A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

The next Clause is [the words spoken before] The Prophesies ¹of Scripture evince the truth of it; things are there spoken long before they fall out, not only before the event, but before the causes, or remorse tendencies to such an event; wise men may guess when they see probabilities, and foretell that which dependeth on natural causes; the Devil can many times shrewdly interpret the predictions of the word, but a certain prescience of what is future, and merely in it self contingent, is the prerogative of God, Isa. 41. 22. Let them foretell things to come, &c. this is done in the Scripture, Cyrus is mentioned by name an hundred years before he was born, Isai. 25. 1. The birth of Josiah 300. years before it came to pass, 1 King. 13. 2. The building of Jericho 500. years before it was re-edified, Josh 7. 26. with 1 King 16. 34. The great promise of Christ in Paradise, accomplished a thousands of years afterward; the people of the Jews were ⟨p. 484⟩ever warned by Prophecy of the good or bad that befell them; Scripture was to them not only an Authentic Register, but an infallible prognostication; these two signal providences of the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles, were they not abundantly foretold, and accordingly came to pass? Can there be any compact here? When the Jews were the keepers of the Oracles of God, would they foist in Prophesies against themselves? Well then, venture upon the truth of the word more than you have done; God hath ever hitherto stood to his word rather then he would go back from it, he would not only cast off his ancient people, but send his own Son, to suffer a shameful and an accursed death; he that hath been faithful hither to, is he like to fail at last?

The next Clause is [the words spoken before] The Prophesies ¹of Scripture evince the truth of it; things are there spoken long before they fall out, not only before the event, but before the causes, or remorse tendencies to such an event; wise men may guess when they see probabilities, and foretel that which dependeth on natural causes; the Devil can many times shrewdly interpret the predictions of the word, but a certain precience of what is future, and meerly in it self contingent, is the prerogative of God,