A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Let me now apply what hath been spoken, and press you¹ to consider it in your thoughts, & to consider it with observation and application to your selves. 1. Consider it with observation, and there is scarce a matter that can be more profitably▪ amplified in your thoughts, we have the most impartial view of things in another person: Oh think of this dreadful instance the fall of the Angels. 1. Observe that such excellent creatures fell, Angels themselves were created excellent but mutable; certainly, we that ^*dwell in houses of clay, and whose foundation is in the dust had need be more cautious, if they be mutable, we are weaker and more mutable, to see such glorious stars leave their station: and fall from heaven like lightning, it should make us poor creatures tremble and look to our own standing, lest we also fall, 1 Cor. 10. 12. self confidence is the next way to ruin, God only cannot sin because his act is his rule, there may be a great height, strong abilities, rare accomplishments of nature and grace; and yet you see these cannot exempt us from shameful falls without the divine concurrence, the Angels were the Courtiers of Heaven, the glory of the Creation in the first rank of the created Beings, and yet they fell, who can presume to stand when Angels fall? 2. They fell soon, a little after their Creation, there is no created excellency but if left to it self, will quickly undo it self; how soon do creature perfections fade? Surely there is no stability but in Christ; as the Angels, so Adam fell a little after his Creation, Psalm 49. 12. Adam being in honour ⟨p. 281⟩abideth not, in the Original, abideth not for a night; and if it be applied to the first Adam, it implieth that he left the honour of his innocency the first day▪ in the morning innocent, and at night a sinner: our new state in this regard is better then innocency, and the grace of regeneration ^*