A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

We come now to the next similitude [wandering stars,] [Greek or Hebrew], it may be taken two ways, properly, or improperly. 1. Properly, for the stars which we call Planets, or wandering, though indeed no stars wander less then they do; they have their name from the opinion and common judgement of sense, because they are not carried about the whole circuit of the heavens, but in a shorter orb and course, in themselves they have certain stated motions, and do keep the just points of their compass; the Sun knoweth his going down, Psal. 104. 2. Improperly, There are a second sort of wandering stars, which Aristotle calleth [Greek or Hebrew], running and gliding stars; not stars indeed, but only dry exhalations inflamed, which glare much, and deceive the eye with an appearance of light, but soon vanish, and are quenched: Now these glancing shooting stars, do excellently express the quality of these Seducers, who pretended great knowledge, being therefore called Gnostics, and gave out themselves for illuminate and profound Doctors, but were various and uncertain in their motions, and soon extinguished and obscured. 'Tis notable that the Apostle ransacketh all the elements for comparisons whereby to set them forth; The Air, Clouds without water; the Earth, barren rotten Trees; the Water, there he compareth them to raging Waves; the Fire, to wandering stars, which are of a fiery nature: A fruitful fancy can make use of all the world, and a willing mind cannot want objects of meditation. But let us come to observe something from this similitude.

We come now to the next similitude [wandring stars,] 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, it may be taken two ways, properly, or improperly. 1. Properly, for the stars which we call Planets, or wandring, though indeed no stars wander less then they do; they have their name from the opinion and common judgement of sense, because they are not carried about the whole circuit of the heavens, but in a shorter orb and course, in themselves they have certain stated motions, and do keep thr just points of their compass; the Sun knoweth his going down, Psal. 104. 2. Improperly, There are a second sort of wandring stars, which Aristotle calleth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, running and gliding stars; not stars indeed, but only dry exhalations inflamed, which glare much, and deceive the eye with an appearance of light, but soon vanish, and are quenched: Now these glancing shooting stars, do excellently express the quality of these Seducers, who pretended great knowledge, being therefore called Gnosticks, and gave out themselves for illuminate and profound Doctors, but were various and uncertain in their motions, and soon extinguished and obscured. 'Tis notable that the Apostle ransacketh all the elements for comparisons whereby to set them forth; The Ayr, Clouds without water; the Earth, barren rotten Trees; the Water, there he compareth them to raging Waves; the Fire, to wandring stars, which are of a fiery nature: A fruitful fancy can make use of all the world, and a willing mind cannot want objects of meditation. But let us come to observe somthing from this similitude.