him 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Increpo interminor Significat increpare cum potestatâ— objurgatione im perare ab in cepto deterrere Justinian in Jud. Increpando imperare impe rando increpare Lap. in 3. Zec. Interdicere imperare additis minis Lor. in loc Divinum imperium efficax For the first The word Rebuke in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Vulgar renders it imperet the Lord rule thee Beza and Erasmus increpet the Lord chide or rebuke thee and the word signifieth both to charge or command by way of severe commination or threatning to prevent disobedience in the commanded as also and most properly to chide or reprehend so as a servant is rebuked by his Master who both by his charging with threats and chiding or rebuking shewes as his Authority to command so his strength and ability to punish in case the party whom he threats and chides be not deterred from going on in his begun Enterprise And because the commands threats and rebukes of God are not verbal but efficaciously put forth in their effects this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here used by Jude is used by the Evangelist to express the Authority and Power of Christ in stilling and calming the winds of the sea Matth. 8.26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he rebuked the wind and in casting the Divel out of the possessed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Mark 9.25 He rebuked the foul spirit and in healing Simous wives mother of the Feaver Luke 4.39 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He rebuked the feaver So that this imprecation here used by the Archangel of rebuking Satan 1 Presupposeth Satans bold readiness to oppose and resolution to overthrow the pleasure of God unless he were hindred by the force of Gods threats and rebukes and the slavishness of Satans fear who forbears and gives over any wicked attempt meerly for fear of punishment and by a powerful restraint from God And 2. It more properly intends the Soveraign Authority of God over the highest of wicked creatures and his power whereby without any paines easily even as by the uttering of a rebuking word he quels the Divel yea the putting forth of his Authority and Power in the curbing and restraining of that his impudent Malignancy whereby he resisted the will and pleasure of God concerning the body of Moses To the second why Michael in this hot contestation with the Divel interposed this imprecation or desire of Gods rebuking him I answer hereby he exprest 1 his confidence in 2. Zeal for 3. Submissiveness to God 1. Hereby he would shew his confidence that God was able to maintain that righteous cause wherein he was now employed viz. his opposing of Satan the holy Angel manifesting that he whose will and pleasure it was that the Sepulcher should be concealed could easily curb and restrain this evil spirit from accomplishing though he suffered him to attempt the discovery thereof His carriage herein agrees to his name for as his name Michael signified Who is like or equal to the Lord so by saying The Lord rebuke thee he exprest that Satans contestations against so great a God were all but in vain he being a great and powerful Lord and the Divel though a wicked and rebellious yet a weak and timorous slave and underling the Lord being able to chide all the Divels undertakings and contentions into nothing even with one word or rebuke of his mouth 2. Hereby Michael discovered his Zeal for God Though this holy Angel was not so sinfully hot as to revile Satan yet was he so holily zealous as to plead yea to imprecate for God He who was holily patient in his own was holily impatient in Gods cause and quarrel He prayes not here in his own but in Gods behalf that the foul mouth which had disputed against and blasphemed the holy God might by that God be stopt Angels are zealous for Gods glory Some think that the name of Seraphim is therefore given to some of them for their burning zeal As God takes the dishonour offered to any of his Angels and Messengers as offered to himself so should they more sadly resent the dishonour offered to God then if it had befaln themselves Deut. 32.35 Michael here seeing the Divels carriage impudently derogating from Gods glory could no longer refrain but zealously prayes The Lord rebuke thee 3. Hereby he shewes his holy and humble submissiveness to God and forbearance to be his own or his Adversaries Judge he remits and refers revenge to God desiring that God would take up the controversie The Lord saith he rebuke thee The holy Angel beseeched God to be Mediator between him and the Divel in this disputation he knew well that vengeance belonged to God and therefore he desires that God would deal with him as seemed best to himself he repayes not evil for evil neither in affection or expression and speech God being the righteous Judge he expects the sentence onely from him who best knew what punishment the Divel deserved and how to vindicate the glory of his own Name and from whose hand the Archangel well knew that the Divel was not able to make an escape In short the Divels sinful opposing of Michael yea of Gods glory by contending for the discovery of Mâ—ses Sepulchre was no warrant for Michael to offend God by expressing any undue desire of revenge he therefore remits the matter to Gods determination The Lord saith he rebukâ— thee OBSERVATIONS 1. Satans forbearance of Observ 1 or desisting from any way of wickedness is purely from Gods threatning rebuke and hâ—â— powerful chiding him The Archangel saith not The Lord mend change reform thee but The Lord hinder stop and by his power effectually rebuke thee Satan may be driven away from some act of sin by Gods power not drawn by Gods love like a Dog he fears the whip not leathing that which he is compell'd to leave The Divel is held in an everlasting bond of sin he is wedg'd and wedded to sin He sinneth as it s said 1 John 3.8 from the beginning since he began he never did nor shall cease from the love although he may be forced to forbear the outward act of sin there 's in him an utter impotency to any good nor can he lay down his unholy inclination he may be curb'd he shall never be changed It s ever a torment to him not a delight to forbear any wickedness when he besought Christ not to torment him Luke 8 28. the torment against which he prayed was that his ejection out of the possessed whereby he was hindred from doing that hurt which he desired it being immediately added by the Evangelist For he Christ had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man Satan came to tempt Christ of his own inclination but he went away by Christs powerful command He ceased to molest Job when he had vexed him as much as he could obtain leave to do when he
