A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

VERS. X. But these speak evil of the things they know not, but what they know naturally, as brute Beasts; in those things they corrupt themselves.

VERS. X. But these speak evil of the things they know not, but what they know naturally, as bruit Beasts; in those things they corrupt themselves.

IN this Verse he showeth the disproportion between them and the Arch-Angel; he was modest in a known good cause, but these are contemptuous, and given to railing in matters of which they are wholly ignorant: Two faults are charged upon them in this Verse. 1. Pride, in condemning things without knowledge. 2. Wickedness, in abusing the knowledge they had.

IN this Verse he sheweth the disproportion between them and the Arch-Angel; he was modest in a known good cause, but these are contemptuous, and given to railing in matters of which they are wholly ignorant: Two faults are charged upon them in this Verse. 1. Pride, in condemning things without knowledge. 2. Wickedness, in abusing the knowledg they had.

[But these, [Greek or Hebrew]] the Seducers spoken of in the Context, [speak evil, [Greek or Hebrew]] take liberty to belch out their reproaches [of the things they know not] what are those things? Some say, the Dignities before spoken of; others the Mysteries of the Christian faith: For the former opinion, that clause may be alleged, vers. 8. [Greek or Hebrew] speaking evil of dignities; and so it will imply that they were ignorant of the nature of Angels, with whom they pretended so great a familiarity; as to know their courses, services, ^*conjugations; or else of the nature of Church-Ordinances, they taking upon them to speak so reproachfully of the Offices which God hath set in the Church: or of the nature of civil power and Magistracy, they allowing themselves in such intemperate Language: But for the latter opinion, the universal Particle in the Text, [Greek or Hebrew], Whatsoever things they know not; so Peters phrase is general,