A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Fourthly, Observe how weak the Creatures are, when God marcheth in judgement against them: guilt of conscience is one of the fallen Angels chains, if God will but arm our own thoughts against us, he needeth not bring forces from without, there is enough in that to sink us into Hell: The Law needeth not bring Brimstone from Heaven to burn sinners, nor open the mouth of the great deep to drown them, nor shatter the frame of nature about our heads; alas, we cannot bear up under the burden of our own consciences, or the weight of our own ⟨p. 297⟩grief, when he layeth his finger upon the conscience, who can bear it? The Angels excel in strength, and yet the impressions of honour laid upon them, are too hard for them to grapple with all, Prov. 18. 14. a wounded spirit who can bear? as if he had said, I challenge all the world, to bring me a man that is able to deal with his own conscience when God armeth it against him.

Fifthly, That spiritual judgements of all others are most secure, to have sin punished with obstinacy and hardness in sinning. This is nothing but to have the Devils chains laid upon us, a sad intimation, that we are given up to chains of darkness, frogs and lice, and hailstones were but soft judgements to Pharaoh's hard heart: unless God should send us quick into Hell, there cannot an heavier judgement befall us, nay certainly it were better to be given up to Hell torments, if there could be any expectation of deliverance, then to be given up to a spirit of sinning; for there is no end of that; say then, Lord what ever judgement thou bringest upon me, bring not thy heavy judgement of an hard heart; 'tis better by far that you should live miserably, then sin freely without remorse. But what sins bring on this spiritual judgement? I answer, 1. an unthankful abuse of Gods gifts, The Devils had a glorious and excellent nature, but they were not thankful, observe it when you will, you will find it true, that no man was ever punished with hardness of heart, but some former merciful dispensation was abused: the Heathens were not thankful for the light of nature, and therefore God gave them up to vile affections