A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

that's an evidence of spiritual affection: Carnal men wish such things to others, as they prize and affect themselves; so also do gracious men; and therefore their thoughts run more upon mercy, peace and grace, then wealth and honour and greatness. When a man sendeth a token to a friend, he would send the best of the kind: These are the best mercies; if you were to deal with God for your own Souls, you can ask no better: You may ask temporal things, for God loveth the prosperity of his Saints; but these special blessings should have the preferment in your wishes and desires of good to them, and then you are most likely to speed. Our Lord Christ in the 17 of John, commendeth the College of the Apostles to the Father; and what doth he ask for him? dominion and worldly respect? Surely no, nothing but preservation from evil, and sanctification by the Truth; these are the chiefest Blessings we should look after as Christians.

that's an evidence of spiritual affection: Carnal men wish such things to others, as they prize and affect themselves; so also do gracious men; and therefore their thoughts run more upon mercy, peace and grace, then wealth and honour and greatness. When a man sendeth a token to a friend, he would send the best of the kind: These are the best mercies; if you were to deal with God for your own Souls, you can ask no better: You may ask temporal things, for God loveth the prosperity of his Saints; but these special blessings should have the preferment in your wishes and desires of good to them, and then you are most likely to speed. Our Lord Christ in the 17 of John, commendeth the Colledg of the Apostles to the Father; and what doth he ask for him? dominion and worldly respect? Surely no, nothing but preservation from evil, and sanctification by the Truth; these are the chiefest Blessings we should look after as Christians.

Observe again the aptness of the requests to the persons¹ for whom he prayeth, Those that are sanctified and called have still need of mercy, peace and love. They need mercy, because we merit nothing of God, neither before grace received, nor afterward: the very continuance of our glory in Heaven is a fruit of mercy, not of merit; our obligation to free-grace never ceaseth. We need also more peace: there are degrees in assurance as well as faith; there is a temperate confidence, and there are ravishing delights, so that peace needs to be multiplied also. And then love, that being a grace in us, 'tis always in progress; in Heaven only 'tis complete: Take it for love to God, there we cleave to him without distraction and