Jude 1:9-10 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses… I. TRUTH IS USUALLY SLANDERED OUT OF IGNORANCE; because men do not understand the ways and things of God, therefore they do condemn them. It is the devil's cunning to keep us at a distance from truths, and therefore burdeneth them with prejudices, that we may suspect rather than search, and condemn that out of ignorance which upon knowledge we could not choose but love and profess; and it is man's perverseness and pride to speak evil of things above his reach, and to disprove that which he has not attained unto or cannot understand. II. BLOCKISH AND STUPID MEN ARE MOST BOLD IN REPROACHING. A fool's wrath falleth very heavy, because it falleth with all its weight, there being nothing to restrain and stop it (Proverbs 27:3). What ado have we in the ministry with young heady professors, that have more heat than light! III. MEN OF CORRUPT MINDS ARE USUALLY SENSUAL, and sensual men are usually men of corrupt minds; an unsound heart is best sheltered under unsound doctrine, and carnal delights blunt and weaken the edge and intension of the mind, so that they are very liable to mistakes. Therefore, on the one side, we should labour to keep the mind right and sound in the faith; fish stink first at the head; when the judgment is poisoned, the taint is soon conveyed to the affections. On the other side, "add to your knowledge temperance" (2 Peter 1:6). That is the best knowledge that endeth in temperance, or begets a holy moderation in the use of sensual pleasure; if we cannot govern our affections, we "know nothing as we ought to know"; nay, otherwise, your knowledge will be corrupted by your affections; many errors take their rise and beginning from evil manners and filthy lusts. IV. WICKED MEN, LEFT TO THEMSELVES, DO BUT ABUSE AND CORRUPT THAT NATURAL GOODNESS AND KNOWLEDGE WHICH THEY HAVE IN THEM. Natural abilities are soon depraved with evil habits. V. SIN WHERE IT REIGNETH TURNETH A MAN INTO A BRUTE BEAST (Psalm 49:12). If we had the head of a horse, or the face of a swine, or the hoofs of an ass, how should we be looked upon as monsters; but to have the hearts of the beasts is worse; to be like them in the inward man is more monstrous in the sight of God. The beasts know their stint and measure; a horse or a dog will not be drunk, etc. Sin doth not only make a beast of you, but a devil of you (John 6:70). VI. IT IS A SIGN OF A MAN TURNED BEAST TO FOLLOW THE PASSIONS AND LUSTS OF CORRUPT NATURE. Why? For then the government of reason is renounced, and all is yielded up into the hands of lust and appetite. In men reason should have the chief governance, and exercise a coercion and restraint over our affections. I shall take occasion here to show you how many ways a man turneth beast. 1. By an addictedness to sensual pleasures and delights. 2. When, in the use of these delights, we keep neither modesty nor measure, this is but like swine to wallow in our own filthiness; a beast can do no more. 3. When men live by appetite rather than reason and conscience, feeding without fear, and nourishing the body, but taking no care to refresh the soul. VII. SENSUALITY DOTH BUT MAKE WAY FOR CORRUPTION; you may counterpoise the temptation to the sin with the punishment; usually secret sins and sweet sins meet with a heavy punishment; secret sins, that do not betray us to shame, may yet beget horror when we think of what will ensue: and sweet sins, that entice our affections, to prevent them we may counterbalance one affection with another, delight with fear. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. |
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