Commentary on Jude, Biblical commentary · Verse 15
Verſe 15.
To execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard ſpeeches which ungodly ſinners have ſpoken againſt him.
HAving deſcribed the Judge, with his attendants, he cometh to deſcribe his work, which is to convince, and execute judgement, together with the perſons againſt whom he will thus proceed [All that are ungodly amongſt them] as alſo the grounds and reaſons of the Proceſs, becauſe of their ungodly practiſes, and hard ſpeeches againſt Chriſt.
Some ſay the 14th verſe doth only contain the propheſie of Enoch, and that theſe words are the Apoſtle's application or explication of it, but improbably, the words running on in a continued ſenſe or form of ſpeech, and the application is at the 16th verſe.
[To execute judgement] 'tis an hyſteron proteron, the laſt act is put firſt, execution before conviction or arraignment, [upon all] that is, upon all ſuch as are here ſpoken of, upon all the ungodly, for judgement is not executed upon the Saints, but for them. [And to convince] foreign, it implyeth ſuch a clear proof, that we ſee 'tis impoſſible things ſhould be otherwiſe at the day of judgement, wicked men are ſpeechleſs, Matth. 22. and ſelf condemned [all that are ungodly amongſt them] that is, amongſt the wicked, and the ſeverity of the proceſs is chiefly bent againſt thoſe that are ungodly [of all their ungodly deeds] in the Greek, the deeds of their ungodlineſs; now ungodlineſs here is not taken in its proper ſenſe for denying God his due honour and worſhip, but for any oppoſition againſt his ſervants, worſhip, truth [which in an ungodly manner thy have committed] foreign, which argueth the malice ſpite which they bewrayed in their oppoſitions and reproaches [and of all their hard ſpeeches] foreign, [hard] as applicable to things as well as ſpeeches; our ſpeeches are here intended, as appeareth by the following clauſe; wicked practiſes and an evil tongue are ſeldom ſevered; that by hard ſpeeches is meant any proud, taunting, curſed, or contumelious language, ſee 1 Sam. 2. 3. in the Hebrews, and Pſal. 94. 4. How long ſhall they utter and ſpeak hard things, and the workers of iniquity boaſt themſelves [which ungodly ſinners] not only ſinners, but ungodly ſinners, for the greater emphaſis, ſee Pſal. 1. 1. [againſt him] that is, againſt himſelf, againſt his perſon, or meſſengers, or truths, ordinances, for what is ſpoken againſt any of theſe, is ſpoken againſt Chriſt himſelf.
This verſe is large, and full of points; but becauſe the doctrine of the day of Judgment hath been already touched upon, and ungodlineſs opened at large verſe 4. therefore the briefer notes will ſerve the turn.
1. Chriſts ſecond coming is to judgement; ſo 'tis ſaid in the Text, He ſhall come with ten thouſand of his Saints to execute judgement. Of his firſt coming 'tis ſaid. John 3. 17. God ſent not his Son to judge the world, but that the world through him ſhould be ſaved; he came not then as a Judge; but as a Redeemer, offering and procuring grace and life, when we fruſtrate the end of his coming as a Redeemer, we make way for the end of his coming as a Judge, and he that then came to us, will now come againſt us.
2. When Chriſt cometh to judgement, one great part of his work will be, to convince ſinners, and that openly, publiquely. Some think that the whole work will be diſpatched in the Conſcience, without any audible and external voice, both▪ as to ex…mination and ſentence; others think the tryal and conviction ſhall be in the conſcience of a ſinner, but the ſentence audibly pronounced, and becauſe the puniſhment is too light upon body and ſoul, the ear is to receive it, as well as the Conſcience feel it: I conceive, that conviction, tryal, and ſentence, will be all open and publique, though I cannot expreſly ſay, that every particular ſin ſhall be diſcovered before the whole world, yet enough manifeſted to ſhew the ſentence juſt, as their unfaithfulneſs in their callings, their oppoſition of God and Godlineſs, their oppreſſion of his ſervants, their neglect o grace, &c. with all the circumſtances and aggravations of it, as the gracious opportunities and means which they have enjoyed, ſtirring ſerm…ns, motions of the ſpirit, checks of Conſcience, bleſſed methods of love and mercy, &c. God keepeth an account of theſe things; thoſe paſſages which imply Gods reckoning with his people in the world, are but pledges of what he will do at the day of our laſt account: now here God taketh exact notice of the long time, and many means which we have enjoyed, as Luke 13. 7. theſe three years &c. it alludeth to the time of Chriſts miniſtry, he was juſt then entring upon his laſt half year, as by a ſerious harmonizing the Evangeliſts will appear, John 2. 54. This ſecond miracle did Jeſus in Canah of Galilee; account is kept of a former: 1 Kings 11. 9.—appeared to him twice, ſo theſe 23. years, and J…r. 25. 3. all this is remembred and produced to convince the ſinner.
