Page images
PDF
EPUB

The Apostles warned them that such persons should come:

ii.

411

Jude 16.

16 These are mur- cularly intended. These are murmurers, that ICT. murers, complainers, can never be contented with the allotments of walking after their own lusts; and their mouth Providence, or with the conduct of any about speaketh great swelling them; that find fault continually with their lot, words, having mens persons in admiration walking according to their own unbridled lusts; because of advantage. and their mouth speaks extravagant things;

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.

be mockers in the last

some, by way of exclamation against those they disapprove, and others in the height of encomiums and panegyrics, on those who are their favourites, and the leaders of their party; having [such] persons in admiration, not so much for the sake of their real excellencies, as of some present gain which they meanly propose to themselves as the reward of their servile flattery. But you, my beloved, instead of following these 17 wandering guides, remember the words which were formerly spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, who have preached his gospel to 18 How that they you in all its purity and energy. For they 18 told you there should have told you, that in the last time profane time, who should walk mockers shall come, walking according to their after their own ungod- own ungodly and wanton lusts, and making a ly lusts. jest of those who do not run with them to the 19 These be they same excesses of riot. These are they, who, 19 who separate them in many places separate themselves from the church, as of a purer stamp, and more refined attainments than others; sensual, and entirely addicted to the low gratification of their animal life; by which they make it too apparent, that they have not the Spirit, whatever high pretences they may make to its extraordinary commu20 But ye, beloved, nications. But I have the pleasing persua- 20 building up yourselves sion, that you, my beloved brethren, will not your most holy faith, only guard against being seduced by them, but,

selves, having not the Spirit.

[ocr errors]

according to the exhortations so often given
you, will still be edifying yourselves and one an-
other, in your most holy faith; that understand-

g Extravagant things.] So I think poy may very probably be rendered; and it we may judge of extravagant things, by those which Irenæus in particular has recorded in his account of some early heretics, the expression was applied with the utmost propriety. See the same phrase Dan. xi. 36. in the Seventy. Witsius in loc.

h Apostles of our Lord, &c.] The resemblance between this text and 2 Pet. iii. 2. is very remarkable. Bishop Sherlock observes it to be such as would incline one

VOL. X.

ing

to think, that St. Jude had the text in
Peter before him, and omitted what hath
a peculiar reference to the former part of
St. Peter's epistle, and to which there was
nothing in his own to answer See his
Discourses on Proph. p. 193. 5th Edit.
i Ungodly lusts.] For avibuwv, ungodly,
some would read ασελγείων, lascivous or
wanton. See Phil. Lips. against Collins,
p. 73. But as this reading is not absolute-
ly necessary to the sense, I cannot per
suade myself to alter the word merely on
conjecture.

3 F

k Garment

412 They were therefore to keep themselves in the love of God.

SECT. ing its articles more clearly, and feeling their faith, praving in the happy efficacy to promote the work of holiness Holy Ghost.

ii.

Jude 20. in your souls, you may be more and more

established against the attacks of these deceivers: especially praying in the Holy Spirit, and under his influence, vouchsafed in answer to your prayers, making swifter advances in the Divine 21 life. And be careful thus to keep yourselves in the exercise of that sacred affection, the love of God, which ought always to rule in your hearts: of our looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Christ unto eternal life. to eternal life, to which this compassionate Saviour will assuredly conduct all those who confide in him.

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy Lord Jesus

22 And of some have compassion, making a

22 And while you are yourselves animated with
this chearful hope, do your utmost for the pre- difference:
servation of others; and in this respect, on some
have tender compassion, and apply to them with
the softest and most endearing offices of Chris-
tian friendship; making a great difference be-
tween them, and the case of others, who have
drank deeper of the poison, and are become
23 active in the mischief. It may seem to have an

