A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

First, The Reasons are these. 1. Where there is life ¹there will be growth; and if grace be true, it will surely increase. A painted flower keepeth always at the same pitch and stature; the Artist may bestow beauty upon it, but he cannot bestow life: A painted child will be as little ten years hence as it is now. So a pretence of Religion always keepeth at the same stay; yea when their first heats are spent, they are fearfully blasted: But now they that have true grace are compared to a living plant, which increaseth in bulk and stature, Psal 92. 12, 13. and to a living child, which groweth by receiving kindly nourishment, 1 Pet. 2. 2. Therefore 'tis not enough to get peace and love, but we must get them multiplied.

First, The Reasons are these. 1. Where there is life ¹there will be growth; and if grace be true, it will surely increase. A painted flower keepeth always at the same pitch and stature; the Artist may bestow beauty upon it, but he cannot bestow life: A painted child will be as little ten years hence as it is now. So a pretence of Religion always keepeth at the same stay; yea when their first heats are spent, they are fearfully blasted: But now they that have true grace are compared to a living plant, which increaseth in bulk and stature, Psal 92. 12, 13. and to a living child, which groweth by receiving kindly nourishment, 1 Pet. 2. 2. Therefore 'tis not enough to get peace and love, but we must get them multiplyed.

1. 11. Reasons or Motives.

2. If we do not grow, we go backward, Heb. 6. compare the first with the fourth verse, Let us go on to perfection; and then presently he treateth of Apostasy: We cannot keep that which we have received, if we do not labour to increase it. They that row against the stream, had need ply the oar, lest the force of the waters carry them backward; or as he that goeth up a sandy hill sinketh down if he do not go forward,