A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2. Let me show you the influence it hath upon perseverance. 1. It sets us a work to purge out sin, 1 John 3. 3. Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself as Christ is pure; the things that we look for are holy, 'tis a great part of our portion in Heaven, to be free from sin, and to be Consorts of the immaculate Lamb; can we hope for these things and cherish worldly lusts? if we did we look for a sensual Paradise, then we might indulge our lusts without any defiance of our hopes: but we look for a pure and holy as well as a glorious and blessed estate, and therefore we should begin to purify our selves.

2. Let me shew you the influence it hath upon perseverance. 1. It sets us a work to purge out sin, 1 John 3. 3. Every one that hath this hope purifi•th himself as Christ is pure; the things that we look for are holy, 'tis a great part of our portion in Heaven, to be free from sin, and to be Consorts of the immaculate Lamb; can we hope for these things and cherish wotldly lusts? if we did we look for a sensual Paradise, then we might indulge our lusts without any defyance of our hopes: but we look for a pure and holy as well as a glorious and blessed estate, and therefore we should begin to purifie our selves.

2. It withdraweth our hearts from present things, Phil. 2. 20. Our conversation is in Heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour; a man that hath been looking upon the sun, findeth his eyes dazzled that he cannot behold an object less glorious, the oftener we look within this veil, the more is the glory of the world obscured; Abraham lived as a stranger in the promised land, why? because he looked for a City &c. H•b. 11. 9, 10 deny deadly lusts (saith the Apostle) looking for the blessed hope,