ungodly committed, 351 ii. Jude These 16 The apostles warned them that such persons should come : mong them, of all among them, of all their impious works which SECT. their ungodly deeds they have impiously committed; and he will which they have then be mindful, not only of their cruel and and of all their hard oppressive acts, but of all the hard and irrelig- 15 speeches which un- ious things which impious sinners have spoken godly sinners have spoken against him. against him and his people: and certain it is, that these words are as suitable to their case as 16 These are mur. if it had been particularly intended. murers, complain- are murmurers, that can never be contented ers, walking after their own lusts; and with the allotments of Providence, or with the their mouth speak. conduct of any about them; that find fault eth great swelling continually with their lot, walking according to words, having men's their own unbridled lusts; and their mouth persons in admiration because of ad. speaks extravagant things 8 some, by way of vantage. exclamation against those they disapprove, and others in the height of encomiums and penegyrics, 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 re17 But, beloved, ward of their servile flattery. But you, my be- 17 remember ye the loved, instead of following these wandering spoken before of the guides, remember the words which were formerapostles of our Lord ly spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Jesus Christ; Christ, who have preached his gospel to you 18 How that they in all its purity and energy. For they have 18 told you there should told you, that in the last time profane mockers last time, who should shall come, walking according to their own unwalk after their own godly and wanton lusts, and making a jest of ungodly lusts. those who do not run with them to the same 19 These be they excesses of riot. These are they, who, in many 19 who separate them- places separate themselves from the church, as words which were be mockers in the of a purer stamp, and more refined attainments than others; sensual, and entirely addicted to & Extravagant things] So I think to think, that St. Jude had the text in Ugo may very probably be rendered; Peter before him, and omitted what bath and if we may judge of extravagant a peculiar reference to the former part of things, by those which Irenæus in particu- St. Peter's epistle, and to which there lar has recorded in his account of some was nothing in his own to answer. early heretics, the expression was applied his Discourses on Proph p. 193, 5th Edit. with the utmost propriety See the same Ungodly lusts] For arcuar, ungodly, phrase Dan. xi. 36, in the Seventy Wit- some would read arenguwv, lascivious, or sius 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 i See wanton. See Phil Lips against Collins, p. 73 But as this reading is not absolutely necessary to the sense, I cannot persuade myself to alter the word merely on conjecture. 352 They were therefore to keep themselves in the love of God: SECT. Which they make it too apparent, that they have selves, sensual, hayii. not the Spirit, whatever high pretences they ing not the Spirit. may make to its extraordinary communications. 20 Jude But I have the pleasing persuasion, that you, 20 But ye, beloved, my beloved brethren, will not only guard against building up your being seduced by them, but, according to the selves on your most holy faith, praying exhortations so often given you, will still in the Holy Ghost, be edifying yourselves and one another, in your most holy faith; that understanding its articles more clearly, and feeling their happy efficacy to promote the work of holiness 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 life. 21 And be careful thus to keep yourselves in the 21 Keep yourselves exercise of that sacred affection, the loveofGod, in the love of God, which ought always to rule in your hearts; looking for the merlooking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Christ unto eternal to eternal life, to which this compassionate life. Saviour will assuredly conduct all those who confide in him. 22 have 22 And of some compassion, a differ making ence : And while you are yourselves animated with this cheerful hope, do your utmost for the preservation of others; and in this respect, on some have tender compassion, and apply to them with the softest and most endearing offices of Christian friendship; making a great difference between 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 unkind appearance, but it is most certain, there save with fear, pulling them out of the are some, whom if you would save at all, you are; hating even the must attempt it with fear and trembling, by garment spotted by severe methods; as alarmed yourselves, and the flesh. 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 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 to him they are accordingly commended. 353 24 Now unto him of it you yourselves be polluted. I am sen- SECT. that is able to keep sible, this will require strenuous vigilance and ii. you from falling, and to present you fault- resolution; but I hope the grace of God will Jude less before the pres- animate you to it. To this therefore now I ence of his glory solemnly commit you; even to him who is able with exceeding joy, to keep you from falling: rugged and danger 24 ous as the ways of life are, and feeble as you know yourselves to be, he is able at length to present [you] blameless, and in the full perfection of holiness, before the presence of his glory, in his final appearance, with exceeding great 25 To the only and unutterable joy. To him, as the only wise 25 wise God our Sav- God, who is now become our Saviour, our Guariour be glory and majesty, dominion and dian, our Friend, and our Father, [be] glory power, both now and and majesty, dominion and power, ascribed; and obedience, reverence, and love rendered, through Christ Jesus, both now and through all ages, world without end. Amen. ever. Amen. IMPROVEMENT. . LET those, who have the honour of being numbered among verse 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 hori. 12,13 zon be secured from those dark and gloomy clouds without water; 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, with 14 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, 17 let us remember the words of the apostle, and implore the influences of the Divine Spirit, which sensualists, who walk after their own lusts, quench and stifle, and which they mock and de- 18,19 ride. Let us, however, be concerned to edify ourselves in our mast holy faith, and to pray in the Holy Ghost, under his influence, 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. 354 ii. verse Reflections on our obligation to faith, and the love of God. SECT 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 how soon does the celestial flame languish 20 and die, if it be not constantly fed with new fuel! Let it then be 21 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 Christ unto eternal life; for what can so powerfully excite our love to God, as such a consideration? If we do expect it, let us express our regard to the salvation of 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 23 require, 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. 22 A care to preserve our own characters and consciences unspotted, will be necessary to our courage, and hope of success, in 24 such 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, and will faithfully and perfectly accomplish 25 it, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for Amen. ever. The END of the FAMILY EXPOSITOR on the CATHolic Epistle of ST. JUDE. |