gives over any enterprize he changeth not his nature but constrainedly leaveth his exercise he goes but t is when he can stay no longer when his Cummission is expired Every commanded performance or forbearance is not a sign of grace That which is incident to the Divel argues no grace in man Balaam was forbidden to curse the people of God and he forbears but forcedly against his will Let not men content themselves with the Divels obedience To leave sin for fear of hell may go along with the love of it more then heaven When Moses's Parents exposed him to the waters they loved him as much as or more then ever To leave sin for want of a body to commit it is not to leave our affection to it the leaving of sin at our death-beds is seldome true ever suspicious God loves a living Christian any one will be a Christian dying Duties without must flow from a gracious forwardness within Joyn that in thy obedience which the Divel hath divorced inward subjection to outward services It s one thing to be hindred from another thing to hate sin The rebukes of our Superiors may cause the former a Principle of inward renovation can onely produce the later More of this in my former part p. 491 492 497. 2. Observ 2. Gods power limits Satans Though the will of Satan shall never be changed yet his power is by God often curbed when he is most violently running on in any way of opposition to God or man God can stop and chide him back of this also par 1.442 447. With what an holy fearlesness may the godly go on in duty The wicked are willingly serviceable to a Master who cannot protect them from Gods wrath Oh let us serve him chearfully who is able and willing to keep us from the Divels rage we see likewise to whom we owe our preservation onely to him who rebukes Divels 3. Observ 3. How easily doth God prevail over his greatest Enemies T is but as it were a chiding and rebuking them and even in their greatest fury they are mute and dare not cannot quetch what more easie then for a Master to give a word of rebuke a word of Gods mouth is enough to make the Divels tremble they are all underlings to God they are before him as nothing the greatest mountain of worldly strength and opposition shall be before God but a mountain of chaff If God do but ariâ—e Psalm 68.1 Psalm 2.4 his Enemies are scattered yea he who sits in heaven shall haâ—e them in derision he derides them sitting the fire doth not so easily consume the stubble the wind dissipate the smoak the Rod of iron break in pieces a Potters vessel as God overthrowes his Enemies With a word did God make the creature with a word he moves it with a word he stops it with a word he destroys it in all these Psal 142.15 his word as the Psalmist speaks runneth very swiftly How vain are they who think that worldly greatness their wealth their strength their youth can shield them from the stroke of Gods power whetted with his wrath The sithe can get as well through the green grass as the dry stubble He who hath but faith enough to believe himself a creature may be caution'd against Security in sin The most glistring Monarch is but a gilded potsherd in nothing so mad as to think it self safe in contending with its maker nor is it a less excusable folly to be swallowed up of fear by reason of the worldly greatness of any of Gods Enemies Who art thou that art afraid of man that shall dye and the Son of man that shall be made as grass Isa 51.12 and forgettest the Lord thy Maker At the rebuke of God his and our Enemies shall flee and fall How great is that folly whereby men sleight the great God and fear a silly worm All the peace and forbearance that God expresseth towards his Enemies proceeds not from his want of power but from the greatness of his patience a strong inducement to us who are weak worms to be patient under injuries which we cannot repel since God is so full of forbearance who is both infinitely provoked by and infinitely powerful to be avenged of his strongest Enemies 4. The holiest persons Observ 4. are most offended with practices that oppose Gods glory When Satan dishonours God the holy Angel cannot refrain from praying that God would rebuke him Michael doth not onely dispute for God but he desires God to plead for himself It would have been below Michael to have been affected with any thing a creature should have said or done unless the honour of God had been concerned nothing is little whereby Gods Name or mans soul suffers The more any one knows the excellencies in God or hath tasted of the love of God the less can he endure any thing either done or said against God Angels who continually behold the beauty of Gods face do most abhor that which doth blemish disparage it These sons of God endure not any thing whereby the honour of their Father suffers Heaven it self would be no heaven to those glorious Spirits should they be constrained to behold Gods name polluted No meer man ever had on earth so clear a glympse of Gods glory as had Moses nor was ever any so holily impatient when he apprehended a blemish to be cast upon it The broken Tables the Israelites which this meekest of men caused to be put to the sword yea his request that himself might be blotted out of the book of life rather then any blot should be cast upon Gods honour sufficiently prove that he who touch'd it touch'd the apple of his eye How unlike to Angels are they who put up no injuries with such a tame contentedness as those which are offered to Gods name who never