This conviction implyeth two things. 1. The opening of the Conſcience, Rev. 20. 12. The books were opened, that is, the book of Conſcience, and the book of Gods remembrance; the conſciences of men ſhall then be extended to an exact view of all their works and deeds paſt; 'tis wonderful, but it ſhall be done by the mighty power of God; for 'tis ſaid here, he ſhall convince them of all their ungodly deeds, and hard ſpeeches; their works and words are not loſt and forgotten, but do follow them into the other world, and ſtand in the view of Conſcience, challenging the ſinner, tu nos See Hoſea 7. 2. Pſalm 49. 5.egisti, opera tua ſumus; ſinner, theſe are the things which thou haſt done and ſpoken, we will not leave thee, but bring thee to judgement; then is that expreſſion made good, *Numb. 32. 23.their iniquities ſhall find them out, our old ſins, and carnal practiſes were long ſince forgotten and worn out of memory, ſo that we think we ſhall never …ea… of them more, but there they find us out, and purſue us to Chriſts Tribunal. 2. There is an outward publication and manifeſtation of all theſe ſins, or of moſt of them, before the world; for the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 4. 5. hidden things ſhall be brought to light in that day; that is, not only called to remembrance by the ſinner himſelf, but expoſed to the notice and cenſure of others, as the context there ſheweth: ſo Eccleſ. 12. 14. 'tis ſaid, ſecret ſins ſhall be brought to judgment, if only diſcovered to the conſcience of the ſinner, they are ſtill kept ſecret: wicked men are already in a great meaſure convinc'd, yea & condemnd in their own conſciences, 'tis then Gods deſigne to ſhame them before all the world, how otherwiſe ſhall the ſuſpected innocency of his ſervants be vindicated, and Saints and Angels applaud the equity of his judgements, unleſs they have ſome cogniſance of the matter for which wicked men are condemned? Now theſe ſins may be diſcovered many ways, either by their own confeſſions, and pitiful complaints extorted from them by the power of God, they ſhall wail and bemoan their caſe thus probably, Oh that ever I deſpiſed Chriſt, oppreſſed his ſervants, oppoſed his truth, ſlighted the ſeaſons of grace, &c. ſee Rev. 6. 16, 17. or by the ſentence of Chriſt, in the pronouncing of which, there is ſome repetition of their ſins, ſee Matth 25. 41, 42, 43. and alſo by the teſtimony of the good and bad Angels againſt them: The good Angels and Guardians of the Saints, are ſenſible of the injuries done to them, and may poſſibly accuſe you to Chriſt upon that ſcore, Matth. 18. 10. the Divel, who is now a Tempter, will then be an Accuſer: One of the Fathers bringeth in the Divel pleading thus, Domine ſit meus per culpam, qui tuus eſſe noluit per gratiam, &c. Lord let him be mine by ſin, who would not be thine by grace; I never died for him, had no heaven to offer him, only a little carnal pleaſure or profit, and this was enough to draw him from thee, &c. yea further, the Miniſters, and other godly perſons, by whoſe example they have been reproved or condemned, may give teſtimony againſt them, John 5. 45. there is one that accuſeth you, even Moſes, &c. the cries of thoſe whom they have oppreſſed and wronged, may poſſibly be renewed, James 5. 4. Abel's blood may cry out againſt Cain afreſh, ſtarved ſouls may cry out againſt a lazy Miniſter, oppreſſed ſubjects againſt a bloody Magiſtrate, the neglected poor againſt thoſe that have ſhut their bowels againſt them; as on the other ſide the godly poor that have bin refreſhed and relieved by the bounty of the rich, are ſaid to receive them into everlaſting habitations, Luke 16. 9. Again, the example of thoſe that have had leſs means may be produced againſt them, becauſe they went further in a way of compliance with the Lords purpoſe, Matth. 12. 41, 42. Others with whom we have ſinned may complain of us; Dives was afraid leſt his Brethren ſhould come into the place of Torment, Luk. 16. 28. which might be a means to increaſe his anguiſh, they ſinning by his example; I have produced theſe ſuppoſitions, only to make the conviction at the day of judgement more intelligible and effective.
