A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

3. Observe the first declinings, for these are cause of all the rest, evil is best stopped in the beginning; if when we first began to grow careless, we had taken heed, then it would never have come to this, an heavy body moving downward, vires a•quirit •undo, it gathers strength by running, and still moveth faster and faster, look then to your first breaking off from God, and remitting your watch and spiritual fervour; 'tis easier to crush the egg than to kill the serpent: He that keepeth an house in constant repair, prevents the ruin and fall of it, stop every hole and chink before the mischief spread further.

3. Observe the first declinings, for these are cause of all the rest, evil is best stopped in the beginning; if when we first began to grow careless, we had taken heed, then it would never have come to this, an heavy body moving downward, vires a•quirit •undo, it gathers strength by running, and still moveth faster and faster, look then to your first breaking off from God, and remitting your watch and spiritual fervour; 'tis easier to crush the egg than to kill the serpent: He that keepeth an house in constant repair, prevents the ruine and fall of it, stop every hole and chinck before the mischief spread further.

4. Plead with thy heart, the highest degree of love doth ⟨p. 522⟩not answer the dignity of Christ nor the duty that we owe to him; he is to be loved with all the Soul, and all the heart, and all the might; 'tis a disgrace to him to give him less, surely he looketh to be much loved again who hath loved us so entirely, and translated us out of darkness into marvellous light.

4. Plead with thy heart, the highest degree of love doth ⟨p. 522⟩