A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

3. On the Spirits part, there is a continued influence so as to maintain the essence and seed of grace: The Fathers love is continued by the merit of Christ, that he may not depart ⟨p. 59⟩from us; and we are preserved by the Spirit of Christ, that we may not depart from him: He doth not only put into our hearts faith, fear, love, and other graces at first; but he maintaineth and keepeth them, that the fire may never go out: Our hearts are his temple, and he doth not love to leave his dwelling place: And besides, in the Economy of Salvation 'tis his Office, to glorify Christ as his Vicegerent, and to be our Comforter; therefore with respect to the honour of Christ, and the comfort of Believers, he preserveth and maintaineth that grace that is once really wrought in our hearts. To preserve the glory of Christ thus, Christ you know hath received a Charge from the Father to lose nothing, John 6. 39. neither body nor soul, nothing that belongeth to an elect person: Now that he may be true to his trust, he sendeth the Spirit as his Deputy or Executor, that his Merit may be fully applied: 'Tis for the honour of Christ, that where ever the work is begun, where ever he hath been an ^*Author, there he may be a Finisher also. 'Twas said of the foolish Builder, that he began, and was not able to make an end: this dishonour can never be cast upon Christ, because of the power and faithfulness of the Spirit; he doth [Greek or Hebrew], Phil. 1. 6. go through with the work which he hath begun; the Spirit is to fit vessels for glory: he doth not use to leave them half carved; he is faithful to Christ; as Christ is to his Father: the Father chooseth the vessel, Christ buyeth them, and the Spirit carveth and fitteth them, that they may be vessels of praise and honour. But this is not all, He preserveth and continueth us in the state of grace as our Comforter; by working grace he puts us into an expectation of glory and happiness; and to make it good, he carrieth on the work without failing; therefore grace is called the first fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 24. and the earnest of the Spirit,