2. To admonish us, to make haste to repent of our sinnes, not to linger nor slumber.
Doctrine 5. In all those things which pertaine unto judgement against sinners, like as in all other things, God doth nothing rashly, but foreseeth, premeditateth, and prepareth all things.
This is gathered from the adjunct of time, Now of a long time. So Iude verse 4.
Verse 4. For if God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast them downe to hell, and delivered them into chaines of darknesse to be reserved unto judgement.
The Analysis.
Now the Apostle proves that which he had before laid downe concerning the punishment that should befall false teachers. The conclusion of this arguing is, 1. In generall propounded of all the wicked, verse 9. For there is the consequent part of that connex axiom, the antecedent whereof begins verse 4. and is shewed by the connexion If, as, If God spared not the Angels, &c. Then afterwards in speciall, of these false teachers themselves and their followers, verse 10. In the generall conclusion, verse 9. he doth not barely set downe the condemnation of the wicked, but also by a copulate axiom joynes together with it, the deliverance of the godly from that temptation, which ariseth unto them by means of the wicked. And the reason is, because the Apostles purpose was, so to reprove the wicked, that he might in the mean time comfort the godly, and strengthen them against all the temptations, whereunto they were obnoxious by means of the wicked. In the antecedent part of this arguing he sets downe three arguments, which are as so many examples & judgements of God against the wicked; & they may make three syllogismes to prove one and the same conclusion. The first example is of the Angels that fell, verse 4. The second is of the old world, verse 5. The third is of Sodome and Gomorrha. The syllogismes are knit together, after this manner: If God spared not the Angels, nor the old world, nor Sodome and Gomorrha; then he will not spare these false teachers, nor the like wicked men; But the former is true, by the testimony of Scripture, Therefore, &c. These examples in respect of the generall conclusion, which is set downe, verse 9. are as species unto their genus. But in respect of the speciall conclusion wᶜʰ is set down, verse 10. they are as comparata, partly alike, partly greater. That wherein they are alike, consists therein, as God condemned those sinners, so also will he condemn these. Their inequality therein; if God spared not his most excellent creatures, the Angels, nor the old world, nor those cities; then much lesse will he spare these false teachers.
The Doctrines arising herehence.
Doctrine 1. The judgements of God which he hath executed from the beginning of the world were ordained to be examples for us.
This is evidently gathered from all this arguing of the Apostle, and it is plainly taught us, verse 6. So 1 Corinthians 10.6. they are called types, that is, ensamples; which appears also by verse 11. which sense of the words Beza and others have missed.