that ſome have been more reſtrained by the fear of not being buryed, Gen. 25.9. Gen. 47.30 Gen. 50.25.then of dying. Abraham was buryed in the ſame cave with Sarah; after him, Iſaak, Jacob, Joſeph; there alſo was Rebecca beſtowed. And when the Kings and Judges of Iſrael are recorded, their Burials with their places are alſo mentioned; of which there are three ranks, 1 Some deſerving ill, only buryed in the City of David (the upper part of Jeruſalem, wherein was the Temple and Davids Palace) but not in the Sepulcher of their fathers; thus was Jehoram, 2 Chron. 21.19. Joaſh, who fell to Idolatry, 2 Chron. 24.16. and Ahaz, 2 Chron. 28.27. 2. Others who were good Kings, were buried in the City of David, and in the Sepulchers of their fathers. And 3. Some of the higheſt Merit were buryed in the City of David, 2 King. 9.37.in the Sepulchers of their fathers, and in the upper part of the Sepulchers of the Sons of David; as Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32.33. Nor was it a ſmal judgment that God inflicted upon Baaſha and Jezabel, Jer. 22.19.that they ſhould be buryed in the bellyes of d…gs, that Jehoiakim ſhould be buried with the burial of an Aſs, drag'd out by the heels, and caſt into a ditch; Iſal. 14.20. Pſal. 63 11.and that the King of Babylon ſhould not be joyned with the Kings in burial. Neither was it a ſlight imprecation which fell from David, Let them be a portion to Foxes; nor a ſmal threatning, Jer. 14 16. That the bones of the Kings, Prieſts and Prophets ſhould be taken out of the grave, and laid open to the Sun and Moon. 2 Sam. 2.5.Hence David highly commended the burying of Saul (though a bad man) for a good work. As of a ſore judgement, doth the Church complain, The dead bodies of thy ſervants have they given to be meat to the fouls of the Heaven, &c. there was none to bury them. Sutable it is, Pſal. 139.that ſo choice and curious a piece of Gods work-manſhip as mans body, ſhould not be careleſly laid aſide; yea, it hath been repaired, redeemed, as well as made by God; Gal. 4.4 5. Eph. 1.1.7. 1 Cor. 6.20.partner in Redemption with the ſoul, and bought with the precious bloud of Chriſt. The body alſo God hath ſanctified, it's his Temple. The Oyntment of Sanctification reſts not only upon the head (the ſoul) but diffuſeth it ſelf to (the body) the skirts alſo. 1 Theſſ 5.23The chair where the King of Glory hath ſate, ſhould not be abuſed. With the bodies of our deceaſed friends, we had lately ſweet commerce: The body of the wife was lately entertained with dear embracement: The body of our child, a piece of our ſelves: The body of a dear friend, what was it, but our ſelf divided with a ſeveral skin? The body of a faithful Miniſter, an earthen Conduit-Pipe, whereby God conveyed Spiritual comforts to the ſoul. The body when living, was a partner with the ſoul in all her actions; it was the ſouls brother twin: what could the ſoul do without it? Whatever was in the underſtanding, was conveyed by the ſenſe. The ſoul ſees by the bodies eyes, hears by its ears, works by its hands, &c. yea, even now ſtill there is an indiſſoluble relation between the duſt in the grave, and the glorious ſoul: as the union of Chriſts dead body to the deity, was not diſſolved in the time of its lying in the Sepulcher. Burying places were not (among the Jewes) called the houſes of the dead, but of the living. The body is ſown, not caſt away; it is not dead, but ſleepeth. The grave is a bed, and the Church-yards ſleeping places. In ſhort, the glory of the bodies future eſtate, challengeth the honour of burial. All the precious Oyntments beſtowed upon the dead of old, had been caſt away, had it not been for the hope of a Reſurrection. A great Heir that ſhal hereafter have a rich Inheritance, is regarded, though he be for the preſent in rags. And this decent burial of the dead, diſcovers the more then heatheniſh barbarouſneſs of Papiſts, who do not only deny, but recal the granting of burial to the dead bodies of the Saints, Paulus Fagius Pet. Martyrs Wife.digging them up again, as they did at Oxford and Cambridg, in Queen Marye's time. Herein worſe then heathens, as teſtifies the greater humanity of allowing Interment, in Alexander to the body of Darius; Hanibal, to that of Marcellus; Caeſar to Pompey. The comfort of Saints