23 And others save

out of the fire; hating

unkind appearance, but it is most certain, there with fear, pulling them are some, whom if you would save at all, you even the garment spotmust attempt it with fear and trembling, by ted by the flesh. severe methods; as alarmed yourselves, and terrifying them, with the apprehensions of God's judgments; as if you were snatching [them] with eagerness out of the fire, into which they are fallen, or just ready to fall. And if you desire, that your efforts, in either of these cases, should be successful, you must take great care to preserve your own purity, hating even the garment that is spotted with the flesh, lest by the touch of it you yourselves 24 be polluted. I am sensible, this will require 24 Now unto him strenuous vigilance and resolution; but I hope from falling, and to the grace of God will animate you to it. To present you faultless this therefore now I solemnly commit you; before the presence of even to him who is able to keep you from falling: rugged and dangerous as the ways of lite are, and feeble as you know yourselves to be, he is able at length to present [you] blameless,

k Garment spotted with the flesh.] Mr. Cradock interprets this of the caution, with which a man would avoid a garment, which had been worn by one who had a plague-sore; but perhaps there may be a reference to such passages in the Mosaic

and

that is able to keep you

his

law, as Lev. xv. 4, 10, 17. See Witsius on the place, who well defends this sense against Erasmus; whose opinion it was, that the apostle alludes to the white garment, which those who were newly bap tized, put on in token of innocence.

Reflections on our obligation to faith, and the love of God.

25 To the only wise

God our Saviour be glory and majesty, do

ii.

413

his glory with excced- and in the full perfection of holiness, before the SECT. ing joy, presence of his glory, in his final appearance; with exceeding great and unutterable joy. Jude 24. To him, as the only wise God, who is now be- 25 come our Saviour, our Guardian, our Friend, minion and power, and our Father, [be] glory and majesty, doboth now and ever. minion and power, ascribed; and obedience, reverence, and love rendered, through Christ Jesus, both now and through all ages, world without end.

Amen.

Amen.

IMPROVEMENT.

Ver.

Let those, who have the honour of being numbered among the disciples of Christ, stand at the remotest distance from the evil with which these unhappy creatures are branded by the apostle in this epistle. And may Divine grace preserve all his churches from such spots in their feasts of charity! May our horizon be secured from those dark and gloomy clouds without water; 12, 13 the plantations of God among us be free from the incumbrance and disgrace of those withered and fruitless trees, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots! How illustrious was the prophecy, 14 with which Enoch, the seventh from Adam, was inspired; and how 15 precious is that fragment of antediluvian history, which is here preserved, and which shall surely be accomplished in its season! The day is now much nearer, when the Lord will come with ten thousands of his saints: may the ungodly remember it, and suppress in time the speeches which will then assuredly be reproved, and repent of the deeds, which if unrepented of, however forgotten now, will be brought into open view, and draw down upon their heads the destruction which at present seems to linger. That we may have confidence before him at his coming, let us re- 17 member the words of the apostle, and implore the influences of the Divine Spirit, which sensualists, who walk after their own lusts, 18, 19 quench and stifle, and which they mock and deride. Let us, how- 20 ever, be concerned to edify ourselves in our most holy faith, and to pray in the Holy Ghost, under his influence, direction, and assistance. The security of the heart amidst so many temptations, and its richest cordial in all its afflictions, is the love of God; but 21 how soon does the celestial flame languish and die, if it be not constantly fed with new fuel! Let it then be our care in humble dependence upon Divine grace, to keep ourselves in the love of God which will be cherished in proportion to that degree of faith and hope, with which we look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus 3 F 2

Christ

414

SECT.

ii.

Reflections on our obligation to faith, and the love of God.

Christ unto eternal life: for what can so powerfully excite our love to God as such a consideration ?

Ver. If we do expect it, let us express our regard to the salvation of 22 others, as well as to our own; and apply ourselves to those who

seem to be in danger, with such different addresses of awe or tenderness, as their different circumstances and tempers may require. 23 But some way or another, let us exert ourselves to pluck them out of the fire, who are in danger of falling into it, and perishing for

ever.

A care to preserve our own characters and conscience unspotted, will be necessary to our courage, and hope of success, in such 24 efforts as these. Let us therefore be more frequently looking up to him, who is able to keep us from falling, and to improve as well as maintain the work he has wrought in us, till we shall be presented blameless before the presence of his glory. Then shall our hearts know a joy beyond what earth can afford, beyond what heaven itself shall have given us in the separate state; then shall God also rejoice over us, and the joy of our compassionate Saviour be completed, in the seeing the full accomplishment of the travail of his soul. To him who has so wisely formed the scheme, 25 and will faithfully and perfectly accomplish it, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

THE END OF THE FAMILY EXPOSITOR ON THE CATHOLIC
EPISTLE OF ST. JUDE.

THE

FAMILY EXPOSITOR:

OR,

A PARAPHRASE

ON

THE REVELATION OF

ST. JOHN.

WITH

CRITICAL NOTES, AND A PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT OF EACH SECTION.

« PreviousContinue »