Commentary on Jude, Biblical commentary · Verse 11
VERS. XI.
Wo unto them, for they have gone the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and periſhed in the gain-ſaying of Corah.
HEre the Apoſtle commeth to reckon up their ſins, and he doth it by examples, which are ſuited ſo, that they may imply both the ſin and the puniſhment: Three are produced in this Verſe; That of Cain, to note their malice and cruelty: That of Balaam, to note their covetenſneſs and ſeduction: That of Corah, to note their faction and ſedition, againſt Magiſtracy and Miniſtry, as Corah and his accomplices roſe up againſt Moſes and Aaron.
[Wo unto them] 'tis Prophetically ſpoken, not execrat…rily as a threatning, or denuntiation, not as a curſe. [For they have gone in the way of Cain] Cains example is produced, becauſe he was the firſt and chief of them that departed from the true Church and pure ſervice of God, Gen. 4. 16. Cain went out from the preſence of the Lord, and dwelt, &c. Tertullian ſaith he was the Devils Patriarch, the firſt root of the carnal ſeed, or of the ſeed of the Serpent, in whom perſecution began: Now Cains way was a way of murther, he ſlew his Brother, becauſe he was more righteons and godly then himſelf, 1 Joh. 3. 12. and ſo they go in his way, that have an envy and hatred againſt their holy brethren; which many times proceedeth ſo far as violence, perſecution and murder: This inſtance is fitly applyed to theſe Seducers; for (if the Targum of Jeruſalem ſay true) beſides the particular grudge, which Cain▪ had againſt Abel, about the acceptance of his Sacrifice: There was a diſpute which happened between them in the field, concerning the providenes of Gods laſt judgment, and world to come *Vide Nieremberg. Strom. 1. cap. 17. & Glaſſium. l. 1. Philol. ſacrae. pag. 60. & Chriſtolog. Moſaicae diſſert. 5. p. 165.Non est judicium nec judex nec ſaculum aliud, nec merces bona pro justis nec paena pro impiis: nec Dei miſericordia creatus eſt, mundus nec ejus miſericordia regitur, eo quod ſuſcepta eſt oblatio t…a cum benepla…it…, mea ver… …, Tarq▪ Hieroſ. So were theſe Seducers exaſperated againſt the Orthodox, not only becauſe of the greater preſence of God among them, but alſo becauſe of difference of judgment, about Chriſt, the world to come, and Providence, with other wholeſome Doctrines, by which godlineſs is maintained: Again, Cain ſlew Abel, ſo were theſe Gnoſticks ready to break out into all violence againſt thoſe that diſſented from them, and ſtirred up the Jews to perſecution againſt the Chriſtians: Cain after this murther was haunted with his own Ghoſt, and trembled where ever he came; ſo doth Cains end attend Cains courſe, ſuch quakings and fears of conſcience following them, where ever they went: 'tis ſaid, The Lord ſet a mark upon Cain, Gen. 4. 15. what this mark was, is much diſputed; moſt ſay it was a continual trembling and quaking throughout his body, Vide Aug. lib. 12. contra. Fauſt. cap. 12. Chryſoſt. hom. 19. in Gen. And the Sept. render that, Ge…, 4. 12. [Thou ſhalt be a Vagabond upon the earth] foreign, Thou ſhalt be groaning and trembling upon the earth; and the word Nod, the name of the place where he ſojourned, is by interpretation, agitatio commotio, quaking or trembling: foreign, and Baſil ſeleuc. apud Neiremb. ſtromat. 1. pag. 23. which if ſo, our wicked Quakers may ſee who was their Patriarch. Now from this firſt inſtance obſerve.
