Commentary on Jude, Biblical commentary · Verse 13
Verſe 13.
Raging Waves of the Sea, foaming out their ſhame; wandring Stars, to whom is reſerved the blackneſs of darkneſs for ever.
HEre are two other compariſons, the one taken from raging Waves, the other from wandring Stars: For the firſt [Raging Waves of the Sea, foaming out their own ſhame] There is a great deal of variety among Interpreters in the application or accomodation of this ſimilitude, ſome go one way, ſome another; Waves are not more various and uncertain in their motions, then they in their expoſitions; ſome apply it to their levity and inconſtancy, ſome to their reſtleſs activity in ſin, ſome to their turbulency, others to their pride and oſtentation; in ſuch uncertainty what ſhall we fix upon? Two things will direct us, the ſcope, and the force of the words: The ſcope of the Apoſtle in all theſe ſimilitudes is to ſhew, that theſe ſeducers were nothing leſs then what they pretended to be: Clouds, but dry barren clouds; Trees, but ſuch as bore either none, or rotten fruit: Waves that ſeemed to mount up unto heaven, and to promiſe great matters, as if they would ſwallow up the whole earth, but being daſhed againſt a Rock, all this raging and ſwelling turneth into a little foam and froth. So Calvin applyeth it to the Libertines, who ſcorn and diſdain the common forms of ſpeech, and talk of illumination and edification, ſo that their hearers ſeem to be wrapt into the heavens, but alas they ſuddenly fall into beaſtly errours.
From the ſcope obſerve, That ſpiritual Boaſters will certainly Obſervat. 1….come ſhort of their great promiſes: All is but noiſe, ſuch as is made by empty veſſels; in the latter times you are troubled with boasters, 2 Tim. 3. 2. men that boaſt of depths, and ſeem to be wiſe and knowing above the ordinary ſort, that will pretend to ſhew you new ways; a ſhorter cut to heaven, and rare diſcoveries of Chriſt, and Goſpel light, &c. but alas to the iſſue, they leave you much more the ſervants of ſin then you were before.
But leaue a little examine the force of the words; the whole ſimilitude alludeth to what is ſaid of wicked men in general, Iſa 57. 20 The wicked are like a troubled Sea, that cannot reſt whoſe water c…ſt up …ire and dirt.
Obſerve in the firſt place that they are Waves▪ whichObſervat. 2. noteth their Inconſtancy, Gen. 49 4. Reuben is as unſtable as water▪ water▪ you know) is moveable, ſoon furled and driven too and fro by the winds, ſo were theſe carried about with every wind of Dostrine, Eph. 4. 14. Note thence,
That Seducers are unſe…l…d and uncertain in their opinions; ſo 2 Pet. 3. 16▪ Ʋnlearned and unſtable; if you ask why? Becauſe they are not rooted and grounded in their profeſſion, but led by ſudden affection and intereſts▪ rather then judgement; they are unſtable, becauſe unlearned; ſuch as do not proceed upon clear and certain grounds, and thoſe whom they work upon are of no principles, beguiling unſtable ſouls: well then, diſcover them by their levity, you will never have comfort and certainty in following them, who like weather cocks turn with every winde. Ecebolius is infamous to all ages, ſee Socrat▪ Scholaſt lib. 3. cap. 2▪ He was Profeſſor of Eloquence at Conſtantinople under Conſtantius, zealous of Chriſtian Religion under Julian a P… gan, and when he was dead, he profeſſed Chriſtianity again; but, then he came weeping to the Church foreign, Tread upon me unſavoury …lt, and caſt me to the dunghill, Conſtantius Colorus▪ though an Heathen both Zozomen and Euſebius give us the ſtory) yet loved conſtancy and faithfulneſs in men as to their profeſſion; he made proclamation, that whoſoever would not ſacrifice, ſhould be diſcarded, and no more retained in pay with him; but when many falſe▪ Chriſtians h…d renounced their profeſſion for gain, and pre er…ing their civil Intereſts, he would not receive them ſaving, foreign: How can they keep … with their King and Emperour, that would faulter in an higher matter in the buſineſs of their God and Religion, for a ſmall and petty Intereſt. Much to the ſame purpoſe there is a paſſage of Theod…rick King of the Goths, who loved a Deacon who was of the Orthodox profeſſion, though he himſelf was an Arrian; the Deacon to pleaſe the King the more, changeth his Religion, and profeſſeth Arrianiſm alſo; but he beheadeth him, ſaying, foreign, If thou haſt not kept thy faith with God, how wilt thou preſerve a good Conſcience in thy duty to men? The ſtory is in Theodoret: Some are meerly Waves, rolling hither and thither in a doubtful uncertainty.
