A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Again observe, That uniting is a great help to promote the ¹common Salvation: By this means we speak to the absent, & to posterity; and by this means are the Oracles of God preserved in public Records, which otherwise were in danger of being corrupted, if still left to the uncertainty of verbal tradition: By this means are errors more publicly confuted, & a testimony against them transmitted to future ages: Speech is more transient, but writing remaineth; so Christ telleth the Apostles that they should bring forth fruit, and their fruit should remain, John 15. 16. Apostolical Doctrine being committed to writing, remaineth as a constant rule of faith and manners, and by the public Explications of the Church left upon record, we come to understand the Dispensations of God to every age, what measures of light they enjoyed, how the truths of God were opposed, how vindicated; Finally by writing the streams of salvation are conveyed into every family as a common fountain by so many pipes and conveyances▪ that in the defect of public preaching, good supply ⟨p. 136⟩may be had in this kind: Well then, 'tis an acceptable service to the Church, which they do ^*who can handleth pen of the writer, when they send abroad a public testimony against error, a public monument of their affection to the truth, the Goose quill hatl• smote Antichrist under the fifth rib; the Earl of Darby accused Bradford for doing more hurt by his writings then preaching. Hezekiah's servants are commended³ for copying out the Proverbs of Solomon, Prov. 25. 1. They deserve not to be censured, but commended and cherished that do service in this kind; I confess there is no end of Books, pride and ambition may put many upon scribbling, and filling the world with chaffs and vanity, so that there needeth a restraint, rather then an incitement: ^*