A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

[Woe unto them] 'tis Prophetically spoken, not execrat•rily as a threatening, or denunciation, not as a curse. [For they have gone in the way of Cain] Cains example is produced, because he was the first and chief of them that departed from the true Church and pure service of God, Gen. 4. 16. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt, &c. Tertullian saith he was the Devils Patriarch, the first root of the carnal seed, or of the seed of the Serpent, in whom persecution began: Now Cains way was a way of murder, he slew his Brother, because he was more righteous and godly then himself, 1 Joh. 3. 12. and so they go in his way, that have an envy and hatred against their holy brethren; which many times proceedeth so far as violence, persecution and murder: This instance is fitly applied to these Seducers; for (if the Targum of Jerusalem say true) besides the particular grudge, which Cain▪ had against Abel, about the acceptance of his Sacrifice: There was a dispute which happened between them in the field, concerning the providence of Gods last judgment, and world to come ^*Non est judicium nec judex nec saculum aliud, nec merces bona pro justis nec paena pro impiis: nec Dei misericordia creatus est, mundus nec ejus misericordia regitur, eo quod suscepta est oblatio t•a cum benepla•it•, mea ver• ••, ⟨p. 401⟩Tarq▪ Hieros. So were these Seducers exasperated against the Orthodox, not only because of the greater presence of God among them, but also because of difference of judgment, about Christ, the world to come, and Providence, with other wholesome Doctrines, by which godliness is maintained: Again, Cain slew Abel, so were these Gnostics ready to break out into all violence against those that dissented from them, and stirred up the Jews to persecution against the Christians: Cain after this murder was haunted with his own Ghost, and trembled where ever he came; so doth Cains end attend Cains course, such quakings and fears of conscience following them, where ever they went: 'tis said, The Lord set a mark upon Cain,