A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Answ. 2. There are three opinions about this. 1. One is, that 'tis a figurative expression of Gods care for his Church; and they that go this way by the body of Moses, understand either the whole body of the Levitical worship, or else the community of Israel represented in Joshua the High Priest, who stood before the Angel of the Lord Zech. 3. 1, 2. and Satan at his right hand ready to resist him, and the Lord said unto the Lord, the Lord rebuke thee, the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke th•e; In Joshua the L• vitical worship newly restored is figured, and the Angel of the Lord, before whom he stood, is Christ the Judge, Advocate, and Defender of the Church, and the Lord, that is the Lord Christ, called the Angel before, puts forth the efficacy of his mediation against this malicious opposition of Satan. So some accommodate this Text to the sense of that place, and the main reason is, because of the form here used, The Lord rebuke thee; this sense is argute, but not so solid. Junius who first propounded it, seemeth to distrust it; the reason is of no force, for the same form might be used on divers occasions: and my reasons against ⟨p. 359⟩it are, because these expressions are Typical and Visional, now to make a Type of a Type especially in the New Testament, which usually explaineth the difficulties of the Old, seemeth irrational, and though by Michael Christ may be intended; yet the change from Joshua to Moses is too much forced. 2. Others conceive that 'tis not an History, but a Talmudic fiction and Parable: and that Jude in citing it doth not approve the story as true, but only urgeth it upon them for their instruction, who were mightily pleased with these kind of Fables; as the Fathers against the Heathens did often make use of their own stories and fictions concerning their gods, such condescensions are frequent: But against this opinion, it seemeth to be urged here by way of down right assertion, not as an argument ad homines, and by Peter on the like occasion, 2 Pt. 2. 11. Whereas Angels that are greater in might and power bring not a railing accusation against them before the Lord. I say, he doth not try it as a Jewish Fable, but as a real argument taken from the nature of the holy Angels. 3.