A CATHOLIKE and ecclesiasticall exposition vppon the epistle of S. Iude the Apostle ⧠COLLECTED AND GAthered out of the workes of the best writers by Augustine Marlorat that most notable and excellent Diuine ¶ TRANSLATED OVT OF Latin into Englishe for the behoofe of the vnlearned in the same tongue both for the better increase of their knowledge and fayth in the true worship seruice of God as also for the better framing of their liues conuersation according to the same By I. D. Mynister Iohn the 5. 39. Search the scriptures for in them yee thinke to haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of mee ⧠AT LONDON BY Gerard Dewes and Henry Marshe 1584. TO THE CHRIstian Reader SEing it is most true good Christian reader that the holy and sacred scripture contayneth in it milke for children stronger meates for men of more firme stomackes and is by sainte Gregory very fitly compared to a broad and great riuer wherein a Lambe may wade safely and the Elephant swimme sufficiently meaning by the Lambe as himselfe expoundeth the simple and vnlearned and by the Elephant such as are mighty in the scriptures And whereas our sauiour himselfe cōmaundeth that all which looke for eternall lyfe should search the scriptures I cannot but maruaile at the mōstrous blindnes or rather madnes of the aduersaries of Christe the Papistes which barre the lay people from so great a benefit as the reading of the scriptures affirming and most blasphemously defendinge that Images ought to be bookes for the vnlearned and callinge blindnes the mother of deuotion abusing also the scripture saying Giue not that which is holy vnto dogges neither cast your pearles before swyne meaninge by dogges and swyne the lay people In which their grosse positions false assertions blinde errours and blasphemyes they shew how hart-blinde hard-harted they are so wilfully malitiously to withstand and gaine say the true and eternall wysdome and counsaile of the sonne of God But all true Christians whose heartes God by his holy spirite hath illuminated haue learned a newe lesson though taught since the beginning in the schoole of Christe and that is to resorte to the hearing and reading of the scripture as to the onely true and eternall touchstone able to try and examine the drosse and base metall of sinne and falshoode from that pure golde and most currant coyne of righteousnes and truth and so seeing the basenes and vilenesse of them selues and their own works indeauoure to put of their olde man and to exchaunge their owne vnrighteousnes being but drosse for the righteousnesse of Iesus Christ being as the most pure and finest golde And if at any time they bee tossed with a tempest in the darke nighte of spirituall blindnes vppon the sea of sin ready to swallow them vp they runne to cōuersion and repētance as to a Cōpasse they cast the Anker of hope take fast holde in Gods mercifull promises they haue an eye to Christe Iesus as to the Load-starre which must lead them to the hauen of lyfe and saluation But the wicked and staggering Papistes are otherwise affected and afflicted for they are tossed Inter spem curamque timores inter iras Betwene an vncertaine hope and a seruile feare a dastardly desperatnesse or a blinde foole-hardines Thou seest in briefe christian reader the Papistes vaine opinion and the true meaning of Chrystians concerning the reading or not readinge of scriptures the effectes of both it shoulde seeme therefore needelesse to perswade any to reade the scriptures whereas all that regard their own saluation are throughly perswaded in their conscience to the same notwithstandinge it were good for the farther establishing of this pointe of doctrine to haue alwaies before our eyes the ensample of the Eunuche in the eight of the actes who being an heathen was cōuerted to christianity by reading the scripture God sending vnto him Phillip to deuide the word which hee red rightly vnto him God hath sent vnto vs many Phillips ô howe thankefull ought wee to bee for the same The Eunuche read the scriptures as hee rode in a Wagon let vs reade them sitting euery man vnder his vyne and vnder his figge tree This our Apostle gaue all dilligence to write vnto vs of our common saluation let vs not bee too negligent in neglecting euery one his owne saluation The holy spirite hath descended longe since in fiery clouen tongues euery one hath heard him speake in his mother tongue let vs not stop our eares like the deafe Adder which refuseth to heare the voyce of the charmer charme hee neuer so wisely And as touching this parte of scripture which followeth with an exposition on the same it describeth very lyuely our present times the exposition thereof is learned and true the translation into our tongue faithfully done and I pray God it may bee as fruitfully vnderstoode and followed which is and was the ende of the writing translating thereof which ende being attayned wee shall all with one minde and one mouth prayse God the first beginner and the last finisher of our fayth and saluation Giue the glory to God alone THE NAMES of the Authors out of