A godly and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Jude, containing threescore and…A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and…

IN these words the Apostle setteth down the seventh sin of these seducers: to know the meaning whereof the better, consider four things: first, what is meant by feasts of love and charity. Ans. In the Primitive Church it was a custom and manner to have a feast before the Lords Supper, made by the Communicants; unto which some brought honey, some bread, some wine, some milk, and every one according to their ability contributing something thereunto. These were here meant and called Love-feasts, because they were herein to testify their mutual love among themselves; as also to the poor, who hereby were relieved; and to the Ministry it self, which was by these feasts partly sustained. Secondly, what is meant where these seducers are called spots in these feasts, or rocks; for the word signifieth either, and more properly the latter; they are rocks, because as rocks are perceived a far off by the seafaring men: even so the infection of these wicked men spreads it self very far: and again, as rocks are dangerous and troublesome to them; so are these as rocks and stumbling blocks to the weak, hindering them from the profitable progress in godliness: they are also rightly called spots, because as a spot defaceth the countenance; so their presence is an eye sore & a disgrace unto these Love-feasts. The third thing is the cause why they are thus called: that is, because in these Love-feasts they feed themselves: for laying aside all care of the poor, & of the Ministry, for whose sake this contribution was made, they pampered and fed themselves, riotously wasting the goods of the Church. The fourth is the cause of this their riot [without fear] that is, because they have cast off the fear of God and man. In these words therefore the Apostle chargeth these false teachers not only with intemperance in general, but also with a special kind of riot in misspending and ⟨p. 101⟩wasting the contribution pertaining to the poor's maintenance, and the sustaining of the Ministry.

IN these words the Apostle setteth downe the seuenth sin of these seducers: to know the meaning whereof the better, consider foure things: first, what is meant by feasts of loue and charitie. Ans. In the Primitiue Church it was a custome and manner to haue a feast before the Lords Supper, made by the Communicants; vnto which some brought hony, some bread, some wine, some milke, and euery one according to their abilitie contributing somthing thereunto. These were here meant and called Loue-feasts, because they were herein to testifie their mutuall loue among themselues; as also to the poore, who hereby were relieued; and to the Ministerie it selfe, which was by these feasts partly sustained. Secondly, what is meant where these seducers are called spots in these feasts, or rocks; for the word signifieth either, and more properly the latter; they are rocks, because as rocks are perceiued a farre off by the seafaring men: euen so the infection of these wicked men spreads it selfe very farre: and againe, as rockes are dangerous and troublesome to them; so are these as rockes and stumbling blockes to the weake, hindring them from the profitable progresse in godlines: they are also rightly called spots, because as a spot defaceth the countenance; so their presence is an eye sore & a disgrace vnto these Loue-feasts. The third thing is the cause why they are thus called: that is, because in these Loue-feasts they feede themselues: for laying aside all care of the poore, & of the Ministrie, for whose sake this contribution was made, they pampered and fed themselues, riotously wasting the goods of the Church. The fourth is the cause of this their riot [without feare] that is, because they haue cast off the feare of God and man. In these words therefore the Apostle chargeth these false teachers not only with intemperance in generall, but also with a special kind of riot in mispending and