Again, to take down pride, look to others whom God hath set higher, and yet are more humble, as usually the higher the sun the less shadows it casteth. Usually God's children carry a low mind in a high condition, James i. 10 ; they are rich, yet ' made low,' that is, ' lowly.' If, in the fulness of riches, honours, parts, and enjoyments, they are so meek and humble, why should I, that have less temptations, be more proud ? They are lifted up by God, but not in their own spirits. I am a worm, in a much lower sphere, and yet of a prouder heart. They are affable, meek, modest, why am I so fierce and im- patient of contradiction ? Once more, if the judgments of God light upon greater personages for their pride, say what will become of me ? In me it is more odious. If God destroy those whose ' height is as the height of cedars/ Amos ii. 9, surely the reed should tremble. Many
VeR. 9.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 245
times mean and base people, that have no tincture of ingenuity, and are of no name or quality in the world, have pride enough to be bitter enemies to Grod's children. David saith, Ps. xxxv. 15, ' The abjects gathered themselves together to make songs against me,' when as God ' rebuketh kings for their sakes.' If he visit the throne, will he not visit the ale- bench ? What scorn will he cast upon this saucy dust ? these spiteful worms, that have only malice enough to snarl and can go no further ? If ' the great men of the earth' tremble, shall the ' bondmen ' go free ? Kev. vi. 15. But chiefly upon this occasion would I commend to you the example of the Lord Christ to take down pride. This is an ex- am })le that will shame us indeed, whatever the pride be. Are you pufied up with pride of vain conceit ? Christ stripped himself of all his glory, Phil. ii. 7. With pride of revenge ? Men are loath to strike sail, to seek to an enemy ; they scorn it. Jesus Christ, though such an excellent person, ' loved us first,' 1 John iv. 19, sued to his enemies. Is it disdain of our condition, pride of murmurings ? He made him- self ' a worm and no man,' and ' when he was rich ' in the glory of the Godhead, ' became poor for our sakes :' Mat. x. 24, '■ The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.' If we be scorned, would we be better dealt with than our master Avas ? Many times you have seen a master do the work of a servant to shame liim ; so did Christ. Do but think of Christ's excellency and your own base condi- tion ; as here, to shame the brutish Gnostics, the apostle telleth them they took more upon them than a glorious angel.
Ohs. 2. Again, from the archangel's contending ahout the hody of Moses. The devil would discover Moses' grave, and the archangel is ready to resist him. The note is, that God hath angels and archangels that are always ready to defend a good cause. They are many ; the king of heaven hath a brave court :■ Dan. vii. 10, 'A thousand thousand minister to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him.' Christ saith he could pray for ' twelve legions ' in an instant, Mat. XX vi. 5'd. Now a legion, in the least computation, is six thousand foot and seven hundred horse. They are able, they ' excel in strength.' One angel slew a hundred and eight3^-five thousand in one niglit, Isa. xxxvii. 36. They are always ready, attending on God's commands, Ps. ciii. 20. They rejoice in names of service more than names of honour. They are swift in execution ; they are described to have ' six wings apiece,' Isa. vi. 2 ; as being at the Lords beck, and ready to execute his command as soon as they hear the word. All which informeth us (1.) Of the danger of wicked men in opposing a good cause ; they fight not only against men, but against angels. (2.) That angels have more to do in human affairs than we are aware of. There are evil angels assisting in the counsels against the church, and good angels resisting, in those days of conflict. The combat is not only between men and men, but between angels and angels, Dan. x. 13. The protection of the holy angels is invisible, but true and real. (3.) Here is comfort to God's children when they are embarked in a hazardous but in a holy business ; there are ' far more with us than can be against us,' 2 Kings vi. 16. There is God the Father's power on the church's side ; the Son puts forth the strength of his mediation, Zech. iii. 2 ; the Spirit comforts and
246 AJsr EXPOSITION, with notes, [Ver. 9.
animateth us, and then holy anojels are employed as instruments. The Lord Jesus and his angels will stick to the church when none else dare : Dan. x. 21, ' There is none holdeth with me in these things hut Michael your prince.' When all human strength faileth, Christ hy their ministry can uphold the aflfairs of the church ; omnipotency is a great deep. Usually we look to means, and can hetter conceive of the operations of finite creatures than of the infinite Grod ; therefore doth the Lord represent the help of the church as managed hy these power- ful instruments. Only now take heed that you do not hetray your succours, nor defraud yourselves of their protection. (1.) By neglect- ing to seek to the God of angels : Dan. x. 12,' ' From the first day thou didst set thine heart to understand, and didst chasten thyself before thy God,' &c. We are not to pray to them, but for them, to the Lord. (2.) By unwarrantable practices, for then you join with Satan to their grief: Ps. xxxiv, 7, ' The angel encampeth about them that fear him.' A good cause should be well managed, and then trust God, who, if he seeth fit to glorify himself by our deliverance, rather than our suffer- ings, can find means enough to save us when men fail.