say to any The Lord rebuke you but to those who dishonor themselves yea are ready to rebuke themselves whensoever they stumble upon any act of Zeal Surely the fire of such mens Zeal is not Angelical and heavenly but culinary and smoaky What likelihood that they shall ever inhabit the place that are such strangers to the disposition of Angels 5. Observ 5. It s unsutable to a gracious temper to recompence evil for evil Michael here commits his cause and remits revenge to God sutable to whose carriage is the command of Scripture against private revenge Prov. 20.22 Say not thou I will recompence evil and Prov. 24.29 Say not I will do so to him as he hath done to me I will render to the man according to his work And Rom. 12.17 Recompence to no man evil for evil and ver 19. Avenge not your selves but rather give place to wrath Revenge opposeth the mind of God and it both disturbs and expels the Spirit which would abide in the soul and is the Spirit of Peace and Dove-like Meekness and le ts in and gives place to the Divel who
with serving of the Lord. Rom. 12.11 Let the Tempter ever find thee imploied The night comes when no man can work John 9.4 but as long as the day lasts no man must loyter As sleep causeth idleness so idleness causeth sleep Strive to attain to the highest pitch of grace and yet ever be working as if thou wert at the very lowest Phil 3.13 Forget those things as the Apostle speaks which are behind Take heed of turning thy spur into a bridle namely of making that former practice of holiness which should be an inducement to thy further active progress an hinderance from proceeding therein All the steps we have taken are lost if we give over before the race be run 6 Keep company with waking Christians such as neither dare sleep in sin themselves nor suffer any to sleep who are neer them In the sweating sickness they say that they who were kept awake by those who were with them escaped but their sickness was deadly if they were suffered to sleep The keeping one another awake is the best fruit of the communion of Saints Heb. 10.24 25 The Apostle speaks of provoking one another to love and good works of exhorting or calling upon one another 7 Watch over thy self in the use of such things as are in themselves lawful In lawful things there is least fear and therefore most danger More perish by meat then by poyson because every man takes heed of the hurtfulness of the latter and fears not any harm by the former Satan lyes in ambush behind our lawful enjoyments Christ was once lost at a feast and oft since in worldly abundance Prosperity never waked any out of sin 'T is as hard to be full and watchful as to be empty and contented Luke 21.34 Sobriety and Vigilancy are put together Take heed lest the vapours of sensual enjoyments overwhelm thee Let the things of this life be thy Solatia not thy Negotia thy refreshments not thy employments use them as the things not for which thou dost live but without which thou canst not live They who are inclined to be gross in their bodies should use much exercise and they who have abundance in the world should take much pains with their hearts lest while they get the world they lose their God VER 9. Yet Michael the Archangel when contending with the Divel he disputed about the body of Moses durst not bring against him a railing accusation but said The Lord rebuke thee THese words contain an aggravation of that hainous sin wherewith our Apostle had charged these Seducers in the foregoing verse their Crime was their speaking evil or blaspheming of Dignities the greatness of this sin the Apostle evidenceth and evinceth by comparing of it with the contrary meek and humble carriage of the Archangel even towards the worst of creatures the Divel himself This comparison the Apostle first Propounds ver 9 wherein he describes the meek and humble carriage of the Archangel towards the Divel in his contending with him 2 He accommodates and applies it to these Seducers ver 10. 1 In the comparison propounded in ver 9 there is intimated a threefold amplification of the sin of these Seducers by comparing it with the deportment of the Archangel 1 In respect of the persons compared and this branch of the Comparison is double 1 Between a chief Angel and vile men 2 Between Magistrates and the Divel 1 If Michael an Angel an Archangel durst not rail how impudent and proud are men dust and ashes to adventure to do so 2 If he did forbear to revile the Divel himself the enemy of God and his Church the worst of evil ones and one who was his inferior how great was their sin who would speak evil of Magistrates called Gods and set up by him as those to whom they ought to be in subjection 2 The second branch of the Comparison whereby their sin is amplified was from the different cause about which the Angels and these Seducers were employed The cause for which the Archangel contended was good clear and righteous namely the burial of the body of Moses a work very good whether we consider the Authority of him who enjoined it God himself or the end of the injunction the preservation of the people from Idâ—latry but the cause which these Seducers had undertaken was wicked and sinful considering that it was the blaspheming of that Order which was instituted and ordained by God himself Tit. 3.1 Rom. 13.1 1 Pet. 2.18 and by his special command to be highly honoured and esteemed The third branch of the comparison whereby the Apostle heightens their sin was the different carriage and deportment of the Archangel towards the Divel from that of these Seducers toward Magistrates 1 The Archangel reasoneth humbly and disputes the Seducers peremptorily determine the question pass sentence and give judgment The Angel commits his cause to God and appeals to him for redress and relief the Seducers are Judges in their own cause break their bounds detract from Gods Authority and usurp his Throne The Angel in the fervor of contention when most highly provoked was patient and humble these provoked by none rage and revile These are the particular branches of the comparison set down this verse If it were needful before