it is, that the happineſs of their ſ…uls, is not confined to the burial of their bodies. Precious in the ſight of the Lord is the death of his Saints; Pſal. 116.15. Pſal. 139.16.who carefully keeps every one of their bones: and as he left not one out of his book when he made them at firſt, ſo to be ſure, neither ſhall one be miſſing when he will remake them; their very bodies being the members of Chriſt, and part of that lump whereof he was the firſt fruits. C…r. 15.20.To conclude this, the care (yet) of a dead body ſhould not be comparable to that of a …ving ſoul. What profit is it for the body to be embalmed, and entomb'd richly, and the ſoul to be tormented eternally? As great a folly is the reſpecting of the vile body, joyned with the neglecting of the precious ſoul, as for a frantick mother only to lament the loſs of the coat of her drowned child. Nor laſtly, ought this care of the bodies of the departed, though formerly never ſo holy, amount to a ſuperſtitious reverencing of their Relicks. Some think that the prevention of this ſin was the ground of Michaels contention with the Divel. But ſure we are, though the divel could not obtain a licence for this ſin, of Michael, he hath obtained command for it, Vid. Concil. Trident. S…ſſ. 24from the Pope. It's hard to name that martyr'd Saint, who hath not left ſome limb behind him to be adored: to name this folly is to confute it; for beſides its Idolatry and derogation from the merits of Chriſt; it's injurious to the Saints themſelves, giving their bodies only inſepultam ſepulturam, keeping them from their honour of reſt, Jer 8.1, 2.and bringing them into the compaſſe of a condition threatned as a curſe. yea Laſtly, Iſa 18.14, 16.this popiſh foppery of adoring relicks, is ridiculous. The very Popiſh Hiſtorians tell us, that the bones of the worſhip'd have prov'd afterwards to be the relicks of theeves and murderers; and common obſervation proves, that the croſs of Chriſt, the milk of the Virgin, and the relicks of Saints are increaſed to ſuch a proportion as makes them more the objects of deriſion then adoration. The beſt reverence we can give to the departed, is to reſpect their ſpiritual relicks, their holy lives and example.
7 Satans aim in every contention, is to draw to ſin: Obſer. 7.The body of Moſes, Satan regarded not any further, then to hurt the ſouls of the Iſraelites: All his contentions with Chriſt, were purpoſely to win him to ſin. If ever Satan deſired any thing which was good, yet 'twas after an ill manner, or to a wrong end: He would not contend againſt your eſtates, lives, liberties, were it not to get advantage againſt your ſouls. As God in all his contentions with us, aimes at the advancing of our holineſſe; ſo Satan propounds this as his end of every contention, the drawing us to wickedneſſe. He would not have contended againſt Jobs children, goods, body &c. had he not aim'd to drive him to diſtruſt and impatience. He had not winnowed Job of worldly comforts, but for the winnowing him of his grace; Luke 22, 31.Satan (ſaith Chriſt to Peter) hath deſir'd to have you, and winnow you as wheat; but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail thee not. The drift of the Divel, was to ſift out Peters faith: All the ſtorms he raiſeth againſt godly Miniſters and Chriſtians, are not ſo much againſt their perſons, as to hinder from holy performances: When he caſts ſome into priſon, diſgraceth, impoveriſheth, kils them, his aim in all this is, that he may hinder the doing of good. He will allow all worldly enjoyments, if thereby he may the better accompliſh the end of drawing to ſin: He is a Spirituall, and a malicious enemy; ſpirituall, Gratia morſus Diaboli.and therefore ſpirituall morſels are only ſuted to his pallat; Grace (like that herb call'd morſus diaboli) is that which he nibbles at; throw him this head over the wall, and with Joab, he will ſoon raiſe his ſiege. He is a ſoul-adverſary, and no blood is ſo ſweet to him as the blood of ſouls. Give me thy ſoul (ſaith he) and keep thou (nay, I'le give thee) thy goods: Our enemies are ſpirituall wickedneſſes foreign, in heavenlies, Eph. 6.12.i. e. heavenly things. He is a malicious enemy, and well he knows that the greateſt hurt he can do, is to take away the greateſt good; as he moſt ſtrikes at the