A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

3. Those that have made profession of Love to God, and yet afterwards break with him, bring an ill report upon the Lord, as if he were an ill Master: I am persuaded that the Devil in policy lets many men alone for a while to make a strict profession, and seem to be full of zeal and holiness, that they may afterwards do Religion a mischief, whilst they act for God though they do some things excellently, Satan never troubleth them, he is at truce with them, till they have gotten a name for the profession of Godliness and strictness of conversation, and when once they have gotten a name, their fall will be more scandalous, more ignominious to themselves, and disgraceful to Religion, verily this is a common experience, we see many forward; hot and carried out with great impulsions of zeal, and all this while Satan lets them alone, he knoweth how mutable men are, and how soon they begin to tire in the ways of God, therefore lets them alone till they have run themselves out of breath, that afterward by a more notable defection they may shame themselves and harden others: If Judas will be a Disciple he lets him alone, if Simon Magus will be baptized and Nicholas bear Office in the Church he lets them alone, he knoweth the best are mutable, that many take up their Religion out of interest, that men are soon weary of their own scrupulousness and rigid observances, that they first make Conscience of all things and ⟨p. 518⟩then of nothing, and therefore he lets them go on without any notable defect or failing, to fly some youthful lusts, to renounce some interests, till they have gotten credit enough to discredit Religion▪ see 2 Tim. 2. 18. Oh Christians, if you are not moved with respect to God, yet for your own cause, after a blaze will you go one in a stench? an house begun and not finished is an habitation for screech Owls; but on the contrary, what an honour is it to hold out to the last to be like Mnason an old Disciple?

3. Those that have made profession of Love to God, and yet afterwards break with him, bring an ill report upon the Lord, as if he were an ill Master: I am perswaded that the Divel in policy lets many men alone for a while to make a strict profession, and seem to be full of zeal and holiness, that they may afterwards do Religion a mischief, whilest they act for God though they do some things excellently, Sathan never troubleth them, he is at truce with them, till they have gotten a name for the profession of Godliness and strictness of conversation, and when once they have gotten a name, their fall will be more scandalous, more ignominious to themselves, and disgraceful to Religion, verily this is a common experience, we see many forward; hot and carried out with great impulsions of zeal, and all this while Sathan lets them alone, he knoweth how mutable men are, and how soon they begin to tire in the ways of God, therefore lets them alone till they have run themselves out of breath, that afterward by a more notable defection they may shame themselves and harden others: If Judas will be a Disciple he lets him alone, if Simon Magus will be baptized and Nicholas bear Office in the Church he lets them alone, he knoweth the best are mutable, that many take up their Religion out of interest, that men are soon weary of their own scrupulousness and rigid observances, that they first make Conscience of all things and