whose workes this exposition is collected and the letters capitoll whereby their names are to bee knowne in the reading of the same Marked thus B. Bullinger M. Martin Luther I. Imlerus C. I. Caluin L. L. Pelycane AVGVSTINE Marlorat vppon the Epistle of S. Iude. ⧠The Argument IVdas whom Mathew nameth Lebbeus Bulling whose surname was Thaddeus is sayde to bee the brother of Iames the sonne of Alphee of Symon the Cananite M. Luth. M. whose mother was Mary Iacoby or Cleophas sister to Mary the mother of Christ as we reade Marke 6. vers 3. Caluin C. But forasmuch as of this epistle also of S. Iude there hath bene no litle ado among the learned aūcient wryters which haue bene in diuerse opinions touching the same yet because it is very necessary and profitable to be red cōtayning in it nothing at al that doth either swarue or decline from the purity simplicity of the Apostolike doctrine and sith now long sithens this epistle hath bin in price and authority amongest the best and godliest writers wee doe gladly and willingly recken this for one amonge the rest of the epistles Canonicall B. As touching the lyfe of this holy man Iude Bulling if Eusebius is to be credited and belieued cyting and alleaging Hegesyppus for his author hee lyued in the Emperoure Domitians tyme fewe yeares after that the Apostles of the Lord were taken away Who lyuing in a most corrupted time foreseeing by the spyrite what would come to passe hereafter wrote this epistle which because it is so briefe so short as of it selfe needeth noe longe or great argumēt the totall some whereof doth agree almost with the 2. chap. of the latter epistle of sainte Peter the Apostle And for because there were
seruitude and bondage of Satan by the fountaine of regeneration wherewith he hath washed vs from all our sinnes to eternal lyfe But as this deliuerance profited theÌ„ not which murmured agaynst God in the desert which defiled them selues with Idolatry with meates offered vp to Idols with whoredome and glottony for certaine thowsands of them were slayne in the wildernesse euen so the preaching of redemption shall litle profite vs if wee goe forwarde in the way of wickednesse and vngodlinesse Caluin C. The very same comparison almost is in Paule 1. Corinth 10. vers 6. Those whom God indued with greate benefites whom hee exalted to the same degree of honor as hee at this day hath vouchedsafe to shew vppon vs afterwarde hee punished seueerly for their rebellion and disobedience In vayne is it therefore to bragge and to bee proude of the grace of God if our deedes are not answerable to our vocation and callinge I. And litle shall it profit â—mlerus that wee haue once by baptisme layde away our sinnes vnlesse with constant mindes wee dayly goe forwarde from better to better from vertue to vertue to the obtayning of the celestiall and heauenly lyfe Caluin C. This name people is very honorably taken for the holy and elect nation as if hee should say it profited them nothing that by this singular pryuiledge they were receaued into the couenante when afterward they fell away by disobedience It followeth Hee destroyed them which afterward beleeued not Heere he noteth the welspring of all euill For hence is it that Moses doth recken vp all their sinnes because they would not suffer themselues to bee ruled by the worde of God For faith consisteth in obedience towardes God all our lyfe longe Aug. Maâ— A. It is not without cause therefore that Christe sayd to the Iewes Except yee beleeue that I am hee Ihon. 8. vers 24. yee shall dye in your sinnes And the author of the epistle to the Hebr. Cha. 4. vers 2. For vnto vs was the gospell preached as well as vnto them but the worde which they heard did not profite them not being coupled wyth faith to them that heard M. Let them therefore take heede that are called by the name of Christians and yet notwithstanding vnder this colour and title doe turne the grace of God into wantonnes least that happen vnto them as did to the Israelites M. Luth. And in very deede from the time that Popery first began and that the gospell in our age lay hidden one plague hath followed another by which God hath taken vengeance on the vnbeleeuers and hath made them a Pray to Satan 6. The texte The Angels also which kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation he hath reserued in euerlasting chaynes vnder darcknesse vnto the iudgement of the great day The Angels also which kept not their fyrst estate B. This seconde example th'Apostle S. Peter hath touched also in his 2. â—ullinger epistle and 2. â—aluin Chap. vers 4. C. And it is an argumente taken from the more to the lesse For the state and condition of Angels is farre more excellent then ours and yet notwithstanding God reuenged their fallinge away from him with an horrible example Therefore hee will not spare our vnfaythfulnes â—ullinger â— Pelyâ—ane if we fal from grace into the which hee hath called vs. B. L. When the Angels sayth hee chaunged their moste blessed and happy nature into wickednes neither continued in their first estate they were throwen out of