Firſt, That the practice of wicked men now, and the practice of Obſervat. 1.wicked men from the beginning, is ſtill the ſame *Multi adhuc ſunt qui clavum ſanguine Abelis rubentem circumferunt.: Cains Club (as Bucholcer ſpeaketh) is ſtill. carryed about in the world ſtained with the blood of Abel, ſee Gal. 4. 29. But as then, he that was born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the ſpirit, even ſo 'tis now: So 'twas then, ſo 'tis now, ſo it will be while the ſpirit of the Devil worketh in the world; we have the ſame original ſin which they had in former times for a long time a diſeaſe runneth in the blood, and is continued in a line and family; but after ſome generations 'tis worn out; but this filth will ſtill run as long as there is a channel of carnal generation to convey it: Again, we have the ſame Devil to tempt us, who ever is converted, he will never turn Chriſtian to be ſure; and there are the ſame provocations and occaſions to exaſperate mens corruptions: Well then, let us not be over troubled, there is no new thing under the Sun; the ſame Devil that rageth now, hath been a murderer from the beginning, John 8. 44. The ſame Devil that deceiveth now, was a lyar from the beginning: are there thoſe now that ſeparate from all Churches of Chriſt? there were Donatists in former time, are there now that deny the God-Head of Chriſt? There were Arians then, are there now Ranters, Familiſts? and there were Gnoſticks then, are there bloody enemies of the truth? every Age can yield its Cains: Again, if we would better know the ſtate of our times, let us blow off the duſt from our old preſidents; the Devil doth but play over the old game, and though the Scene be ſhifted and furniſhed with new Actors, the Plot is the ſame.
Obſerve again, Hereticks and Libertines uſually turn perſecutors, Obſervat. 2.for 'tis ſaid here, They go in the way of Cain: Satan that is a lyar is alſo a murtherer, a falſe way cannot ſubſiſt without the props of blood and cruelty, witneſs the Circumcellians the Priſcillianiſts, the Arians, the Donatiſts; the Tragedies at Munſter: An erroneous opinion is touchy, and therefore efferates the minds of men againſt thoſe that oppoſe it: beleeve not Seducers then, when they come in ſheeps clothing, 'tis but that they may get a power to play the Wolves the better: and when Libertines encreaſe, let Magiſtrates look about them, there are Clouds gathering together towards a diſmal ſtorm; and though they ſeem to be meek and full of love, while their party is contemptible; yet when they grow conſiderable they appear in their colours: Again, let us bleſs God for the peace we enjoy; there are ſwarms and droves of Locuſts abroad, but bleſſed be God that there is a reſtraint upon them, that there is a ſpirit of perverſity mingled with their counſels: I tell you, the great danger of the latter times, is from Libertines, many fear a ſecond deluge of Anti-Chriſtianiſm; but that is not ſo probable as the ſeditious inſurrections of Sectaries: What ſad havock will be made of the people of God, when once theſe bloody minded wretches get power? The latter times foreign, perilous times, 2 Tim. 3. 1. Why? from what ſort of men will the danger ariſe? not from the Anti-Chriſtian, or Popiſh party, ſo much as from a Libertine party, from Quakers, Ranters, Anti-Scripturiſts, Familiſts, &c. The Anti-Chriſtian party carrieth things by power, and wordly greatneſs, but this party there deſcribed, is a creeping party, that gets into houſes, leadeth captive ſilly women, verſe 6. the Anti-Chriſtian party abuſeth the Sword of the Magiſtrate; but this is a trayterous party, heady, high minded, verſe 4. a party riſing up againſt Magiſtracy: The Anti-Chriſtian party are ſtiffe and obſtinate in their old forms, but this is a party of ſeekers, looking for new diſcoveries, holding nothing certain in Religion; ever learning, and never coming, foreign, to the acknowledgment of the truth, verſ. 7 In ſhort, the party there deſcribed, are a party that deny civil reverence, natural affection, and are contemptuous deſpiſers of the true and holy ſervants of Chriſt; and all this carryed on under a pretence and form of godlineſs; this is the party from whence I fear ſuch danger and diſturbance, if the Lord put not an hook into their Jaws, or do not awaken the Magiſtrate to look to the ſafety, not only of Chriſts intereſts, but his own: Curſing Balaams will ſoon prove bloody Cains, and wicked ſeducers, tyrannous oppreſſors.
