A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Their knowledge and cunning is great, they have much natural and experimental knowledge, so as they can discern hidden causes, and virtues which scape the flight of mans reason and understanding; they know how to apply active to passive things, can guess notably at future events, but as for a certain knowledge of them (unless of such things as depend upon necessary causes) that is proper to God, and accordingly he challengeth it, Isa. 41. 23. show the things that are to come, that we may know that ye are Gods, &c. Therefore the Devils Oracles were either false or doubtful, as 2 Kings 22. 16. great skill in Arts and tongues they have as appeareth by their teaching those things with wonderful facility to those that ⟨p. 288⟩have familiarity with them ^*in divine things, they know enough of God and his justice, as to feel an horror impressed upon themselves, Jam. 2. 19▪ Luk. 4. 34. Acts 19. 15, besides they are of wonderful sagacity to judge of mens hearts by the gestures, the motion of the blood and spirits, and other such external signs, for directly they do not know the thoughts. that is the privilege of God. 2. Their power is great still, though limited, so that it cannot be exercised but when and where, and as God will; they are able to raise tempests, to bring fire from Heaven, as they did, to ruin Jobs house and children, Job 1. they can deceive with lying miracles, but true miracles can only be wrought by a divine power; being of much sagacity and skill in the secrets of nature, they may poison the air, destroy the bodies of men, infest and trouble beasts and cattle, in short do all that lieth within the compass of a natural cause where God permitteth: Again they may possess the bodies of men, hinder the Godly in the execution of their duty; over rule the spirits of wicked men, and act and stir them up to wrath, lust, filthiness,