A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2. It checketh the impropriating of Grace and Religion, to such an order or sort of Christians, such as was the ambition of former times, as if all religion were confined within a cloister, or wrapped up in a black garment; those were called religious houses, and those the Clergy, or God▪ portion, all other were Lay, and Secular. Oh how far was this from the modesty of the Apostles! Peter calleth the faith of common Christians, like precious faith; and Jude speaketh of a Common Salvation. So the Jews before them, they confined Gods choice to their Nation, they could not endure to hear of salvation among the Gentiles, and of a righteousness that came to all, and upon all that believe: we have an envious ⟨p. 140⟩nature, and would fain impropriate common favours. The Church of Rome would fain bring all the world to their lore, and confine truth and faith and salvation within the precincts of their Synagogue; they seize upon and possess themselves of the Keys of Heaven, to open to whom they please. Now God hath broken down all pales and enclosures, they would fain rear up a new partition wall: Corrupt nature envieth that others should have a fellowship in our privileges, therefore the same spirit still worketh; men do so value their lesser differences, and that distinct way and opinion which they have taken up, as if none could be saved but those of their own party and persuasion: 'tis very natural to us to affix holiness to our own opinions, and to allow none to be good but those that jump with us in all things. There were factions at Corinth, and those that said I am of Christ, were counted a faction too, 1 Cor. 1. 13. as arrogating Christ to themselves, therefore the Apostle writing to them, saith, 1 Cor. 1. 2. To the Saints at Corinth, and all that call on the Lord Jesus Christ, theirs and ours. We are apt to be rigid to those that differ from us, and to be favourable to those that think with us. ^†Tertullian saith of some in his time, Illic ipsum est promereri, 'tis holiness enough to be one of them. Oh let it not be so among the people of God! do not nullify your brethren. Rom. 14. 10