VeR. 4.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 127
deuce, in protecting the chnrch, notwithstanding Satan's factors, and the abettors of his cause and kingdom, but also causes the truths that are questioned to shine the more brightly, as being more strongly vin- dicated and asserted, as a torch shineth the brighter when it is waved with the wind. Such times put men the more upon the study and love of truth, doctrines not being taken uj) upon trust, but sound conviction; besides error being permitted ' manifests the approved,' 1 Cor. xi. 19, as a quick smart wind separateth the solid grain from the chaff; and it is a means to engage our dependence upon God for knowledge and instruction. Christ's prophetical office would lie idle and useless were not the chains of consent sometimes broken, and the language divided, some saying one thing, some another, as the difference between the Jews and the Samaritans about the place of worship maketh the woman to go to Christ for satisfaction, John iv. 20. Once more, God's permission of error conduceth to the just ruin of his enemies : ' Offences must be, but woe be to that man by whom they come,' Mat. xviii. 6, 7. So 1 Sam. ii. 25, Eli's sons would not ' hearken to the voice of their father, because the Lord had a mind to slay them.' By their own voluntary sins God bringeth them to their just ruin and condemnation. God lets them alone to wanton and play away their own salvation ; if they will turn seekers, familists, ranters, atheists, let them alone.
Uses. The point may be applied many ways. (1.) Here is comfort to those that regard the affairs of Sion ; all the confusion and troubles that are in the church are ordered by a wise God ; he will bring some good issue out of them, some glory to his name, wherein the saints rejoice as much as in their own welfare ; some good to the church. Observe, hast not thou been more confirmed in the truth? engaged to a more frequent recourse to Christ, in whom are hidden all the trea- sures of wisdom and knowledge ? Hast thou not seen more of God's providence displayed by these tumults? &c. (2.) It checketh fear; it is all in the hands of a good God ; as God trieth you to see what you will do, so you must wait upon God to see what he will do : let him alone ; in and by all he will bring forth his work in due time. (3.) It showeth their wickedness that take occasion to turn atheists from the multitude of errors. When the church is rent into so many factions, men fool it, as if there were no God, and the whole gospel were but an imposture and well-devised fable ; that is the reason why Christ prayeth, John xvii. 21 , ' Let them be perfect in one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me,' i.e., that they might not suspect me for an impostor. Usually we find that thoughts of atheism are wont to haunt us upon these occasions ; but there is little reason for it, for all these things are foreknown by God, foretold by God : they * must be,' 1 Cor. xi. 19 ; Mat. xxiv. 6. And never is there so much of God and of the beauty of truth discovered as when errors abound ; so that if there were not errors there would be more cause of suspicion ; where all things run with a smooth and full consent, and were never questioned, then the strength and worth of them is not tried. But ' the words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times : thou shalt keep them, 0 Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation,' Ps. xiL 6, 7. (4.) It is a ground of prayer in times of delusion : Lord, this was ordained by
128 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 4.
thee in wisdom, let us discern thy glory in it and by it more and more. The church argueth that there was not only Pilate's malice and Herod's malice, but God's ' hand and counsel,' in the crucifixion of Christ : Acts iv. 28, ' To do whatsoever thy hand and counsel determined be- fore to be done : ' Lord, we know there is thy counsel in it, and thy counsel still tendeth to good, &c. God loveth to be owned in every providence, and to be entreated to fulfil his own decrees. (5.) It informeth us what a foolish madness it is to think that God seeth not the sin which we secretly commit : surely he seeth it, for he foresaw it before it was committed ; yea, from all eternity.
Ohs. 6. So much for the first point, the next is. That from all eternity some were decreed by their sins to come unto judgment or condemna- tion. Because this is one of the texts which divines bring to prove the general doctrine of reprobation, I shall here take occasion — (1.) To open this doctrine; (2.) To prove it; (3.) To vindicate it; (4.) To apply it. In the first, you will understand the nature ; in the second, the reasons ; in the third, the righteousness ; in the fourth, the profit, of this decree.