Ohs. 1. That the practice of wicked men now, and the practice of wicked men from the beginning is still the same. Cain's club, as Bucholcer speaketh, is still carried about in the world, stained witli the blood of Abel ;- see Gal. iv. 29, ' But as then, he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, even so it is
^ Fic?e Nieremberg. Strom, i.cap. 17, et Glassium, lib. i., Pliilol. Sacra, p. 60, et Chria- tolog. Mosaicse Dissert. 5, p. 165.
- ' Multi adhuc sunt qui cla\'um sanguine Abelis rubentem clrcumferunt.'
270 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [YeR, 11.
now.' So it was then, so it is now, so it will be while the spirit of the devil worketh in the world ; we have the same original sin which they had in former times. For a long time a disease runneth in the blood, and is continued in a line and family ; but after some generations it is worn out; but this filth will still run as long as there is a channel of carnal generation to convey it. Again, we have the same devil to tempt us ; whoever is converted, he will never turn Christian to be sure ; and there are tlie same provocations and occasions to exasperate men's corruptions. Well, then, let us not be over troubled ; ' there is no new thing under the sun,' the same devil that rageth now hath been ' a murderer from the beginning,' John viii. 44 ; the same devil that deceiveth now was ' a liar from the beginning.' Are there those now that separate from all churches of Christ ? There were Donatists in former times. Are there now that deny the Godhead of Christ ? There were Arians then. Are there now ranters, familists ? And there were Gnostics then. Are there bloody enemies of the truth ? Every age can yield its Cains. Again, if we would better know the state of our times, let us blow off the dust from our old precedents ; the devil doth but play over the old game ; and though the scene be shifted and fur- nished with new actors, the plot is the same.
Ohs. 2. Observe again, heretics and libertines usually turn perse- cutors ; for it is said here, ' They go in the way of Cain.' Satan, that is a liar, is also a murderer ; a false way cannot subsist without the props of blood and cruelty, — witness the Oircumcellians, the I'riscil- lianists, the Arians, the Donatists-, the tragedies at Munster. An erroneous opinion is touchy, and therefore eiferates the minds of men against those that oppose it. Believe not seducers, then, when they come in sheep's clothing ; it is but that they may get a power to play the wolves the better: and when libertines increase, let magistrates look about them, there are clouds gathering together towards a dismal storm ; and though they seem to be meek and full of love, while their party is contemptible, yet when they grow considerable they appear in their colours. Again, let us bless God for the peace we enjoy ; there are swarms and droves of locusts abroad, but blessed be God that there is a restraint upon them, that there is a spirit of perversity mingled with their counsels. I tell you, the great danger of the latter times is from libertines ; many fear a second deluge of antichristianism, but that is not so probable as the seditious insurrections of sectaries. What sad havoc will be made of the people of God when once those bloody- minded wretches get power! The 'latter times,' Kaipol ^aXeTrot, ' perilous times,' 2 Tim. iii. 1. Why ? From what sort of men will the danger arise? Not from the antichristian, or Popish party, so much as from a libertine party, from Quakers, ranters, anti-scriptur- ists, familists, &c. The antichristian party carrieth things by power and worldly greatness ; but this party there described is a ' creeping' party, that gets into houses, ' leadeth captive silly women,' ver. 6. The antichristian party abuseth the sword of the magistrate ; but this is a ' traitorous party,' heady, high-minded, ver. 4, a party rising up against magistracy. The antichristian party are stiff and obstinate in their old forms ; but this is a party of seekers, looking for new dis- coveries, holding nothing certain in religion, ' ever learning and never
VeR. 11.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 271
coming, ek eiruyvoiaiv, to the acknowledgment of the truth,' ver. 7. In short, the party there described are a party that deny civil reverence, natural affection, and are contemptuous despisers of the true and holy servants of Christ ; and all this carried on under a pretence and form of godliness. This is the party from whence I fear such danger and disturbance, if the Lord put not a hook into their jaws, or do not awaken the magistrate to look to the safety, not only of Christ's interests, but his own. Cursing Balaams will soon prove bloody Cains, and wicked seducers tyrannous oppressors.
The next part of the description is, and run greedily after the error of Balaam for reivard. His story begiuneth Num. xxii., and his tragedy you have Num. xxxi. 8.^ Balaam had linguam venalem, oracles to sell ; so they adulterated the doctrine of the gospel out of covetousness and filthy lucre. Simon Magus, out of whose school the Gnostics came, would, you know, buy and sell the Holy Ghost, Acts viii. Now, after this error, it is said, ' they ran greedily,' e^e-xyd-qaav, ' were poured out,' it is a metaphor taken from a river overflowing the banks, or from a thing poured out from a bucket, with a full current. Now from hence observe : —