2. Waves of the Sea; There you have their reſtleſs activity, they are always toſſed too and fro, Jer. 46. 23. The Lord ſhall trouble Damaſcus, that ſhe ſhall become like a fearful Sea that cannot reſt, ſo theſe cannot reſt from evil, 2 Pet. 2. 14. Eyes full of Adultery, that cannot ceaſe from ſin. Obſerve.
Ʋſually wicked men are of an unquiet ſpirit, reſtleſs in evil: Obſervat. 3.They are acted by Satan, who is a reſtleſs ſpirit, and there is a great correſpondency between their activeneſs in ſin, and the importunity of Sathans malice, 1 Pet. 5. 8. He goeth about like a roaring Lyon, ſeeking whom he may devour: Now you ſhall ſee the like diligence and readineſs in his inſtruments, they walk the divels round, Matth. 23. 15. Wo unto you Scribes and Phariſees, Hypocrites; for ye compaſs Sea and Land to make one Proſelyte, &c. Blind zeal leadeth on men with an inceſſant rage, to poyſon others with their errour, and draw them to their ſect: Well then, we may learn diligence from our enemies; Shall they be more buſie to pervert the truth, then we to propagate it? Dan. 12. 4▪ Mary ſhall run too and fro, and knowledge ſhall be increaſed: Once more learn, that 'tis a ſigne of a naughty heart to be reſtleſs in ſin, Prov. 4. 16. They ſleep not unleſs they have done miſchief, and their ſleep is taken from them unleſs they cauſe ſome to fall.
3. Raging waves of the Sea, there you have their turbulency, they fill all places with troubles and ſtrifes.
Wicked Seducers are uſually of a turbulent and impetuous Obſervat. 4.ſpirit. Why? Becauſe they are urged by their own pride and vanity, and have loſt all reſtraints of modeſty, and are uſually (as to their conſtitution) of violent and eager ſpirits: Well then, be not born down with impudence and rage, there may be during attempts, and much reſolution in an ill cauſe: Beſides, 'tis an hint to the Magiſtrate to look to ſeducers betimes, for they are raging waves.
4. The next expreſſion is [foaming out their own ſhame,] as a raging ſea caſteth up mire and dirt; or it alludeth to that ſcum and froth which the Waves leave upon the rocks, and ſo it noteth the abominab…eneſs of their opinions and practiſes. Whence note,
That though Errours come in bluſhing, and with a modeſt Obſervat. 5.dreſs, yet uſually they go out of the world with a great deal of ſhame. They daſh againſt the rock upon which the Church is built, and what is the iſſue? They are covered with froth and foam; 1 Cor. 3. 13. The day ſhall declare it, that is time, whoſe daughter truth is; have a little patience, and you ſhall ſee, that all that is but hay and ſtubble, which is accounted gold; when worldly intereſts are unconcerned, and the heat of contention a little allayed, that men may have more clear diſcerning, and the world hath had a little more experience of the fruit of falſe ways and opinions, there will not need any great confutation; evil men will ſufficiently bewray their own filthineſs: Guicciardine ſaith of the expedition of Charls the 9th into Italy, that he came in like lightning, and went out like the ſnuff of a Candle; ſo errours come in like a raging wave, as if they would bear all before them, but they go out like foam and froth, in ſcorn and infamy: Well then, obſerve the fruitleſneſs of all Sathans attempts; the gates of hell ſhall not prevail againſt this Rock, Matth. 16. 18. By the gates of hell, is meant ſtrength and counſel power and policy; for in the gates was their Ammunition, and ſeats of Judicature: they that ſeek to ſlaver the Church▪ or deface the truth, which is the foundation of it, they do but ſpit againſt the wind, the drivel is returned upon their own faces: We often betray our truſt and faith by our paſſions; we have not an holy greatneſs of mind to look above every trouble; contend for God, but wait upon him; Sathan may prevail a long time, but he can never carry it clearly from Chriſt: the Arrians had a day of it, but they ſoon grew infamous for their cruelty and baſeneſs.