beſt men, ſo moſt at the beſt things in men; their grace: their ſoul, he is truly a murderer that aims at the heart. God deals with his people in a way of chaſtiſement, the Divel deals with them for deſtruction; he contends not to take away our gold, but our God: Its the moſt diabolical diſpoſition, to endeavour to put people upon ſin, not to be willing to be miſerable alone; nay not only to be willing to follow, and go along with others to hell, but to make them follow, or go with us; what a true born progeny of hell did thoſe Papiſts ſhew themſelves, who drew timorous Chriſtians to recant, and then put them to death, that ſo they might be murderers of ſoul and body at once? and who daily by the Jeſuits (Satans factors) compaſſe ſea and land to make proſelites; let it be the greateſt fear of every Chriſtian, leſt others ſhould be ſo much as occaſioned by them to ſin: grieve much when any ſin; moſt, Pſal. 69.6.when by thy means; Pray that none may be confounded for thy ſake. Our greateſt contention ſhould be to advance holineſſe; all the good which Satan doth to the body, is to hurt the ſoul; ſo all the hurt which any (in place) do to the bodies of others, ſhould be for the good of their ſouls; as Satans lenitives are poyſonous, ſo our very Corroſives ſhould be Salubrious.
8.Obſer. 8. Satan can bring colourable reaſon for the fowleſt practices; even for that which he intended ſhould be the ſin, and Idolatrous ſnare of Iſrael, he can diſpute, and that with an Archangel. It's probable he here argued for the fitneſſe of burying Moſes's body in a known place, from the eminency of the mans piety and worth, while living; from the great unſeemlineſs, that ſo faithfull and publick a ſervant of God ſhould be buried in hugger mugger; what? Pſal. 112.6.(might he ſay) ſhal not the juſt be had in everlaſting remembrance? Is not an obſcure funerall the way to obſcure all that ever Moſes did, and at once to make the people forget Gods works, with Moſes's name? As the worſt courſes may be coloured over by ſpecious pretences, ſo ther's none ſo skilful at this art as Divel; he is an expert logician, and ſhew'd himſelf ſo in this diſputation; he can make, as the beautifulleſt grace, ſeem deformed, ſo the moſt deformed ſin, ſeem beautiful. He puts, as the colour of ſin upon grace, ſo the colour of grace upon ſin. Never could the true Samuel have ſpoken better, then did this counterfeit to Saul at Endor; In the deluding of Saul, he took the help of Samuels prophecy. The Lord hath done even as he ſpake by mine hand. 1 Sam. 28.17.He often kils men (as David Goliah) with their own ſword; he winding himſelf into them, and them into ſin, by that which is the only preſervative againſt ſin, the Scripture: He can alledge ſomething good, to hinder from any thing good; he can overthrow duty by duty: he drawes the faireſt glove over the blackeſt hand, and ſeems to make the worſt cauſe without all danger or abſurdity: he had that to ſay, Mat. 4.6.which the Son of God himſelf could not refuſe; he diſputed againſt him (though fallaciouſly) with Scripture Arguments, Promiſſionem obj…i…, conditio…m a…it.had he had a Pſalter, he would have ſhewn Chriſt the very place: nor is there any ſinner whom he cannot furniſh with a Scripture to defend his luſt; and ſuch a Scripture as the deluded novice hath neither skill nor will to anſwer. The truth which Satan ſpeaks, ever tends to deſtroy truth. In alledging of Scripture, he both colours himſelf and his motion, and frames himſelf, according to the diſpoſition of the Parties with whom he deals. He knows the authority of Scripture alway ſwayes in the School of the Church. Its our ſafeſt courſe, to hold up againſt Scripture-light, all the plauſible Reaſons or Scriptures, which Satan brings for any opinion or practice; to ponder, with Prayer, and ſtudy, every allegation, and to conſider whether in their ſcope & end, they are not againſt other direct Scriptures, and the Principles of Religion; for Gods Spirit never alledgeth Scripture, or propounds Arguments, but to lead us into the knowledge, and practice of ſome truth. This was Moſes his rule, Deut. 13.1. to try a falſe Prophet by his ſcope. If any Scripture or Reaſon, be alledged to put us upon ſin, though the Text be Gods, yet the gloſs and allegation is the Divels.
