A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Cities and Countries suffer for the evil of the Inhabitants, ¹as Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities round about them were consumed with fire and brimstone, and turned into a dead like. Original sin brought on an Original curse; Adams fall, a curse upon the whole earth, Gen. 3. 17. Cursed is the ground for thy sake, thorne• and thistles shall it bring forth to thee: and actual sins do bring on an actual curse, Psal. 107. 34. He turneth a pleasant land into saltness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein. A ⟨p. 325⟩Traitor forfeits not only his life but his goods, so do we not only forfeit our persons, but all our comforts into God hands, and 'tis but fit that the earth should be to us after all our labours, what we are to God after all his husbandry bestowed upon us; we are barren of good fruits as to God, and so justly may the land be to us. I Remember the Apostle saith the Creature was made subject to vanity, [Greek or Hebrew], not willingly, Rom. 8. 19. the creature hath only a natural tendency and inclination, and that carries it to its own good; we had free-will and choice, but abused it, and so brought our selves and the creature under the bondage and thraldom of corruption, so that the earth which was intended to be a monument of Gods glory is now a great part a monument of Gods displeasure and our rebellion; 'Tis observable on the contrary side, that the glorious times of the Gospel are expressed by the restoration of the creatures, Isa. 30. 23. 24, 25, 26. and Isa. 11. 6, 7, 8. For as the condition of the Servant doth depend on the Master, so doth the state of the creature upon our conformity or disobedience to God. Well then avoid sin, if not in pity to your poor souls, in pity to the poor creatures, to your poor country; as David said, What have these poor Sheep done? So what have the Creatures done that you kindle a burning under their glory? See