A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. Creation, This deserveth love from the creature: The fruit of the Vineyard belongeth to him that planted it; and whom should we love but him that gave us the power to love? ⟨p. 105⟩All that thou hast, all that thou canst see, that thou canst touch, is his gift, and the work of his hands: He gave thee the essence not of a tree, a bird, a beast, but of a man, capable of reason, fit for happiness: God made other creatures by a word of Command, and man by Counsel; 'twas not, Be thou, but, Let us make man, to show that the whole Trinity assisted and joined in consultation: He made other creatures for his glory, but not for his love and service; God is glorified in them passively, as they give us occasion to glorify God; the creatures are the harp, but man maketh the music: All thy works praise thee, and thy Saints bless thee, Psal. 145. 10. How many steps may a Christian ascend in his praise and thanksgiving? We might have been stones, without sense; beasts, and without reason; born infidels, and without faith; We might have continued sinners, and without grace: all these are so many steps of mercy. But Creation is that we are now to speak of, and truly it deserveth a remembrance, especially ^*in youth, when the effects of Gods creating bounty are most fresh in our sense and feeling: We are always to remember our Creator, but then especially: The aches of old serve to put us in mind of our ingratitude; but the strength, and vigour, and freshness of youth, should make us remember the bounty of our Creator. Look upon the body or the soul, and you will see that we have cause to love him. In the body we find as many mercies as there are limbs: If a man should be born blind or lame, or should lose an eye, or an arm, or a leg, how much would he love him that should restore the use of these members again? We are as much bound to love him that gave them to us at first, especially when we consider how often we have deserved to lose them. We would love him that should raise us from the dead: God is the Author of life, and the continual Preserver and Defender of it. If we love our parents that begot us, we should much more love God that made them and us too out of nothing. Take notice of the curious frame of the body; David saith, Psal. 139. 16. I am wonderfully made;