9.Obſerv. 9. In dealing with our greateſt Adverſaries, we muſt do nothing wilfully, but with the guide of Reaſon. Michael did not (though he could have done it) here ſhake off his opponent without anſwer, or a rational diſputation, (though he deſerved none;) but to ſhew, that he did not withſtand Satans motion, meerly of a wilful mind, but upon juſt ground, he anſwers him, and diſputes the caſe with him. Chriſt himſelf did not put off this very Adverſary of Michael, Matth. 4.without an anſwer; and when he refuſed the moſt unreaſonable requeſt of the ſons of Zebedee, he gave a juſt Reaſon, Mark 10.40. It is not mine to give, but it ſhall be given to them for whom it is prepared. Its good, though our Adverſaries are ſtubborn, yet to manifeſt the ground of all thoſe opinions and practices wherein we oppoſe them: our courſes ſhould be ſo good, as to deſerve to be juſtified; though our Adverſary may ſo bad, as not to deſerve to be anſwered: and we ſhall hereby, though not recover him, yet both acquit and quiet our ſelves, and poſſibly preſerve others from being infected with that ſin, which rather our Reaſon then Reſolution, is likely to prevent.
10.Obſerv. 10 Satan delights to put people upon giving that honour which is onelyonly due to God to ſomething elſe beſides God. He here contends for the Servant againſt the Maſter, and for the worſhip of Moſes, againſt the worſhip of God.
Satan makes people give that honour to the creature, which is due to God, two wayes. 1. Inwardly, 2. Outwardly. 1 Inwardly. 1. By making people to put their truſt and confidence upon ſomething beſides God, to make fleſh their arm, to put confidence in man, Joh. 31.24. Pſal. 20.7. Prov. 3.5.to truſt in Horſes and Chariots. 2. By making people to ſet their love and delight upon other things more then God; to love their pleaſures more then God, 2 Tim. 3.4. Phil. 3.19. Eph. 5 5.to make gain their godlineſs, to be idolaters by covetouſneſs, to ſet their heart on that which was made to ſet their feet upon. 3. By making them to beſtow that fear upon the creature, which is onelyonly due to God; to fear mans threats, more then Gods; and him who onelyonly can kill the body, Iſa. 8.13. Iſa. 7.2. Iſa. 51.12 13. Hoſ. 5.11.more then him who c…n throw both body and ſoul into hell: to walk willingly after the (though wicked) Commandment.
2. Outwardly, Satan makes people give the honour to the creature, which is due to God, two wayes. 1. By the worſhiping that for God, which is not; thus the Heathen worſhip falſe gods, Mars, Jupiter, Diana, Dagon, Baal, M…loch, Mahomet; and thus Papiſts give Divine worſhip to Reliques, ſtocks, ſtones, a breaden God. 2. By worſhiping God by other means, and after another manner, than he hath appointed. That cannot be Gods worſhip, which is deviſed by another, the manner preſcribed by himſelf being refuſed: the worſhipping of God according to mans deviſes and traditions, ſhall be as far from acceptation, as ever it was from his inſtitution. He beſt knows what he loves beſt.
