A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

It presseth us to persevere with the more care; 'tis no¹ unreasonable inference: see 1 John 2. 27, 28. Ye shall abide in him: And now little children, abide in him. Since we have so many advantages of standing, let not us fall away: Oh how great will your sin be, if you should miscarry and dishonour God! We pity a child that falleth, when 'tis not looked after; but when a froward child wresteth and forceth it self out of the arms of the Nurse, we are angry with it. You have more reason to stand then others, being brought into an unchangeable state of grace; being held in the arms of Christ, God will be very angry with your slips and failings: Mercy holdeth you fast, and you seek to wrest your selves out of Mercy's arms: None can sin as you do, with such frowardness, with such dishonour to God; you disparage the Spirits custody, the merit of Christ, and the mercy of the Father. See Heb. 4. 1. Let us therefore fear, a promise being left to us of entering into his Rest, lest any should seem to come short of it. Look as some seem to stand▪ that do not, so some seem to fall utterly that do not: A child of God indeed cannot come short, but he should not seem, that is, give any appearance of coming short: When our religious course is interrupted, and we give way to sin and folly, that's a seeming to come short; and so you bring a scandal upon the love of God, as if it were changeable; upon the merit of Christ, as if it were not a perfect Merit: Scandalous Professors make Arminians; in an age of defection, no wonder if men plead for the Apostasy of the Saints.

It presseth us to persevere with the more care; 'tis no¹ unreasonable inference: see 1 John 2. 27, 28. Ye shall abide in him: And now little children, abide in him. Since we have so many advantages of standing, let not us fall away: Oh how great will your sin be, if you should miscarry and dishonor God! We pity a child that falleth, when 'tis not looked after; but when a froward child wresteth and forceth it self out of the arms of the Nurse, we are angry with it. You have more reason to stand then others, being brought into an unchangeable state of grace; being held in the arms of Christ, God will be very angry with your slips and failings: Mercy holdeth you fast, and you seek to wrest your selves out of Mercy's arms: None can sin as you do, with such frowardness, with such dishonor to God; you disparage the Spirits custody, the merit of Christ, and the mercy of the Father. See