We come now to the next ſimilitude [wandring stars,] foreign, it may be taken two ways, properly, or improperly. 1. Properly, for the ſtars which we call Planets, or wandring, though indeed no ſtars wander leſs then they do; they have their name from the opinion and common judgement of ſenſe, becauſe they are not carried about the whole circuit of the heavens, but in a ſhorter orb and courſe, in themſelves they have certain ſtated motions, and do keep thr juſt points of their compaſs; the Sun knoweth his going down, Pſal. 104. 2. Improperly, There are a ſecond ſort of wandring ſtars, which Ariſtotle calleth foreign, running and gliding ſtars; not ſtars indeed, but only dry exhalations inflamed, which glare much, and deceive the eye with an appearance of light, but ſoon vaniſh, and are quenched: Now theſe glancing ſhooting ſtars, do excellently expreſs the quality of theſe Seducers, who pretended great knowledge, being therefore called Gnoſticks, and gave out themſelves for illuminate and profound Doctors, but were various and uncertain in their motions, and ſoon extinguiſhed and obſcured. 'Tis notable that the Apoſtle ranſacketh all the elements for compariſons whereby to ſet them forth; The Ayr, Clouds without water; the Earth, barren rotten Trees; the Water, there he compareth them to raging Waves; the Fire, to wandring stars, which are of a fiery nature: A fruitful fancy can make uſe of all the world, and a willing mind cannot want objects of meditation. But let us come to obſerve ſomthing from this ſimilitude.
The guides of the Lords people ſhould be ſtars▪ but not wandring Obſervat. 6.gliding ſtars. Theſe ſeducers pretended to be ſtars, and great lights of the Church (which is the office of the miniſters) but were indeed wandring ſtars, and ſuch as did ſeduce, and cauſe to err.
Firſt, Stars they ſhould be, 1. In regard of the light of doctrine. Matth 5. 14. Ye are the light of the world, thats Chriſts honour, John 1. 9. but he taketh his own crown, and puts it upon his ſervants heads, they are the light in a ſubordinate ſenſe; ſtars, though not the Sun; he is the original and fountain of all light, and we are uſed as a means to convey it to others; thus John is called, John 6. 35. a burning and a ſhining light: He uſeth our ſervice to diſpel the miſts of errour, the right of profaneſs, and the darkneſs of falſe worſhip: you had need prize thoſe whom God hath ſet over you, they are light, and will *2 Sam. 21. 17you quench the light of Iſrael. 2. In regard of the luſter of their converſations; 'tis ſaid of all Chriſtians, Phil. 2. 15. that they ſhould ſhine as lights in this world; they are the bright part of the world, as the ſtars are the ſhining part of heaven; as the ſtar directed the wiſe men to Chriſt, ſo they muſt ſhine to light others by their example to him, as 'tis required of all Chriſtians, much more of Miniſters, who are placed in an higher orb and ſphere; alas we are but dim lights, we have our ſpots and eclipſes, but this ſets the world a talking.
Secondly, They muſt not be gliding falling ſtars, thats charged upon theſe ſeducers, a falſe teacher, and a falling ſtar ſymbolizeth in three reſpects. 1. 'Tis but a counterfeit ſtar; ſo is he an Angel of light only in appearance, 2 Cor. 11. 14. a true Chriſtian ſhould covet more to be▪ than to ſeem to be; to be light in the Lord, before he is a light in the world; Hypocrites are all for appearance 2. In reſpect of the uncertainty of its motion; falling ſtars are not moved with the heavens, but with the motion of the Ayr, hither and thither, and ſo are no ſure direction; ſo are they unconſtant and unſtable in the doctrines which they teach, running from opinion to opinion; vagabond lights, that ſeduce, not direct; as meteors, miſlead travellers out of the way. 3. In regard of the fatal iſſue; a wandring ſtar falleth to the ground, and becometh a dark ſlime and jelly; ſo their pretences vaniſh at length, and they are found to be thoſe that were never enlightned and fixed in the firmament of God; counterfeits cannot laſt long, we ſee ſtars ſhoot in the turn of an eye, and Sathans inſtruments fall from heaven like lightning.