I come to the handling of these several parts of the verse to premise any thing by way of vindication of it and the whole Epistle from the Exception of those who alledg that the Epistle is not Canonical because the contention about the body of Moses is not mentioned in Scripture but was only a tradition I might answer 1 With Learned Junius the substance of this History is mentioned in Scripture Deut. 34 6. therein we finding that the Lord buried Moses and that none knoweth of his Sepulcher unto this day so that it is plain the body of dead Moses was buried by God i.e. either by his own immediate power or by the instumrental power of an Angel as seems from this place most probable and also that the particular place of his burial was altogether unknown to men and divels 'T is true the Scripture mentious not circumstances either a contention of Michael with the Divel or the carriage and expressions of either party in that contention But therefore 2 Though these passages here set down by Jude be not expressed in the Sacred Story yet 't is sufficient for us that they are now by the Apostle who was led by the Spirit of God inserted into holy Writ Possibly as Rivet notes this story was not delivered to the Apostle by tradition but revealed to him by the Holy Ghost Some indeed say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l 3. c. 2. it was taken out of a certain uncertain book called the Ascension of Moses and mentioned by Origen Others that it was handed by tradition from generation to generation But granting either of the two last Is the Divine authority either of this
passage or of the Epistle therefore to be doubted of by the same reason sundry other places of Scripture must be questioned frequently doth the Spirit of God in the Scripture 2 Tim. 3.8 set down that as done in former stories which was not at all there mentioned as Jannes and Jambres their withstanding of Moses Heb. 11.21 Jacobs worshipping on the top of his staffe Moses his saying that the sight upon the Mount was so terrible Heb. 11.21 Psal 105.18 that I exceedingly fear and tremble that Josephs feet were hurt with fetters and that hee was laid in Irons c. Yea how ordinary is it for the Penmen of Scripture to make use of sentences taken out of Heathen Poets as that of Menander 1 Cor. 15 33. Evil communication corrupts good manners Of Epimenides Tit. 1.12 The Cretians are always lyars evill beasts slow bellies Of Aratus Acts 17.28 In him we live and move and have our being The Spirit of God which could sanctifie passages taken out of Heathens and make them Canonical might do the like by this relation or tradition if it were so of the Archangels contention with the Devil and by putting of the Apostle upon the inserting of it give it the stamp of divine authority and so render it to us most certain and infallible and by this we at once answer both those who reject this Epistle because Jude brings an example from tradition no where recorded in Scripture as likewise the Papists who offend in the other extream of excess from hence pleading for a liberty in the Church to joyn traditions with the Holy Scripture whereas they can neither prove that the Apostle had this story by tradition for why might not the Spirit of God reveal to the Apostles what had been done before in ages past as it did to the Prophets what should be done afterwards in ages to come nor that it is lawful for us to do all that the Apostles might who as Rivet well notes did many things by a singular and peculiar right Rivet in Isai p. 474. Apostoli multis singulari jure usurparunt in quibus nemo debet aut etiam potest eos imitari wherein none either ought or is able to imitate them This premised briefly I come to the words of the Verse wherein we have three parts considerable 1. The Combatants Michael the Archangel and the Devil 2. The Strife and Contention it self set down 1. More generally so it s said they contended 2. More particularly and so it was a disputation about the body of Moses 3. The Carriage of the Archangel in this Contention which was twofold 1. Inward in respect of his disposition set down Negatively he durst not bring a railing accusation 2. Outward in respect of his expression set down Affirmatively He said the Lord rebuke thee 1. First Of the parties contending Michael the Archangel and the Devil EXPLICATION In the Explication whereof we shall consider First Michael the Archangel who is described two wayes or from a double Name 1. Of his Person and so he is called Michael 2. Of his Office and Place and so he is called an Archangel The Name of his person is Michael This Name signifies who is as or like or equal unto God But who this person should be learned men agree not Some conceive that the Son of God the second Person of the Trinity is here cald Michael Others that an holy and created Angel is here by Jude intended by the Name of Michael and that as by the Name of Gabriel so likewise of Michael a certain Angel is to be understood And that this latter is the true opinion seems to me undeniable for these reasons 1. Because Michael Dan. 10.13 is called one of the chief Princes that is of the chief Angels or Archangels but how this can fitly be spoken of Christ I understand not whom we must not account one of the number of the Angels but one without or rather infinitely above that number or order even the omnipotent Creator of Angels as well as men Col. 1.16 2. An Angel vers 21. of the forenamed Chapter describing the difficulty of his work tels Daniel that there was none that held with him Inepta filio Dei indigna oratio Gom. de Nom. Mich. Tom. 1. p. 107. Tom. 2. p. 217. or strengthned him but Michael But this expression as learned Gomarus notes seems to be unfitly applied unto Christ because there can be no greater strength named then that of Christ whose power is infinite To say There 's none with me but the Son of God seems an harsh expression he who hath the Son of God to stand by him wanting no other 3. Jude call this Michael an Archangel but as we never read in Scripture that Christ is called an Archangel or a chief or the chief Angel so 1 