A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

WE have done with the Preface, I come now to the examples by which the Apostle proveth the danger of defection from the Faith; the first is taken from the murmuring Israelites; The second from the Apostate Angel; the third from the beastly Sodomites. T•at you may see how apposite and apt for the Apostle's purpose these instances are, I shall first insist upon some general Observations.

WE have done with the Pre•ace, I come now to the examples by which the Apostle proveth the danger of defection from the Faith; the first is taken from the murmuring Israelites; The second from the Apostate Angel; the third from the be•stly Sodomites. T•at you may see how apposite and apt for the Apostle's purpose these instances are, I shall first insist upon some general Observations.

First Observe. That Gods ancient Judgements were ordained ¹to be our warnings and examples. The Bible is nothing but a Book of Presidents, wherein the Lord would give the world a Document or Copy of his Providence; All these things are happened to them for examples: 1 Cor. 10. 11. When we blow off the dust from these old experiences, we may read much of the counsel of God in them; their destruction should be our caution: His Justice is the same that ever it was, and his Power is the same, his vigour is not abated with years, God is but one, Gal. 3. 20. that is, always the same, without change and variation, as ready to take vengeance of the Transgressors of the Law as of old; for that's the point there discussed: So 2 Tim. 2. 13. He abideth faithful, he cannot deny himself: In all the changes of the World God is not changed, but is where he was at first: Surely we should tremble more when we consider the examples of those that have felt his Justice; for God keepeth a proportion in all his dispensations: If he were strict, and holy, and just, then he is strict, and holy, and just now. He that struck Ananias, and Sapphira dead in the place for a lie, that made Zachary dumb for unbelief, that kept Moses out of the land of Promise for a few unadvised wrds that turned Lot's wie into a Pillar of Salt for looking back, is the same God still, not a jot altered; his judgements may be more spiritual, but then more terrible.