Well then, for a guide to heaven, chuſe a ſtar, but not a wandring ſtar; n…w light is admired, but it ſhould be ſuſpected rather; uſually we are rather for things new than excellent, homini ingenitum eſt magis nova quam magna mirari, ſaith Seneca, We gaze more on a Comet than the Sun: check this itch, thoſe that are various, and given to changes, are no lights for you; and if they be not burning and ſhining lights, avoid them; true ſtars have influences, they do not only enlighten and fill you with notions, but enflame and ſtir you to practiſe.
The laſt clauſe of the Text is [To whom is reſerved blackneſs of darkneſs for ever.] having deſcribed them in ſeveral Metaphors, he cometh to ſpeak again of their puniſhment, continuing the laſt Metaphor, (as ſome ſuppoſe) as garing Meetors after a while vaniſh into a perpetual night and darkneſs, and are no more ſeen and heard of; ſo theſe vaniſh, and are ſwallowed up of the horrours of eternal darkneſs: In this threatning three things are noteable. 1. The dreadfulneſs of the puniſhment. 2. The ſureneſs. 3. The ſuitableneſs of it.
1. The dreadfulneſs in two circumſtances, 1. The nature of it, 2. The duration of it.
1. The nature of it, foreign, the blackneſs of darkneſs; 'tis an Hebraiſm for exceeding great darkneſs, called in the Goſpel foreign, outer darkneſs; as being furtheſt from God the Fountain of life and glory, and ſo expreſſing that extream miſery, horror and torment which is in Hell. Hell is a da…k and diſmal region, where men lye deprived of the light of Gods cou…tenance; tormented with preſence of Devils, and become the burden of their own thoughts▪ calling to remembrance their paſt ſins, and having an active ſenſe of their preſent pains, and dreadfully looking ſtill for future judgment; but of this *See verſe 6. on thoſe words, [chains of ever laſt…ng darkneſs] and ve. ſe 7. thoſe words [ …t…rual ſire]before▪ Well then, let us not begin our Hell our ſelves, by ſhunning Gods preſence; by preferring carnal pleaſures before the light of his countenance: by remaining in the night or darkneſs of ignorance or errour; by darkning the glory of our holy profeſſion▪ through ſcandalous living; by ſinning againſt conſcience, and ſo providing food for the gnawing worm, or matter of deſpair to our ſelves to all eternity; Briefly, let us beware of a dark and doubtful condition, it carrieth too great a proportion with Hell, the more bondage we have, the more fearful looking for of judgment, the more are we like the damned, as the more aſſured and poſſeſſed of Gods love▪ the more like the bleſſed; joy in the Holy Ghoſt is the Subburbs of Heaven.