heauen into hell where they are kept in chaynes euen vntill that last iudgment in the which they shall receaue the sentence of eternall damnation Aug. Mar. A. If therefore God spared not them beinge such excellent creatures B if wee contynew not in our estate and callinge doinge those things which become the chyldren of God how shall wee escape his punyshment Caluin C. This punishment verely hath bene layde vppon the inhabitants and indwellers of heauen and so excellent ministers of God ought dayly to be sett before our eyes leaste at any tyme wee proudely contemne the grace of God from whence wee fall headlonge into vtter destruction Aug. Mâ— A. For the Lord doth no lesse hate pryde nowe and the contempt of his grace then hee did in time past Hee is no changlinge hee remayneth one and the selfe same God still Caluin C. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place may bee aptly taken as well for the beginninge as for principallity For Iudas signifieth that therefore they suffered punishment because despisinge the goodnes of God they fell from their first callinge And by and by hee expoundeth the same when hee sayth But lefte their owne habitation For they left and forsoke theyr standing wherein they were placed as fugitiue dastardly souldiars are wont to do in the time of warres It followeth Hee hath reserued in euerlastinge chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the iudgemente of the greate day The cruelty of this punishmente which the Apostle heere expresseth is to bee noted They were not only free spirites but they were also celestiall powers and nowe they are kepte in perpetuall Chaynes They dydde not onelye enioye and beeholde the gloryous lighte of God but his brightnesse also did shine in them in such sorte as it might spread abroade it selfe into all the partes and quarters of the world like the sonne beames whereas nowe they are drowned in darkenesse â—g Mar. A. It is all one with the same that S. Peter wryteth of their punyshment althoughe in other wordes â—luin C. Furthermore wee must not fayne of our owne heades a place wherein the diuells are shut vp and holden bounde For the Apostles woulde teach vs playnely how miserable their state and condition is sithens the time they were depriued of their dignity for their Apostasie or fallinge away from God Whether so euer they goe they drawe their chaynes after them and remaine ouerwhelmed in their darckenesse In the meane time their punishment is deferred vntill that great and extreme day of iudgemeÌ„t A. But what wee must thinke and iudge of the fall of Angells â—ng Mar. and howe soberly wee must reason and dispute of such matters it hath bene sufficiently spoken of in the second epistle of S. Peter the seconde Chapter the fourth verse The texte 7. Euen as Sodome and Gomorrhe and the cyties aboute them which in like maner defiled themselues with fornication and followed straunge flesh are set forth for an ensample and suffer the payne of eternall fire Euen as Sodome and Gomorrhe and the cyties aboute them B. The third example is taken out of the booke of Genesis the nineteenth Chap. verse twenty-fourth Bulling Caluin C and it is more generall for it sheweth that God will punishe all the wicked one with another no kinde of men excepted Aug. Maâ— A. Hee leaueth out the example of that olde worlde that peryshed ouerflowed
like in these our dayes are these phantasticall spirits that terme them selues Lybertines â—iuely â—criptiâ— of theâ—ily of â—e A man would say that they doe nothinge els but thunder For they scorne and disdaine at the common and vsuall kinde of speakinge and haue deuised and fayned to themselues certaine strange and proper kindes and formes of speaches And after they thinke that their schollers be rapte into the heauens sodainely they fall into beastly errours For they fayne that to be the state of innocency where there is no difference betwene honest and vnhonest thinges They fayne that to bee a spirituall life when euery man settinge all feare aparte doth carelessely and to to much giue him selfe to his owne appetite and sensuality They say that wee are made Gods because God doth as it were sucke and sup vp our spirites when they leaue the body This their errour ought to make vs the more carefull with reuerence to imbrace the simplicity of the scriptures least disputing and reasoning thereof more curiously and philosophically then it behooueth vs wee doe not so much as approche vnto heauen but rather fall and bee drowned sodainely in the Labyrinth of dyuerse erroures Bulling B. But it seemeth that this Parable of Iudas was taken out of the prophet Esayes fifty seaueÌ„th Chap. verse 20. where it is thus wrytten The wicked are like the raginge sea that cannot rest whose water fometh with the myre and grauel It followeth They are wandring starres C. So these deceauers are called Caluin because they dazell the eyes with the similitude or likenesse of lighte that soone vanisheth away and pearisheth B. So these false teachers Bullinge doe seeme to them selues to bee brighte shyning starres as who