A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Well then, 1. Let this encourage us to wait with hope, notwithstanding infirmities as well as afflictions; what a good master do we serve? he hath provided comforts not only against our misery, but against our unworthiness, not only glory as a reward, but mercy as the cause of it, that we may take glory out of the •ands of mercy; he looked upon us not only as liable to suffering but sinning, and therefore ⟨p. 535⟩as he hath provided life and safety for us, so upon terms of grace.

Well then, 1. Let this encourage us to wait with hope, notwithstanding infirmities as well as affictions; what a good master do we serve? he hath provided comforts not only against our misery, but against our unworthiness, not only glory as a reward, but mercy as the cause of it, that we may take glory out of the •ands of mercy; he looked upon us not only as liable to suffering but sinning, and therefore ⟨p. 535⟩as he hath provided life and safety for us, so upon tearms of grace.

2. It showeth us how we should ascribe all to mercy, from the beginning to the end of our salvation: we were taken into a state of grace at first out of mere mercy, 1 Tim. 1. 13. [Greek or Hebrew], I was all to be mercy'd, Tit. 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us: he doth not barely say, not for our works, but not for our works, [Greek or Hebrew], not for our best works, those works of righteousness which might be supposed to be foreseen as done by us: so also when we are taken into a state of glory, 'tis still mercy, we can merit no more after grace then before,