Again obſerve, when Chriſt hath convinced, he will condemn, Obſervat. 3.and when he hath condemned, he will execute: Conviction now maketh way many times for converſion, but then for confuſion; now God killeth, that he may make alive, but then they are preſently tranſmitted and ſent into their everlaſting eſtate: Let us imitate the method of Chriſts proceſs in our judging our ſelves, let us examine judge, execute, not our ſelves, but our ſins; voluntary acts prevent enforced.
From that [Of all their ungodly deeds, &c.] Obſerve, That the proceſs of the laſt day chiefly lieth againſt the ungodly. Obſervat. 4.Theſe are expreſly mentioned in the Text, unrighteouſneſs is a cauſe of Gods wrath, as well as ungodlineſs, Rom. 2. 18. But ungodlineſs doth chiefly provoke; for the firſt part, and chiefeſt part of the Law, provideth for our duty to God, ex ordine modum, ex loco ſtatum, & dignitatem Tertullian.uniuſcujuſque praecepti &c. The dignity of every command is known by the command of it; now in the firſt place, godlineſs is required, and then righteouſneſs, or a care of moral duties.
If you would know who are ungodly, ſee the notes on verſe 4. where they are deſcribed at large, all Atheiſts, peeuliative and prastical Pagans, ſinners that ſlight the offers of Chriſt, that neglect communion with God, and are touched with no reverence and dread of his Majeſty, all theſe are ungodly perſons, and alſo all that ſcof at Religion, and holineſs of converſation, that deſpiſe the Ordinances of God, oppreſs and perſecute his ſervants; hate his truths, theſe are all in the Scripture branded with the ſame mark, as I could eaſily ſhew you, if I l…ſted to dilate upon this argument.
Now none of theſe will be able to hold up the head in the day of Judgement, Pſal. 1. 5 The ungodly ſhall not ſtand in judgement, nor ſinners in the congregation of the righteous; for ſince they hate or neglect God, how ſhall they be able to look him in the face, or appear among his ſervants? They that have deſpiſed the *1 Tim 3. 6. 1 Tim. 6. 3.myſterie of godlineſs, how can they expect the reward of godlineſs? You that mock at godlineſs, make Duties the objects of your ſcorn, not your care; how will Chriſt ſcorn you at the laſt day? Well then, if you would have the day of judgement comfortable to you, be not only juſt and ſtrict, but godly, for godlineſs is a notion diſtinct from holineſs, 2 Pet. 3. 11. 'tis not enough to do actions just and good, but we muſt do them upon the ſight of Gods will, and with aims at his glory: Holineſs implyeth a conformity to the Law of God, but godlineſs an enlightned reſpect to his glory, now a Chriſtians whole life ſhould have ſuch a tendency and ordination, for 'tis called a living to God, Gal. 2. 19.
Once more obſerve, Theſe ungodly men are the rather Obſervat. 5.judged, becauſe they commit ſin with an ungodly mind, or ſin with a ſinning mind; for ſo 'tis in the Text; ungodly deeds ungodly committed: A child of God may fall into wickedneſs, but he doth not commit it wickedly, with a full conſent; men are not condemned for infirmities but iniquities; as a child of God cannot act with ſuch liberty, purity and perfection in the ways of God, as he doth deſire, ſo in the ways of ſin he cannot do what he would, nor be carried out with ſuch a full bent and purpoſe of heart, as wicked men are, becauſe of the oppoſition of the new nature; to this latter ſenſe is it ſaid, Gal. 5. 17. Ye cannot do the things that ye would, as will appear by a ſerious inſpection of the context: wicked men follow the Derils work with all their might, Micah 7. 3. They do evil with both hands, earneſtly, the Lord that is tender of thoſe that ſin through infirmity, yet taketh notice to the purpoſe when men ſin for ſins ſake, and their hearts are largely and eagerly ſet upon it; thoſe that are diſcaimed at the day of judgment, are called workers of iniquity, Mat. 7. 23. ſuch as make a buſineſs and a trade of it; a godly man doth not ſo much act ſin as he ſuffereth by it, peccatum patitur non facit, Bernard. He doth not pour out his whole heart this way, there are conſtant diſlikes in the ſoul, which are a let and reſtraint to him; uſually the ſins of the godly are either ſins of ignorance, incogitancy, ſuddain ſurreption, and daily incurſion, if they ſin deliberately there is not ſuch a ſpight and rage, as there is to be found in the ſins of the wicked.
