The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

THE EPISTLE OF JUDE.

As the second Epistle of Peter and this of Jude are very near akin, in style, matter and subject, so it is fairly conjecturable in them that they were not far removed in time, speak∣ing both of wicked ones and wickedness at the same height and ripeness. They are one to another as the Prophesie of Obadiah, and Jerem. 49. 14, &c. speaking the same thing, using the same manner of arguing, and oftentimes almost the same words. It may be Jude stands up in his brother James his charge among the Circumcision of Judea, and directs his Epistle to all those that were sanctified and preserved in those Apostatizing times, as his brother had done to all the twelve Tribes in general.

In citing the story of Michael the Archangel contending with the devil about the body of Moses, ver. 9. he doth but the same that Paul doth in naming Jannes and Jambres, namely alledge a story which was current and owned among the Nation, though there were no such thing in Scripture; and so he argueth with them from their own Authors and conces∣sions. It is harsh to strain Zech. 3. 1, 2. to speak such a story; when neither the name Michael is mentioned, nor any thing like the body of Moses or akin to it. But among the Talmudicks there seems to be something like the relicks of such a matter, viz. of Michael and the Angel of death disputing or discoursing about fetching away the soul of Moses.

His alledging the Prophesie of Enoch, is an arguing of the very like nature, as citing and referring to some known and common tradition that they had among them to this pur∣pose. [The Book Sepher Jesher an Hebrew Writer speaketh of Enoch after such a tenour.] And in both these he useth their own testimonies against themselves: as if he should thus have spoken at large: These men speak evil of dignities, whereas they have and own a story for current, that even Michael the Archangel did not speak evil of the devil, when he was striving with him about the body of Moses, &c. And whereas they shew and own a Prophesie of Enoch, of God coming in Judgment, &c. why these are the very men to whom such a matter is to be applied, &c. It is no strange thing in the New Testament, for Christ and the Apostles to deal and argue with the Jews upon their own concessions.