Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 61
THE EPISTLE OF S. IVDE.
CAP. I.
4 For there are certaine men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousnesse.FOr there are secretly, and underhand crept in certaine false teachers, who by the just and holy counsell of God, were from eternity set out, and given up to this fearefull damnation, which they have runne into, by their wickednesse; gracelesse and ungodly men, who have abused the grace and mercy of our God, as an inducement to their prostitution of themselves to all manner of licentiousnesse, &c.
6 And the Angels which kept not their first estate, but left their owne habitation, hee hath reserved in everlasting chains under darknesse, unto the judgement of the great day.And the Angels, which not contented with that estate, wherein they were first created, but rebelling against God, and proudly affecting an higher glory; were thereupon cast downe from their heavenly habitations; he hath reserved, under his everlasting, and unchangeable decree, in the dreadfull darknesse of hell, to the full consummation of their torment, at the great day of finall judgment, when they shall receive their utmost doome of their fore-appointed damnation.
7 And going after strange flesh.And, being carried with filthy, and unnaturall lust towards those of their owne sexe.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, & speak evill of dignities.Likewise also these beastly and wicked miscreants, which are carryed away with their owne giddie fancies, & idle dreames, defile themselves, with abominable lusts, despise authority, and speake scornefully, and disgracefully of all those that are in dignity and eminence above them.
9 Yet Michael the Archangell, when contending with the devill, he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.Yet Michael the Archangel, when conflicting and striving with the devill, hee contested with that evill spirit, about the body of Moses (which being secretly hidden by God, was sought for, and attempted to be brought forth by satan) durst not, as of himselfe, pronounce against that wicked spirit, the sentence and judgment of that his blasphemie; nor cast upon him any rayling accusation, but onelyonly said, The Lord rebuke thee.
But these men are brutish,10 But these speake evill of those things, which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. & grossely ignorant in their understanding, not knowing how to value the worth of any thing that is good; and yet have their mouthes open to disgrace, and raile on that which they know not; and those things which they cannot but naturally know, as brute beasts, which are led and carried by their senses, those they abuse in a sinfull and sensuall immoderation, and make them occasions of their sinne and destruction.11 Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Kain, and ranne gredily after the errour of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Certainly the curse of God hangs over the heads of these men; for they have, in respect of envy and murther, followed the courses of Cain; and in respect of corrupting the truth for silthy lucres sake, they have greedily run on in the wicked steps of Balaam; and in respect of opposing themselves to authority, they have imitated the rebellion and mutiny of Corah, and shall perish in that damnable presumption.
These are blemishes to your holy profession; and,12 These are spots in your feasts of charitie, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without feare: clouds they are without water, carryed about of windes, trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twise dead, plucked up by the roots. when yee meet together at your love-feasts, bring shame and dishonour upon your assemblies; in a gluttonous fashion, pampering and cramming themselves at your publique banquets; such as would willingly passe for Christians, and yet have no soundnesse and truth of religion in their hearts; they would seeme clouds therfore, but have no raine in them; they would seeme trees, but they are feare and withered; twice dead; once while they stand, dry and saplesse; and once yet more whiles they lye, as plucked up, and rotting.14 And Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints.
Of these, amongst other wicked men, is that ancient prophesie of Enoch, who was the seventh in descent from Adam, fulfilled; wherein hee foretels that the Lord shall come to judgement, attended with many thousands of his holy and glorious Angels, &c.15 To execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them.
To execute his finall vengeance upon all the ungodly, &c.
In a flattering manner making shew of admiring the persons, and parts of some great men,16 Having mens persons in admiration, because of advantage. for their owne advantage.
These be they who make sides,19 These be they who separate themselves, sensuall, having nor the spirit. and divisions in the Church of God, severing themselves from the communion of other Christians, both in opinion and conversation; men secretly given up to their owne sensuality; having (howsoever they pretend) no share at all in the Spirit of God.
And of some, who are through simplicity seduced,22 And of some have compassion, making a difference. have compassion; making a difference betwixt those spirits which are stubburne, and turbulent; and those which are meeke and gentle.
23 And others save with feare; pulling them out of the fire: hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.And others that are stiffe, and perverse, save (if yee may) with vehement urging unto thē, the terrors of judgment; as it were violently pulling them out of the fire of Gods wrath, wherein they lie; hating & avoiding all occasions of pollution from these wicked men, and abhorring every thing that may carry a savour, or suspition of uncleannesse.