The next part of the Deſcription is [And ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward. His ſtory beginneth Numb. 22. and his Tragedy you have, Numb. 31. 8. *Baalam curſed Iſrael for hire againſt his own conſcience, ſo did theſe pervert the truth.Balaam had linguam venalem, Oracles to …ell; ſo they adulterated the Doctrine of the Goſpel out of covetouſneſs and filthy lucre. Simon Magus, out of whoſe School the Gnoſticks came, would you know, buy and ſell the holy Ghoſt, Acts 8. Now after this errour 'tis ſaid, they ran greedily, foreign, were poured out, 'tis a metaphor taken from a River overflowing the banks, or from a thing poured out from a Bucker, with a full current or ſtream.
Now from hence Obſerve,
1. That the Devil en…iceth his ſlaves to divers ſins; as toObſervat. 3. the malice of Cain, ſo to the covetouſneſs of Balaam.
2. That men are uſually carried into errours by the bait of Obſervat. 4.gain and worldly profit, 2 Pet. 3. 3. Through covetouſnes ſhall they with feigned words make merchandiſe of you; that which is the root of other evils, is often the root of Hereſies or ſect making: ſouls are a precious commodity, Chriſt thought them worthy of his own blood, but ſeducers count them cheap ware, for their own gain and worldly intereſts, they care not how they they betray ſouls; yea, Chriſt himſelf is ſold by them as Judas purchaſed a field with the reward of iniquity, Acts 1. 18. Oh then beware of covetouſneſs, 'tis a great ſnare; a covetous man, the Devil hath him upon the hipp, and how far, or whither he will carry him, he cannot tell: Balaam had many good gifts, God is ſaid to have put words into his mouth, Numb. 23. 26. he asked councel of the Lord, loath to go; yet covetouſneſs by degrees wrought upon him.
3. From the word foreign, Men ſin with full bent of Obſervat. 5.heart, a…d are carried out violently againſt all reſtraints of conſcience; as Balaam, notwithſtanding the checks and diſappointments which he met with in the way; The dumb Aſs forbidding the madneſs of the Prophet, 2 Pet. 2. 16. yet was ſtill hurried on by the violent impulſions of his own luſt, and greedy deſire of reward; ſo the Apoſtle ſpeaketh of ſome that work uncleanneſs with greedineſs, Eph. 4. 19. The motions of luſt are rapid and violent, we are in earneſt when we do the Devils work; a ſtone runneth down-hill with a ſwift motion, becauſe of its propenſion and tendency that way: Oh when ſhall we learn to ſerve God as we have ſerved Satan; our work is better, our wages better, and our Maſter beſt of all: When ſhall we pour out our hearts▪ in prayer, as we do in ſin? In the buſineſs of Religion we act with a great deal of dividedneſs and partiality; our evil works are meerly evil, but our good by no means can be purely good.
4. Again obſerve. That covetouſneſs is a violent, headſtrong luſt; you would think uncleanneſs is moſt violent, asObſervat. 6. having a rage, and a paſſionateneſs in it, it is ſo; but covetouſneſs is more ſtrong, as engaging not only the lighter part of the affections, but the will it ſelf, 1 Tim. 6. 19. He that will be rich, &c. fits of luſt are earneſt for the preſent, but this is the conſtant and more deliberate bent of the heart towards that which is evil; watch the more, that your feet be not taken in this ſnare.
The laſt inſtance is, [periſhed in the gainſaying of Corah] this is produced to note their factious practiſes; you have the ſtory of him, Numb. 16. being overcome with ambition, he would take upon him the Prieſthood; he and his accomplices made head againſt Moſes and Aaron, but he periſhed in the attempt; and ſo will theſe likewiſe that riſe up againſt Magiſtracy and Miniſtry, as ſurely as if it were already accompliſhed; and therefore though they were not as then born, yet they are ſaid to periſh when Corah periſhed: From hence note.