Nor is it a wonder, that Satan thus oppoſeth Gods worſhip, not onelyonly in regard he is an Adverſary to God, and ſtrives to break inſunder thoſe bands of allegiance, whereby the creature is tyed to the Creator, and to deprive God of his homage; as alſo becauſe an Adverſary to man, whom he endeavours to draw into Gods diſpleaſure; but by the making men to worſhip thecreature in ſtead of God, he aimeth to advance his own honour and worſhip, in the room of Gods. If men come once to be children of diſobedience, and ſons of Belial, ſuch as will not ſubmit to Gods will, and bear his yoke, Eph. 2.2. John 14.31. 2 Cor. 4.4. Joh. 8.41. Acts 13.10.they walk according to the Prince of the power of the ayre, he is their Father, Prince, God; both in regard of his own uſurpation, and their acceptation. In all Divine worſhip, whatſoever is not performed to God, is performed to the Divel, there being no mean between them in worſhip; God and Satan divide the world of worſhippers, for although in the intention of the worſhippers, the Divel be not worſhipped, yet worſhipped he is, in reſpect of the invention of the worſhip, which was Satans deviſe and appointment; and hence it is, that we meet in Scripture, ſuch frequent mention of the worſhipping of Divels. The Gentiles, 1 Cor. 10 20. yea, the Jewes, Pſal. 106.37. Lev. 17.7.ſacrificed to Divels. And the truth is, Satan his contention that the people might find the way to Moſes's Sepulchre, was but that they might loſe the way to Gods ſervice, and find the way to his own; as was more fully ſhewn in the Explication. Oh how lamentable is it, that ſo bad a Maſter ſhould have ſo much ſervice! that he who ſheds our blood, ſhould be more willingly and frequently ſerved, then he who ſhed his own bloud for us! To conclude, if holy Michael here contended, that others might not worſhip any other than God, let us more contend that we our ſelves may not do ſo. If Satan throw us down, yet let us not caſt our ſelves down. We have another, a better Maſter, his will let us ſtudy; the voice of his Word and Spirit let us hear. Be above all thoſe baits where with Satan a lures to the adoring of any thing in ſtead of Chriſt. Know nothing great or good but the ſervice of Chriſt.
11.Obſerv. 11. Satans great deſign is to make the holyeſt perſons the greateſt occaſions of ſin. He had much rather that a Moſes, who had ſo zealouſly oppoſed Idolatry, ſhould be Idolized, then one who had himſelf been an Idolater. The Divel loves to wound Religion in the houſe of her friend, and with her own hands and weapons: to make Cromwell (a Proteſtant) to ſentence a Godly Lambert to death. Oh how it delights him to overcome Scripture by alledging, not of the Alcoran, but the Scripture! And as he here dealt with the body, ſo he ſtill deals with the Books and Writings of Gods Moſes's, the men of God: For as he fain would have made him who was the greateſt enemy in the world to Idolatry, while living, to have been the greateſt occaſion of it, when dead; ſo ſtill he contends by Hereticks, that they who have been the renowned oppoſers of Hereſie in their life time, ſhould be accounted the greateſt Patrons of it when dead. Thus the Papiſts contend that the Fathers, Auguſtine, Ambroſe &c. are theirs, and for their opinions: Thus the Pelagians of our time, that Auguſtin, Bucer, Vid. John Goodwin, Sion Colledg vi. ſited.Ball, are for free-will. But he much more contends, and had rather that a living, then a dead Moſes ſhoud be a ſtumbling block to others. If one who is holy, may (thinks he) be uſeful to me by his duſt and relicks, how much more by his falls, his ſcandals, his corrupt examples? Of all others, let thoſe who fear God, take moſt heed of giving advantage to Satan. When without their knowledg or conſent, they are by Satan, only made advantageous to him, it ſhould be their ſorrow; but when they make themſelves ſo, it is their great ſin.
