A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

that is, for a punishment of their wilful blindness and hardness: Corrupt nature stumbles in Gods plainest ways; the Word is clear enough to them that have a mind to understand it, and yet difficult enough to them that have a mind to harden themselves into a prejudice. Non periclitor dicere (saith Tertullian) ipsas Scripturas ita dispositas esse, us materiam subministrar•nt ⟨p. 177⟩haeretius: So the Lord himself saith, Jer. 6. 21. Behold I will lay stumbling blocks before this people; that is, suffer them to stumble at their own prejudices. 3. God leaveth them to follow the course of their own hearts: he doth not incline and compel their wills, or infuse evil to them, only suffereth them to follow the carnal bent, and corrupt ambition of their own hearts, Hosea 4. 17. let him alone, 1 King. 22. 22. Go forth and do so; Psal. 31. 12. I gave them up to their own counsels, he hindereth not their wickedness; Yea, permiteth it, that so his wise counsels may take place. 4. God ordereth it for good, thereby bringing great advantage to his own name, Exod. 9. 16. For this cause have I raised thee up to show in thee my power, great shakings and tumults discover much of God to the world; the Devil picketh out the most polished shafts in all the quiver of mankind: and yet still the Lord maintaineth the Lot of his Inheritance: Yea, God doth not only advance his Name, and discover the glory of his providence, in protecting the Church, notwithstanding Satan's factors, and the abettors of his cause and kingdom: But also causes the truths that are questioned to shine the more brightly, as being more strongly vindicated and asserted, as a Torch shineth the brighter when 'its waved with the wind; such times put men the more upon the study and love of truth, doctrines not being taken up upon trust, but sound conviction, besides error being permitted, manifests the approved, 1 Cor. 11. 19. as a quick smart wind severeth the solid grain, from the chaff: and 'tis a means to engage our dependence upon God for knowledge and instruction; Christs Prophetical Office would lye idle and useless, were not the chains of consent sometimes broken, and the language divided, some saying one thing some another, as the difference between the Jews, and the Samaritans about the place of worship, maketh the woman to go to Christ for satisfaction,