Thes 4.16 we find that Christ and the Archangel are manifestly distinguished the Apostle saying that The Lord shall descend from heaven with the voice of an Archangel 4. It seems also to be very unmeet to say of Christ that he durst not bring against the Devil a railing accusation Christ being the Lord and Judg of Devils and whom he shall at the last day condemn to eternal punishment yea we find Joh. 8.44 that he passed judgment upon him and pronounced him a murtherer one that hath no truth in him a lyar and the father of a lye a sentence which the Angel here disputing with the Devil though he had just cause yet durst not utter he only saying The Lord rebuke thee 5. The Apostle Peter speaking of this very matter 2 Pet. 2.11 and aggravating the sin of these seducers by this humble carriage of their Superiours plainly speaks not of Christ but of the holy Angels he saying thus whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not a railing accusation c. Nor doth the Argument drawn from the signification of the name Michael prove that by Michael we are here to understand the Son of God This word Michael by Interpretation say some is qui sicut Deus and according to them imports one that is as or equal to God a name which say they cannot agree to any creature But it s answered that the Particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Hebrew is not here to be taken relatively as signifying one who but interrogatively Who is and it is ever in Scripture so taken Psal 89.8 Esai 44.7 Jer. 49.19 and 50.44 when used in expressions wherein the Name of God is celebrated as Exod. 15.11 Who is like unto thee c. So Psal 35.10 all my bones shall say Lord who is like to thee So Psal 71.19 And thus the giving of this name Michael to the creature is no dishonouring of God by making it equal to God Est confessio majestatis Dei non alienatio illius à Deo Gomarus but rather an advancing of God by an humble Confession or acknowledgment
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 It s 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 't is to oppose Satans Kingdome and the higher their service is the hotter is the opposition which they make and whosoever disturbs Satan shaâ—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 onely prevent
is the father and furtherer of War and revenge It divesteth God of his Office God alone knowes how to punish our enemies without passion and inequality It makes him in stead of a Judge only an Executioner It takes the sword out of Gods hand and drives him from his dominion What difference makes it between the party prâ—voking and provoked save that the last is last in the offence against God both are equally displeasing to him whose Law is by both broken and supposing that our enemy hath deserved to be hated why hath God deserved to be disobeyed Nor doth revenge less oppose our own welfare then Gods pleasure The Divel by this sin bereaves a man of his reason and like a bird of prey which seizing upon a dead Carkass first pecks out its eyes he blinds his understanding and then leads him into what wickedness he pleaseth By revenge we lose all that good which we might get even by injuries Holy patience turnes every injury thrown at us into a precious stone and makes it an addition to our Crown Qui injuriam patitur magis dolere debet de peccato injuriantis quam de injuriâ sibi allatâ He who hath received an injury if wise to improve it hath received a fauour a reward and it s against the rule of Justice to return evil for good What madness is it because our enemy hath done us wrong to do our selves more because he hath hurt our bodies to damn our souls that we may kill our enemies Ass his body to kill our selves that we may tear his garmentâ— to lose our own lives What unmanly folly is it to hate those in their sickness or madness whom we love in their health to hate those wronging us whom we would love when they do us good When our enemies are most unkind they shew more distemper in themselves then they do hatred to us and therefore deserve more pity then opposition What greater cruelty then to cut and wound one who is dead I mean Spiritually What more ridiculous then because one hath taken a way something from us therefore to throw away all that is left behind because he hath stoln away our Cloak or twenty Pounds therefore to throw our coat or whole Inheritance into the sea When one hath taken from us the cloak of our good name Ridiculum est odio nocentis innocentiam perdere Senec. or a little of our worldly estate how wild a folly is it therefore to throw away by revenge the beautiful garment of our Innocency yea the inheritance of Heaven It s ridiculous for the hatred of him that hurt us to cast away that which never hurt will alwayes be helpful to us and because we are bereaved of something which we had our goods therefore to throw away all we are our souls What madness comparable to that whereby in our prayers we daily powre forth curses against in stead of requests for our selves Who would not think him weary of his life who being struck by one whom he knowes to be full of Leprosie and Plague sores will spend his time in grapling and contending with him again None can avenge himself upon another without Spiritual defilement and Infection and which is most inexcusable that malice for which he is so much enraged against another he loves in himself The empty transitory though reproachful expression of his brother he layes to heart but the sword of revenge with which the Divel endeavours to kill him he contemns and disregards In a word what temper is more childish then that of revenge whereby like children men desire and delight to strike that thing which hurt them It s folly to beat the Instrument which wounded us our wisdome it is to labour that the wound which is given us may be healed and sanctified Yea there is more of brutishness then manliness when we are kick'd to kick again Nothing more honours a man then the overcoming of revenge He who can master his own revengeful heart hath a spirit truly noble and fit to govern others Upon Davids sparing of Saul wisely did Saul say thus to David The Lord hath delivered me into thy hands 1 Sam. 24.18 20 and thou killedst me not And now behold I know well that thou shalt be King He only hath something supernatural in Charity who requites evil with good who loves his enemies doth good to them that hate him wearyeth them with patience and writes after a heavenly Copy Matth. 