A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

To this end, 1. Believe it, there is a mist upon eternity to a carnal heart, they are led by sense and reason, and believe no more than is evident to a natural principle, but now faith is the evidence of things not seen, Heb. 11. 1. fancy and nature cannot ou•-see time and look beyond death, faith holdeth the candle to hope, and then we have a prospect into the other world, and can see an happy estate to come.

2. Apply it, 'tis a poor, comfortless meditation to think of a blessed hope and the certainty of it, unless we have an interest in these things, an hungry man taketh little pleasure in gazing upon a feast when he tastes not of it; the reprobate hereafter are lookers on, and David speaketh of a table spread for him in the sight of his enemies; hope hath never a more lively influence than when we can make out our own propriety and interest, 1. Job 19. 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth. 2 Cor 5. 1. We know that if this earthly Tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Hence forth there is laid up for me: &c, they do not only believe there is an Heaven, but apply it for me. You will say is hope only the fruit assurance. I answer 'tis the fruit of faith as well as of assurance or experience, but the sense of our interest is very comfortable, and in some sort necessary, before we can hope any thing for our selves, our qualification is to be supposed; in a matter of such moment a man should not be at an uncertainty, canst thou be quiet and not sure of Heaven? not to look after it is a bad sign, a godly man may want it but a godly man cannot slight it: 'Tis possible a man may make an hard shift to creep to Heaven through doubts and fears, and may be ^*scarcely saved, whilst others have an abundant entrance, but then you lose your Heaven upon earth, ⟨p. 533⟩