A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

It exhorteth us to use this encouragement to bring our¹ Souls into the presence of God: Think of the mercies of God; The vile abuse of this doctrine hath brought a suspicion and prejudice upon it: but children must not refuse their bread because dogs catch at it. When B•n•adad was dejected, and in danger not only of losing his Kingdom, but his life, his servants comforted him with this fame, 1 Kings 20. 31. We have heard that the Kings of Israel are merciful Kings. You have heard how the God of Israel delighteth in mercy: When you come for mercy, you speak to his very bowels. You shall read in 2 Sam. 14. 1. that when Joab perceived the Kings heart was to Absalom, then he setteth the ⟨p. 84⟩woman of Tec•ah a begging: The Kings heart is to show mercy; he hath ^*sworn, that he hath no pleasure in his destruction; therefore take courage and come to him: He hath sent Christ to you, as a pledge of his good-will and mercy, why will you not come to him? He that had Love enough to give us Christ, hath Bowels enough to give us Pardon, and Bounty enough to give us Heaven, and what ever we stand in need of: Fear not his Justice, ^*Justice and Mercy are made friends, Christ hath taken up the quarrel between them, so that nothing hindereth but that God may act according to the natural inclination of his own grace. And let not the multitude of your sins discourage you; The free gift is of many offences to Justification, Rom. 5. 16. Take it for the offences of many persons (as the Context seemeth to carry it) and 'tis an encouragement to think of the multiplied instances of Mercy, and how many monuments of free-grace we shall see when we come to Heaven, and that all this while Mercy is not tired. Or take it for the many offences of the same person, and still 'tis an encouragement, that Mercy can so often bear with our vanity and folly, and not only pardon several sorts of sin, but frequent relapses into the same sin; He will multiply to pardon,