5.14 More of this Part 1. pag. 131 132. 6. Observ ult The consideration of our having a God to whom we may commit our cause is the best meanes to make us patient under wrongs Michael was a servant to a great Lord and to him he appeals and layes the controversie before him The Lord rebuke thee There would be more bearing in the world were there more believing Did we look more upon him that is Invisible we should less regard the evils which we see and feel Walk before me saith God to Abraham and be perfect Nothing either of pleasure or pain will seem great to him in whose eye there is this great Lord. The greatest prop in opposition is to have a God to fly unto The greatest loss for him shall be made up again by him When David considered that God was his portion Psal 16.4 5. he abhorred to go to other Subterfuges They who believe they have a God to right them will not wrong themselves so much as to revenge their own wrongs God they know will do it as more equally so more beneficially And the true reason why there is no more willingness either to forbear any sin or to bear any sorrow is because we think not of this great Lord so as either to fear or trust him They who can call God Father may with Christ pray concerning their enemies Forgive them They who can see heaven opened and Christ at the right hand pleading for them may with Steven â—ead for their enemies and pray Lord lay not this sin to their charge VER 10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not but what they know naturally as brute beasts in those things they corrupt themselves IN this verse our Apostle accommodates and applies the comparison of Michael the Archangel or further shewes wherein the holy and humble carriage of Michael did make the sin of these Seducers appear more sinful and abomnable The Angel was a Creature not only of the greatest created Might and Power but also of Wisdom and Understanding and knew what the Divel was nameâ—y a wicked Creature and destined by God to eternal perdition accurately also he understood that the cause wherein he contended with the Divel was Just and righteous he knowing the pleasure and will of God concerning the hiding of Moses his Sepulcher but these saith he speak evil of what persons and things they know not are outragious though ignorant active though blind And this want of due
that of trees dead they are spiritually dead because without and severed from that root of every good tree the Lord Christ The old Adam is the root upon which they still stand and therefore they are without all spiritual and supernatural life as from the root flows life into all the branches of the tree so from Christ all who are united to him by the Spirit through Faith have by those means the life of holiness derived unto them as in Adam the first root who hath now lost the moisture and vigour of holiness and is become a dryed root all die so in Christ shall all and onely they who are really united to him live Hence it is that as they are without the root and therefore without life so without all spiritual growth and fruitfulness the inward principle of life being wanting needs must the effects that flow from that principle all vitall operations be wanting likewise for though abiding John 15.5 and living by Christ we bring forth much fruit yet sever'd from him we can do nothing It is true that as the wicked have something from Christ like the Spirit of life Heb. 6.4 1 Cor. 12.6 7. so thereby they bring forth something like to good and spiritual fruits I mean those forementioned fruits of gifts assent to the truth sweet affections acts of external obedience but though in the producing of these the Spirit helps them yet it never changeth the nature of the trees but they still retain the natural sowrness of their roots and though God gives them the Spirit to edifie others yet not to sanctifie themselves though Saul had another spirit and sundry Matth. 7. did prophecy and cast out Divels yet all these were but works of ministration not renovation though the Spirit works as an outward efficient cause breathing on them and is in them as in Organis Instruments and Ministers yet not as in domiciliis as in habitations Members for as the soul works not as a form to any part that is not united to the body so neither doth the Spirit of Christ work savingly but in the body of Christ In the wicked it may be spiritus movens a moving spirit in the godly t is onely spiritus inhabitans an inhabiting indwelling Spirit The Spirit of God in an Hypocrire is like an Angel appearing in some outward shape of which he is only an assisting not an informing form for which cause his assumed body hath neither life nor nourishment but the Spirit of God in the godly is like the soul in the body not only assisting but informing and working in them spiritually vitall and supernatural operations And notwithstanding the best workings of the Spirit of God in the wicked they are oft left more fleshly self-confident less poor in Spirit and sensible of their want of Christ then before And thus these Seducers were spiritually dead Or 3. Death is eternal the effect of the former which eternal death is that most miserable condition of the Reprobate after death wherein they are deprived of all the blessedness and glory of heaven standing in the enjoyment and unitive vision of God Visi◠unitiv◠T is indeed the spiritual death continued and perfected As in heaven or eternal life in the enjoyment of God by Christ is begun in this life and completedin the next so is hell or eternal death in the losse of God begun in this and consummate in the next world The presence of God is the heaven of heaven the joy of heaven the life of heaven and of all who shall come thither 2. For the second In what respect these