2. The next thing is the duration [The blackneſs of darkneſs FOREVER,] Thetorment prepared for the wicked is everlaſting, their worm dyeth not, and their fire is not quenched, Mark 9. 44, This is the Hell of Hell, that as the torments there are without meaſure, ſo without end; vivere nolunt mori neſciunt, here they might have life and would not, and now would have death and cannot▪ Rev. 20. 10, tormented for ever and ever: Wo alaſs, 'tis for ever! Poor wicked wretches, whoſe bodies ſhrink at the prick of a Pin, or the flame of a candle, how will they endure thoſe endleſ… pains? when their reſtleſs thoughts ſhall have run through thouſands of years, they muſt look for more; the the pains of the damned are eternal: partly becauſe of the greatneſs of the Majeſty againſt whom they have ſinned; we are finite creatures, and ſo not fit to judge of the nature of an offence againſt an infinite God; the Law giver beſt knoweth the merit of ſin, which is the tranſgreſſion of the Law, as a Jeweler knoweth the price of a Jewel, and can beſt give ſentence in the caſe what he is to pay that hath loſt or ſpoiled it; with man offences of a quick execution meet with a long puniſhment, and the continuance of the penalty in no caſe is to be meaſured with the continuance of the act of ſin; Saelus non tempor is magnitudine ſed iniqu tatis magnitudine metiendum eſt: Partly becauſe man ſinneth as long as he can, he ſinneth in aeterno ſuo (as Aquinas) and therefore is puniſhed in aeterno Dei; we would live for ever to ſin for ever▪ *Wicked men are not changed in Hell; melted mettle groweth hard again; the bad theif had one foot in Hell, and yet dyeth blaſpheming; their Iudgments are changed not their hearts; they would have dallyed with God longer, greeved his ſpirit here in the world longer, but that their Candle went out, &c.in Hell the deſire of ſinning is not extinguiſhed or mortified: Partly becauſe they deſpiſed an eternal happineſs, and therefore do juſtly ſuffer an eternal torment: Partly becauſe they are in their final eſtate peace upon earth, Luk. 2. 14. here God is upon a Treaty with us; but there we are beyond a poſſibility of repentance and pardon. Partly becauſe their obligations to God are infinite, and ſo their puniſhment riſeth according to the exceſs of their obligations: Well then, this repreſenteth the folly of ſinners, that will run the hazard of eternal torments for a little temporal ſatisfaction, as he cryed out, For how ſhort a pleaſure have I loſt a Kingdom? When he had parted with his Soveraignty for a draught of water; ſo you, out of a deſire of preſent contentment, forfeit Heaven, and run the hazard of the horrours of everlaſting darkneſs; therefore to counter-ballance the violence of a temptation, 'tis good to think of it: Can I dwell with everlaſting burnings? if a man be ſick in the night, he tumbleth and toſſeth and telleth the hours, and wiſheth it were day: Oh what will a man do that is h…ld under an everlaſting night and darkneſs? We are wont to think a Sermon long, a Prayer long; what will hell be? When conſcience ſhall repeat over the paſſages of our lives, and remember us of the wrath of God that endureth ſor ever? here ſin is ever working, all the day it runneth in the mind, all the night it playeth in the fancy; we begin the morning with it, and end the day with it, and in the viſions of the night it eaſily gets the ſtart, and out runneth reaſon and conſcience, there the guilt of it will torment us day and night, and man is ever haunted with his own horrours, and the wrath of God inflicted upon him.
So much for the terribleneſs of the judgement, now ſecondly let us conſider the ſureneſs of it, foreign, 'tis reſerved: Obſervat. 9.Hell sorment is ſure, prepared, kept, for the wicked: ſo Mat. 25. prepared for the Devil and his Angels; Heaven is prepared for the Saints, and they for it; in one place 'tis ſaid, The Kingdom prepared for you; in another, Veſſels of mercy aforehand prepared unto glory: ſo is Hell, fitted for the wicked, and they fit themſelves for Hell; God prepareth the Saints and ſitteth them, but endureth the wicked, and beareth with them whilſt they fit themſelves for deſtruction, ſee Rom. 9. 22, 23. Carnal men may lord it abroad for a while, and ruffle and ſhine in worldly pomp, but the blackneſs of darkneſs is kept for them.
3. Obſerve the ſuitableneſs of the judgment to the ſin, he ſaith darkneſs, not fire: Clouds that darken the truth are justly puniſhed with the miſts of darkneſs for ever, ſee 2 Pet 2. 17. they that would quen…h the true light, are caſt into eternal darkneſs, God loveth to retaliate, that men may read their ſin in their judgment here in the world, we may do it in mercy to the Saints; Jacob that came the younger, for the elder, to blinde Iſaac, had the elder daughter given him inſtead of the younger. Aſa that put the Prophet in the ſtocks, was diſeaſed in his feet; but in Hell he doth it for the greater horror to the wicked; they that chuſe left hand bleſſings, Prov. 3. 16 are juſtly placed with the Goats on the left hand, Mat. 25. he that denyeth a crumb, could not receive a drop; they that cared not for Gods company, are then baniſhed out of his preſence, and to thoſe that loved darkneſs more then light, is the miſt of darkneſs reſerved for ever.