A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Well then, watch the more earnestly against the decays and abatements of love; leaving our first love is a disease not only incident to Hypocrites, but sometimes to Gods own children▪ Christians go backward in the heat and light of their graces ten degrees, either through the badness of the times, Mat. 24. 12. or through a cursed •a•i•ty that is apt to creep upon us, aff•ctions are deadened to things to which we are accustomed; the Israelites cried out nothing but this Manna, our desires are not so fresh and lively▪ after long acquaintance: Sometimes it cometh from negligence, or a sluggish carelessness, we do not take pains to keep graces alive, nor [Greek or Hebrew], stir up the gift that is in us, 2 Tim. 1. 6. as the Priests in the Temple were to keep in the holy fire, so are we by prayers, and meditation, and constant wo•k, to keep our love al•ve; but when these exercises are neglected, it decreaseth: Sometimes it falleth out through freeness in sinning; neglect is like not blowing up the coals, sinning is like pouring on waters, a very quenching of the spirit, 1 Thes▪ 5. 13. Again, through secure dalliance with the pleasures of sin, or cumbering the soul with the cares of the world▪ when the heart runneth out too much upon the creature God is neglected; Thus it may fall out.

Well then, watch the more earnestly against the decays and abatements of love; leaving our first love is a disease not only incident to Hypocri•es, but sometimes to Gods own children▪ Christians go backward in the heat and light of their graces ten degrees, either through the badness of the times, Mat. 24. 12