Seducers may be said to be twice dead The word twice Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken two wayes sometimes indefinitly or as a definite put for an indefinite a certain for an uncertain number 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Job 33.14 Thus Job 33.14 God speaketh once yea twice yet man perceiveth it not That is God doth by his gracious ways and means sufficiently abundantly and frequently acquaint man with his will although man be so stupid and senseless as not to understand what the meaning of God is therein So Psal 62.11 God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth to God that is God hath abundantly oft several times or sundry wayes by his Word and works asserted and discovered that he is eminently and transcendently powerfull Thus the Apostle commands That the Elders that rule well 1 Tim. 1.17 should be accounted worthy duplici that is multiplici honore double much manifold honour So the Prophet prayes Jer. 17.18 that his enemies may be destroyed with a double destruction i. e. with a severe through totall destruction so 2 Kings 2.9 Elisha desired that a double portion that is a large abundant portion of the Spirit might be upon him Thus some take the word twice in this place as if by the signification of the very word the Apostle intended that these dead trees were finally dead and past all hopes of recovery such as could never be bettered by all the pains and cost digging dunging c. that could be laid out upon them That our Apostle here intends that these Seducers were like Trees irrecoverably and totally dead I easily grant but withall because trees may be said to be twice dead in respect of their very dying twice or a second time this word twice seems to import in this place a definite certain number and to intend a double or twofold death of these Seducers who are here compared to trees in their dying twice as well as in all the other three respects viz. Their having withered fruit their being without fruit and being pluckt up by the roots Trees then are said to be twice dead thus the first time a tree is said be dead when in the former spring it decayes fades withers in its leaves blossoms or newly formed fruit from this decaying or dying for a dying it is as to leaves and fruit a tree is oft by pruning dressing recovered but if in autumn or the later spring which is the critical or climacterial time of Trees to discover whether their disease be mortal or not the tree fadeth again if then the leaves or what ever it bears wither the rine grow dry and it be as they say sick the fault is then ab intra the root is rotten and the very substance of the tree is inwardly corrupt and putrified no more labour or cost is now bestowed upon it it s now dead twice or the second time and therefore totally and irrecoverably and as I have understood from those who are exactly skill'd in the nature of trees it hath been oft known that trees which have seemed to die in the former spring have afterward been recovered but never did they know that any languishing in the former spring and then after some overtures of reviving in the later spring fading and decaying again ever were recovered and restored
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word for word with his holy ten thousands or Myriads Four things may here offer themselves to be explained 1. Their quantity in respect of numbers ten thousands 2. Their quality they are holy ones holy ten thousands 3. Their relation They are his his holy ten thousands 4. Their action or employment they are to come with the Lord. 1. For the first The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek properly signifies ten thousand Thus Acts 19.19 where the Apostle mentions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 five myriads it s rendred fifty thousand and Rev. 9.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vulgar et Erasm vicies mil lies dena millia two myriads of myriads we translate twenty thousand times ten thousand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 5.11 and Dan. 7.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Septuagint we render ten thousand times ten thousand So Deut. 33.2 Psal 3.6 Dan. 11.12 Luke 12.1 Acts 21.20 And in those places where the word ten thousand is used as here in Jude without the addition of a word of another number it imports an uncertaine and very great vast number or an innumerable multitude Heb. 12.22 there being a certain number put for an uncertaine 2. For the second their quality or property noted in this word holy or Saints These here called holy or saints say some are the angels In millibus sanctorum nun ciorum suorum Cypr. ad Novarian Hugo Lyranus who in Scripture are oft said to be such with whom Christ comes at the last day and also called holy and not seldome is their coming with Christ and their holiness as here put together Thus Luke 9.26 Christ is said to come in the glory of the holy Angels and Matth. 25.31 the Son of man shall come and all the holy Angels with him c. Sometimes they are called mighty Angels 2 Thes 1.7 The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels And Deut. 33.2 when God delivered the law upon mount Sinai it is said he came with ten thousands of his Saints where by Saints may be understood Angels who attended God in the delivering of the law in which respect it is said that Israel received the law by the disposition of Angels Acts 7.53 and the law is said to be the word spoken by Angels Heb. 2.2 But others more rightly conceive that by these holy Myriads or ten thousands in this place we are likewise to understand holy men as wel as the holy Angels even the Saints shall appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 And more plainly 1 Thes 3.13 the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is foretold to be with all his Saints And Mat. 13.43 The righteous shal shine forth as the sun in the kingdome of their father and these saints or righteous ones who are to attend upon Christ shall be not only those who before were with Christ in heaven but even those who shal be taken