That ambition breedeth faction, hence Corah gainſayed; Obſervat. 7.Diotrephes loveth the preheminence, and therefore troubled the Church, in the 3 Epiſtle of John 10. All ſtirs begin firſt in our own luſts, men are diſcontented with their eſtate, would be higher, and therefore break rank: Lanctantius obſerveth of the troubles of his age, thus. Fuerunt quidam noſtrorum vel minus ſtabilitâ fide, vel minus docti, vel minus eauti; qui diſsidium facerent unitatis & eccleſiam diſsiparent, ſed ij quorum fides fuit lubrica, cum deum noſſe ſe & colere ſimularent, augendis opibus & honori ſtudentes, affectabant maximum ſacerdotium, & a potioribus victi, ſecedere cum ſuffragatoribus ſuis maluerunt quam eos ferre prae poſitos, quibus concupiebant ante praeponi, &c. Lactant. de vera ſapientia lib. 4. to cap. 30. 'tis an excellent thing to be contented with our own ſtation; Jeſus Chriſt was chadal iſchim, Iſa. 53. 3. the leaving off of men, or contented to be in the loweſt rank, if God hath denyed thee any condition in the world which thou affecteſt, thou art not worthy of it, or it is not fit for thee, &c.
2. Obſerve, Ambition that carrieth men againſt Miniſtry Obſervat. 8.carrieth them againſt Magiſtracy alſo: Corah and his companions roſe up againſt Moſes and Aaron, the Church and Common-wealth, are like the ſoul and the body; the one fareth the better for the welfare of the other; and ſeditions ſpirits will brook no reſtraint, let them alone in the Church, and they will ſoon diſturb the State alſo. But of this before, verſe 8.
Once more, The levelling humour is no new thing in the Obſervat. 9.Church of God; their plea was, Numb. 16. 3. all the Lords people are holy, or Saints, and why ſhould any be ſet over them? let us beware then of that parity which ſome affect; there muſt be Rule and Superiority, or all will come to nought: God made the world to conſiſt of Hills and Valleys, and in Church and State there muſt be Governours, and governed, Teachers and taught; 'tis Corahs ſin to invade Offices without a call, and to deſtroy that Order which God hath eſtabliſhed.
Again Obſerves Schiſms and factions in the Church, bring Obſervat. 10.deſtruction in the end: Thoſe that made a cleft in the Congregation, the earth cleaved to ſwallow them up; Chriſt ſaith, Woe be to that man by whom offences come, Mat. 18. 7. 'tis ſad to take offence, but worſe to give it, all the miſchief that enſueth will be reckoned to your ſcore; ſurely men would be more tender in this Point, if they did but think of, the puniſhment that ſenſibly overtaketh the diſturbers of a well ordered ſociety.
Again Obſerve, The Scripture ſpeaketh of things to come Obſervat. 11.as already paſt, for 'tis ſaid, theſe periſhed, &c. ſo Rev. 14. 8. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, what is threatened is as certain as if it were already accompliſhed; ſo alſo for promiſes, you have the mercy, if you have the promiſe; by Gods word all things were created and do ſubſiſt: Let it be, was enough to make a world, when God ſaith in ſhall be, is not the thing ſure, though unlikely? hath Gods word loſt any thing of its creating power? God counteth our work done, when but intended, Abraham offered, &c. Heb. 11. 17. Well then, let us be able by faith to ſee the ruin of wicked men when they reign moſt.
Laſtly Obſerve, Wicked men may read their deſtruction in Obſervat. 12.the deſtruction of others that ſinned before them: They tranſgreſs the ſame Law, and God is as tender of it as ever; and there is the ſame providence to take vengeance, which is as mighty as ever; and they act out of the ſame luſts which God hateth as much as ever, ſin is not grown leſs dangerous now in the latter days, ſurely then a man would think the old world ſhould grow wiſer, having ſo many preſidents: Pride may ſee its downfall in Nebuchadnezar, ſedition in Corah, Rebellion in Abſalom, violence in Cain; painted adulterouſneſs in Jezebel, diſorders in worſhip, in the fall of the Bethſhemites, the breach made upon Ʋzziah; the uſurping of ſacred Offices without a Call may ſee its danger, in the leproſie of Ʋzziah: there is ſearce a ſin of the peſtilent influence, of which we have not ſome example, which is ſet up like a mark in the way, in effect ſaying, Take heed, enter not here, it will prove your ruin and deſtruction; or Look upon me and be godly.