7. And delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:]
[Paraphrase] 7. At that time deliver∣ing Lot (and his family) who was a person so far from being guilty of that lewdnesse and unnatural filthinesse, that he was extremely vext and molested by dwelling among those that lived in those villanies:
8. (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vex∣ed
his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawfull deeds)]
[Paraphrase] 8. (For he being a very pure and chast person, yet in∣habiting among them that were so impure, was from day to day continually afflicted and tormented, to see them doe as they did.)
9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to re∣serve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished;]
[Paraphrase] 9. If, I say, all these ex∣amples of vengeance on wick∣ed obdurate rebels and carnal persons, (the patterns of the crucifying Jewes and lewd Gnosticks) and withall the deliverances afforded to the righteous in these passages of story, be considered, we may then sure learn from hence, how ready and able God now is to rescue the persecuted constant Christian out of the persecuters hand, and to reserve the persecuters themselves, and all wicked livers that join or comply with them, by cutting them off here, to eternal perdition in another world: see note on
Rom. 13. b.
10. But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleannesse, and
despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to
speak evil of dignities:]
[Paraphrase] 10. Of this sort especially are the Gnosticks, whose cha∣racter it is to commit all fil∣thinesse, and to despise all kind of authority of magistrates or masters (1 Tim. 3. 6.) a bold insolent sort of men, that can without any trembling or fear speak contumeliously of the Apostles themselves, see note on Jude b.
11. Whereas Angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord.]
12. But these, as natural brute beasts, [note b] made to be taken and destroyed,
speak evil of the things that they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their
own corruption;]
[Paraphrase] 12. But these men, like beasts ruled only by their na∣tural or brutish appetites, without any reason to restrain and temper them, which are good for nothing but (as vultures to tear and pollute, so these) to spoil and debauch all they come near, venturing to speak reproachfully of all that they doe not understand, and so consequently of the mysteries of Christianity, taught by Apostles, but despised by them, (see Jude note d.) shall be destroyed in their be∣stial sinnes,
13. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousnesse, as they that count it
pleasure to riot in the day-time: spots they are and blemishes, sporting them∣selves
in their own [note c] deceivings, while they feast with you,]
[Paraphrase] 13. And receive that ven∣geance that is due to them; those I mean that in the day-time take pleasure in those villanies which are wont to need the night to cover the shame of them, that are become the reproach∣es of Christianity, committing all villanie in their sacred assemblies and festivities, and making use of their false doctrines to turn your Christ•••••• feasts into unclean lascivious meetings.
14. Having eyes [note d] full of adulterie, and that cannot cease from sin, be∣guiling
unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices,
cursed children,]
[Paraphrase] 14. Their eyes are so fil∣led with unlawfull objects, that they can receive nothing else, nor ever take them off from beholding them, they corrupt young new-converted Christians, and have their hearts, as their eyes, alwaies busied with base filthy thoughts, persons fit for nothing but a curse;
15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the
way of Balaam the son of [note e] Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse,
[Paraphrase] 15. Which have for∣saken the Christian doctrine, and brought in heathenish, (so did Simon Magus mix Pagan 'sme with Christianity; Carpocrates brought in Hesiods theologie to Christ, and adored all equally) after the example of Balaam, who to get a reward (see note on Jude f.) taught Balak to curse the Israelites by inticing them to filthinesse and idolatry together, Num. 25. 1. Rev. 2. 14. though this madnesse of his were miraculously rebuked by the speaking of a dumb creature, an Asse, and so forbid∣den by God severely.
16. But was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb asse speaking with mans voice
forbad the madnesse of the prophet.]
[Paraphrase] 16. Which have for∣saken the Christian doctrine, and brought in heathenish, (so did Simon Magus mix Pagan 'sme with Christianity; Carpoerates brought in Hesiods theologie to Christ, and adored all equally) after the example of Balaam, who to get a reward (see note on Jude f.) taught Balak to curse the Israelites by inticing them to filthinesse and idolatry together, Num. 25. 1. Rev. 2. 14. though this madnesse of his were miraculously rebuked by the speaking of a dumb creature, an Asse, and so forbid∣den by God severely.
17. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a [note f] tempest,
to whom the mist of darknesse is reserved for ever.]
[Paraphrase] 17. These take upon them to be fountains of all deep knowledge, but have no drop either of truth or good practice among them; they pretend to be sublime above other men, but are only like clouds in the air that darken the skie, but never distill into rain, and those driven impetuously by every wind, be it never so black or dark, from one vicious hellish doctrine and practice to another: and to these black souls is reserved in the just judgment of God eternal darknesse and blacknesse.
18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through
the lusts of the flesh through much wantonnesse those that were clean escaped
from them who live in error.]
[Paraphrase] 18. For attributing divi∣nity to Simon and Helena, and exalting them idolatrous∣ly above the God of Israel, (see note on Jude i.) they entice and catch again, bring back to all manner of carnality and filthinesse those who had not long since gotten out of the heathen bestiality, (see note on Jude b.) and really given them over.
19. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of cor∣ruption;
for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.]
[Paraphrase] 19. And this upon pre∣tence of giving them liberty, whereas they are themselves the greatest slaves in the wo•••• to wit, enslaved to all basenesse and filthinesse (see note on c. 1. b.) for the title of victory giving dominion, they must needs be slaves of those lusts which have conquered them, to whom they have yielded themselves captives.
20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again intangled there∣in
and overcome, the latter end is worse with them then the beginning.]
[Paraphrase] 20. And this is so far from being extenuated by the pri∣vilege of their being Christi∣ans, that it is become the greater and more dangerous guilt by this means; for certainly they that have been converted from all their heathen sins by accepting of the faith of Christ, and then again relapse and return to them, this latter estate of theirs, this Christian heathenisme, is worse then their bare heathenisme at first.
21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteous∣nesse,
then after they have known it to turn from the holy commandement deli∣vered
unto them.]
[Paraphrase] 21. For it had been more for the advantage of such ne∣ver to have been taught the doctrine of Christ and Christian practice, then when they have undertaken to obey it, to fall back again into their heathen vicious courses.