woulde say illuminate Doctors Lightes of the worlde profounde clarkes But because they stand not to their opinion nor follow the constant and knowne truth but are ruled rather by their affections they make shipwracke of the vnwise and ignorant It followeth To whom the miste of darckenesse is reserued for euer B. Now he threatneth them iudgement Bulling that the faythfull may take the better heede of them as if hee shoulde say althoughe they seeme nowe to raygne as Lordes and kynges yet notwithstandinge they shall not escape the iudgement of the Lord. For hee reserueth them to bee punyshed with Satan in that hellishe and eternall darkenes for euer â—erus I. For it is meete and righte that they that deny Chryste the true lighte in deede bee delyuered to perpetuall darcknesse for euer 14. Enoch the seuenth from Adam prophesied before of such The texte saying behold the Lord shall come with thowsands of saintes M. Luth. Enoch the seuenth M. This place is read no where in scripture which is another reason why some of the fathers haue not receaued this epistle Caluin C. But this prophesie seemeth rather to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say vnwritten or deliuered by tradition then to be taken out of the bookes Apochriphall For it may bee that the auncient fathers commended this worthy sayinge to bee remembred of posterity If any man demaunde seeing that the like sentences are to be found in scripture euery where why Iudas hath not cyted some written testymonies out of some one or other of the Prophets for confirmation thereof The answere is easie That Iudas would only rehearse what the spirit pronounced of them in old time And so doe the wordes here sounde For hee nameth Enoch the seuenth from Adam to coÌ„mend the antiquity of the prophesie to weete because it was extant in the first world M. Luâ— M. But herehence we do learne that God from the beginning of the world hath caused his worde to bee preached vnto some promising thereby grace and saluation to them that belieue but to the vnfaithfull foreshewinge iudgement and damnation euen till Christes ascention from the which time the worde of the Lord hath bene preached openly to all the worlde But before our Sauiour Christes natiuity God hath chosen only to himselfe a certaine lineal desceÌ„t from Adam to Abraham and from Abraham to Dauid and so alonge from Dauid to Mary the mother of Christe hee chose some to whom hee delyuered his worde The worde of the Lorde therefore hath alwayes bene preached in the worlde but neuer so openly as in these last dayes After this manner also did our father Enoch preach the word of the Lord which vndoubtedly hee had learned of his father Adam and of the holy ghost It followeth Behold the Lord coÌ„meth C. The preterperfect tence is put for he future tence propehtically Caluin With thousands of Angells By these words he signifieth as well the faithful as the Angells for they shal both together garnish so forth the tribunal seate of Christ when he shal come to iudge the worlde Hee saith thowsandes euen as Daniell also telleth of many times ten thowsandes of Aungells in the seuenth Chap. verse 10. least the multitude of the wicked lyke the raging and vyolent sea should burst in vpon the children of God and carry them away by force and violence while they thinke it will come to passe that the Lord in time will gather together those that bee his parte whereof are nowe inhabitinge the heauens which wee cannot now see with our eyes parte are here nowe in the worlde couered vnder the chaffe 15. To giue iudgement against all men and to rebuke all that are vngodly amonge them The texte of all their vngodly deedes which they haue vngodly committed and of all their cruell speakinges whych vngodly sinners haue spoken against him M. Luth. To giue iudgement against all men M. He speaketh of the second comminge of Christe for at his first comminge hee came not into the world to iudge the world but that the worlde by him might bee saued Ihon the 3. vers 17. And to rebuke all that are vngodly amonge them C. The vengeance of God that hangeth ouer the heads of the reprobate ought to keepe and conteine the chosen elect of God in feare trembling It followeth Of all their vngodly deedes Hee speaketh of their deedes and wordes because these corruptors did not only much harme and hurt by their wicked vngodly life but also by their vncleane and peruerse doctrine It followeth And of all their cruell speakinges whych vngodly sinners haue spoken against him M. These seducers speake very boldly cruelly against the comminge of the Lord they are impudent M. Luth shamelesse and to too arrogant they mocke and blaspheame him Hee calleth therefore their talking clattering cruell speakings by reason of their obstinate boldnesse their pride and malepartnesse 16. These are murmurers complainers The texte walking after their own lusts whose mouths speake prowde things they haue men in great reuerence because of aduantage These are murmurers C. Now againe he describeth these seducers by their affections Caluin L. These saith hee because