A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Let all this now persuade you to deny your lusts, rather then to feed or cherish them, to renounce them, and not to walk after them: There are three degrees of this denial: 1. They must be prevented, and kept from rising. 2. Suppressed, and kept from growth. 3. We must not accomplish them, and if they gain consent, keep them from execution: Suitable to which three degrees, there are three duties, 1. Mortification, that we may prevent them. 2. Watchfulness, ⟨p. 475⟩that we may suppress them. 3. Resolution, that we may not accomplish them.

Let all this now perswade you to deny your lusts, rather then to feed or cherish them, to renounce them, and not to walk after them: There are three degrees of this denial: 1. They must be prevented, and kept from rising. 2. Suppressed, and kept from growth. 3. We must not accomplish them, and if they gain consent, keep them from execution: Suitable to which three degrees, there are three duties, 1. Mortification, that we may prevent them. 2. Watchfulness, ⟨p. 475⟩that we may suppress them. 3. Resolution, that we may not accomplish them.

1. To begin with the top and highest degree is to prevent the lust, 1 Pet. 2. 11. Abstain from fleshly lusts, 'tis not enough to abstain from acts of sin, but we must abstain from lusts, yea the root must be deadened, Gal. 5. 24. Crucify the flesh, she is chaste that checketh an unclean solicitation, but she is more worthy praise whose grave carriage forbiddeth all assaults and attempts in that kind, so should we be so mortified as to prevent a temptation, not to have a lust stirring: but because this cannot always be, 2. The next degree is, timely to suppress them, laus est aliqus in secundis stare, to conquer lust when we cannot curb it, and wholly keep it under: Dash Babylons brats against the stone, and take the little foxes, smother it in the conception,