From the next clauſe [and their hard ſpeeches] Obſerve,Obſervat. 6. Not only the deeds of ungodly men, but their ſpeeches are brought into judgment; words do not periſh with the breath with which they are uttered, no, they remain upon record and we are to give an account of them at the laſt day, Mat. 15. 36. and James 2. 12. Men are more ſerious in their actions, but in their ſpeeches raſh and inconſiderate, and thoſe that dare not act evil, dare yet ſpeak; Oh conſider if Chriſt did only call us to an account for our actions, and our words were free, 'twere another matter; but he reckoneth with us about our ſpeeches, therefore ſo ſpeak, and ſo do, as thoſe that would be judged by the Law of the liberty.
Once more from thence obſerve, That of all ſpeeches mens hard ſpeeches ſhall be produced at the day of judgment: Now what are theſe hard ſpeeches? I Anſw. either ſuch as have anger in them, as Solomon ſpeaketh of the froward mouth and perverſe lipps, Prov. 4. 22. when men breath nothing but fire, and drop coals inſtead of words; or ſuch as have pride in them, or contempt of others, as when we leſſen their abilities, inſult over their miſeries, They ſpeak to the grief of thoſe whom thou haſt wounded, ſee Pſal. 94. 4. or triumph over their ſlipps and failings: this is to pour ſalt and vinegar into new wounds.
Again, ſuch as have bitterneſs and malice in them, as calumnies and reproaches, Pſal. 64. 3, 4. They bend their bows to ſhoot their Arrows, even bitter words; By whiſperings and clancular ſuggeſtions they wound the credit of Gods ſervants, and ſo bring them into diſ-eſteem with others. Well then, be not haſty to utter hard ſpeeches, eſpecially againſt Gods children, Numb. 12. 8. Were ye not afraid to ſpeak againſt my ſervant, againſt Moſes? The repetition of theſe hard ſpeeches will be ſad notes to your ears at the laſt day.
The next Note is, That of all hard ſpeeches thoſe are the Obſervat. 8:worſt which do moſt directly reflect upon the honour and glory of Chriſt; for ſo 'tis in the Text [hard ſpeeches ſpoken againſt him,] Now hard ſpeeches againſt Chriſt are either blaſphemies againſt either of his natures; the Ebionites denyed him to be God; the Valen inians made him a phantaſtical man, or a man only in appearance, or murmurings againſt his providence and regiment of the world: Your words have been ſtout againſt me, Mal. 3. 15. When we tax and excuſe providence, as if the Lord were blind careleſs, unjuſt or injurious in his dealings: The Lord ſhall not ſee, he ſhall neither do good nor evil, how ſhould the moſt high know? or when we ſcoff at his word, as theſe, Jer. 23. 33. The burden of the Lord, the burden of the Lord, everymans word ſhall be his burden, becauſe the Prophets uſually began their Sermons with this Preface, The burden of the Lord, they ſcoffingly were wont to ſay, what burden have you for us to day? Now ſaith the Prophet, this ſhall return into your boſoms, your words ſhall be your burden: So alſo when we ſpeak againſt his ways, calling zeal fury, ſtrictneſs a fooliſh preciſeneſs, and godlineſs puritaniſm: Oh Chriſtians, theſe hard ſpeeches will coſt dear, here or hereafter; *Mat. 12. 32. …'tis poſſible that blaſphemy repented of may be forgiven, but when you are brought home to Chriſt, 'twill coſt you bitter pangs, and a ſound remorſe.