Vers. 4. Who were before of old] That is, from eternity which is elder than time.
Ordained to this condemnation] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, enrolled, billed, registred; or as it were written downe by the name in a booke. So a booke is given to God, Psal. 139.16. Dan. 7.10.
Vers. 6. He hath reserved in everlasting chaines] 1. Of Gods justice. 2. Of his pro∣vidence. There are two sorts of chaines, 1. Those which torment the Devill, Gods wrath and his owne conscience. 2. Those which restraine him, his owne Finitenesse and Gods providence.
Vers. 8. Likewise also these filthy dreamers] These surprized with dreames, the Greek word signifieth no more, sopiti. Beza. Some applly it to nocturnall pollution, therefore our translation (say they) puts in the word filthie, others say, such as did pretend dreames and divine inspirations. Pareus approves of Epiphanius his opinion, who in∣terprets it of the vanity of the thoughts.
Defile the flesh] That is, are given to carnall sinnes. Pareus.
Despise dominion] The Greek word rendred despise, signifieth to remove a thing from its place with some scorne and indignation. Dominion] That is, more than rulers, they despised not only Magistrates, but Magistracie it selfe.
Speake evill of dignities] Blaspheme glories, Greek.
Vers. 9. Yet Michael the Archangell, when contending with the Devill, he disputed about the body of Moses] It was the will of God that Moses body should be buried in a secret place unknown to any man, to prevent and avoid all occasions of superstition and Ido∣latry among the Jews, Deut. 34.5, 6. The Devill on the contrary would discover it, that so the Israelites might fall to idolatrie before it; herein the Archangell resisted him, and strove with him for the performance of the will of God, and the maintenance of his true worship.
This Michael was a created Angell not the Son of God, for the Devill could not contend against the second person of the Trinitie in his person immediately, for then he had not cloathed himselfe with the nature of man.
Vers. 11. Woe unto them] This woe is a short particle, but of terrible signification, denouncing eternall punishment on whom it falls as a thunder-bolt from heaven; it is vox non precantis sed prophetantis, the voyce not of one praying but prophesying here, else the Apostle should seem to transgresse his own instruction given in the 9. v.
For they have gone in the way of Cain, and rangreedily after the errour of Balaam] Those two words 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, excellently set forth the dominion of sinne; gone in the way, an Hebrew phrase, that is, followed his course and life.
The latter word signifieth to be powred out, that is, have given themselves over for lusts sake to follow the errour of Balaam.
Vers. 12. Trees whose fruite withereth] Or trees withered in Autumne, when the fruit-harvest is, and so the Greeke word importeth: or trees corrupting their owne fruit.