12.Obſerv. 12. The worſt perſons are oft compelled both to have, and expreſs an high opinion of Gods faithful ſervants. Even Moſes, one who was a great oppoſer of, and greatly oppoſed by the Divel, is yet ſecretly by this curſed enemy, greatly honoured. Yea, the people who in Moſes his life time would have ſton'd him, would (and Satan knew it too) after his death have Idoliz'd him. Our bleſſed Lord, when he was murdered by his enemies, was by ſome of them voiced a Juſt man; Luke 18.18. Act. 24.25. Mat. 11.19.the young man calls him Good Maſter; even bloody Herod reverenced the Baptiſt; and Felix trembles at the preaching of Paul. Wiſdome ſhall ſometimes be juſtified, not only by her children, but even by her ſworn enemies. The father of Lies, when he alledgeth Scripture to overthrow it, ſtrongly argues that it is the ſtrongeſt weapon, and hath greateſt power over the conſcience. God delights to put a ſecret honour upon his Saints and wayes, and to make even thoſe who love them not, to praiſe them. Many lewd livers, ſtrictly enjoyn their children to be more Religious. Every Saint may be encouraged in Holineſs. God will often make its greateſt oppoſers to exto… it: and when in their words they revile it, in their conferences they ſhall commend it. The praiſe of an enemy, is equivalent to an univerſal good report. In ſhort, Let ſinners ſeriouſly conſider how they can anſwer this dilemma at the laſt day, If the wayes and people of God were bad, why did you ſo much as commend them? if good, why did you not more, imitate them alſo? If Chriſt were not a good Maſter, why did the young man call him ſo? if he were, why did he not follow him?
13.Obſerv. 13. The greateſt reſpect that wickedones manifeſt toward a Godly Moſes, is when he is dead. While Moſes was living he was in danger of being deſtroyed; now dead, of being adored by the Iſraelites. Joram when Eliſha was living, oppoſed him; but when dead, laments over him, in that pathetical ſpeech, My father, 2 Kin… 13.14.my father, the chariots of Iſrael, and the horſemen thereof. Saul diſobeyes and rejects Samuel when living, but when dead, he with great pains (though no profit) endeavors to recal, to enquire of him. They build and garniſh the Sepulchers of the Prophets, when dead, Luke 11.47.whom (living) their fathers (led by the ſame Spirit) deſtroyed. God often makes the worth of his ſervants to be known by the want of them; and ſhewes when they are gone, that they who in their life time were accounted the plagues and troublers, were indeed the Preſervers and Peace makers of Iſrael. They ſhall then know (ſaith Ezekiel, Ezek 33.33.) that they have had a Prophet among them. And its a work of little coſt, and of much credit, to extol the dead. The wicked are not troubled and moleſted in their wayes of ſin by departed Saints. Samſon could take honey out of that dead Lion, with which he fought when living, and which he ſlew becauſe it ror'd upon him. The living who rore and lift up their voices againſt mens ſins, and labour to rend them from their corruptions, ſhall be perſecuted; but when dead voiced up (to advance the reputation of thoſe who praiſe them) for ſweet and bleſſed men of God. The Papiſts and many common Proteſtants, who ſpeak highly of Chriſt, and call him their ſweet Saviour, had they lived in his dayes, and heard him preach againſt their Luſts, would have hated him as much as, nay, more then now they hate thoſe who have but a drop of his fountain of holineſs. And indeed, if a Moſes, a ſervant of God in his life time pleaſe wicked men, it is commonly becauſe he is too like a dead man, not ſo quick and lively againſt their Luſts as he ſhould. Its not the Idolizing, but the imitating of the Saints, that ſhews our love either to God or them.
This for the ſecond part of this verſe, the ſtrife or contention it ſelf. The third followes, viz. the carriage and deportment of the Archangel in this combate. And firſt to ſpeak thereof as it's ſet down Negatively, in reſpect of his inward diſpoſition, ſo it's ſaid, that he durſt not bring a rayling accuſation.