ound in the Scriptures. But be this as
it will, we let it pass. Still this is true, that God, from the
beginning of the world, has left it to some to make His word known
(the word that promises His favor and salvation to believers, but
threatens the unbelieving with judgment and condemnation), even till
Christ's coming down from heaven, when it is openly preached to the
whole world. But before the birth of Christ God took to Himself for
this purpose only a single line, from Adam to Abraham, and thence to
David, down to Mary the mother of Christ, who possessed His word.
Thus the Gospel has always been preached in the world, but never so
generally as now in these last times.

Thus, also, this father, Enoch, insisted on that word of God which he
received from his father, Adam, and which he had of the Holy Spirit.
For the Scripture says also of him, Gen. v., that he led a godly
life, and therefore he was taken of God, so that he was seen no more.
Hence, also, has been derived the notion that He will come again
before the last day; but it is not to be supposed that men would
understand it of a spiritual advent, as that his preaching was based
upon the last day, as this passage is, wherein that day is spoken of
with as much assurance as though it were in full view. _The Lord is
coming already_, he says, _with many thousand saints_; that is, with
such a multitude as cannot be numbered. For this can only be said of
the last day, on which He will come with all His saints, to execute
judgment. For before this, He has not come with many thousand saints,
but alone, into the world; and this, not to judge, but to bestow
grace.

V. 15. _And to punish all the ungodly among them, for all their
godless life, wherein they have been ungodly._ This passage Jude does
not inappropriately quote, inasmuch as he is speaking of false
teachers, who are to come before the last day; and the conclusion is
thence to be drawn, that the Lord by his coming will overthrow the
Pope and his government; since there is no other help for it; for as
long as the world stands, there will be no (voluntary) ending or
reformation of it. The passage, moreover, cannot be understood of any
others, but of our clergy, who have shamefully led all the world
astray. Their system cannot be worse, and even though it were worse,
it must yet hold on to the name of Christ, and under the same
introduce all kinds of mischiefs. Thus he refers this passage to the
last judgment,