up in the clouds to meet Christ and thereby shall be made a part of his attendance 1 Thes 4.17 So that these myriads this innumerable company shal be made up of all the glorious Angels and Saints it shal be a general assembly all the servants shal wait upon their Master the Lord Jesus We shall saith the Apostle all meet Ephes 4.13 there shall not be one wanting and if Christ bestowes new liveries upon all his Saints they shall all when adorned with them yeild their attendance to him in them But in what respect doth the Apostle call them Saints or Holy Persons are holy in two respects 1. In respect of destination seperation or being set apart to holy services and employments Thus the first-born were holy Exod. 13.2 12. Jer. 1.5 Thus the Prophets and Apostles are oft called holy Jeremiah was sanctified from the womb In this respect these holy Angels and men may be called holy as being set apart to the peculiar work and glorious employment of praising and glorifying of God for ever 2. Persons may be holy in respect of true inherent holiness abiding in them thus likewise these Angels and Saints here mentioned may be called holy for the Angels they were from their very creation perfectly holy and afterward by the grace of confirmation made constant in holinesse as for holy men though they were formerly made holy of not holy privatively that is having lost their holiness had holiness bestowed upon them by regeneration and though they were made holy of lesse holy by having increase and additions of holinesse bestowed upon them in this life yet at this great day they are with the Angels perfectly holy likewise the spirits of just men made perfect in this life they were perficientes perfecting then shal they be perfecti having as much holiness as they can hold as much as God or themselves wil desire being without any mixtures of unholinesse in them all teares being wiped from their eyes and all sins from their souls and they presented faultlesse before that presence of glory not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but being holy and without blemish Eph. 5.27 3. For the third they are called his his holy ten thousands and his they are in three respects 1. In respect of Creation he made them all whether Saints or Angels as they are creatures they are the works of his hands 2. As they are Saints they are his also Angels are his by being confirmed in their sanctity Holy men are his because he was the deserving cause of their holiness the pattern or exemplary cause also thereof and lastly by his spirit the efficient cause of their holiness he is made sanctification to us 1 Cor. 1.30 he sanctifies and cleanseth his Church with the washing of water by the word 3. They are his in point of service and attendance for being sanctifyed they wait upon him and serve him in all holy employments here in the kingdome of grace and hereafter shall they attend upon and come with him as his servants in his kingdome of glory 4. For the fourth their coming with the Lord Jesus these ten thousands of his Saints shall come with him 1. For his own glory he wil come in the glory of his holy Angels and he wil likewise come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all those that believe in that day 2 Thes 1.10 How glorious these holy myriads or ten thousands shall make Christ at the day of judgment both in regard of their excellencies and numbers I have shewed p. 529 530 531. c. Part 1. How wil the beauty and multitudes of these subjects set forth the glory of the King of glory who shall have myriads of servants every one shining like myriads of suns and every subject being indeed a King The first time he came as a servant to sinners but the second time he shal come as the Lord of Saints and Angels Then his forerunner was John Baptist now he shall descend
to Israel as was Moses had his grave been known would after his death have been idolatrously worshipped and perheps too consulted with as their guide in the Remainder of their journey into the Land of Canaan Yea Haeres 55. Epiphanius reports that in Arabia Moses for the Miracles wrought by him was accounted a God and that there his Image was worship'd And whereas it may be said that the Israelites could not be so blockish as to have worship'd a dead Moses his mortality being so pregnant a confutation of their idolatry and his Divinity It s answered Idolatry is a sottish sin Spiritual as well as Carnal Whoredome taking away the heart It s just with God that they who lay by his rule should also lay off their own reason Nor yet would the knowne Zeal of Moses while living against such a practice as this have in probability kept the Israelites from this idolatry had Moses his body been discovered considering not only their proneness to that sin and their forgetfulness of holy instruction but also for that they might haply impute the unwillingness of Moses to be worship'd in his life time and while he was among them rather to his modesty and humility then to his disallowing of such a practice after his death when he should be both absent in body and glorious in soul In short needs must that be bad which that evil one is so violent in contending to have effected nor certainly would Satan much have regarded Moses his body had it not been to do hurt to the Israelites souls and he who by his subtilty had once before with so much success drawn the people to Idolatry and almost to destruction by the company of the Midianitish women was much more industrious and hopeful by this means which had a face of greater plausibility and would have proved far more hurtful to have effected the like again 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 It s 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 It s 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 Nâ—â— Hist Their guts say some made into Lute-strings will never sound harmoniously together If they live quietly as is prophesied Isai 11.6 it s 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 viâ—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 quodaÌ„ 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