A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

I have now done with the first part of the occasion, his earnestness in promoting their good. I now come to the second part, the urgency of the present necessity [it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you,] which is said to show that this Epistle was not only occasioned by the fervency of his own bone, but the present exigence and necessity as affairs then stood; the School of Simon, the Gnostics, and divers other heretics of a like loose strain and libertine spirit, sought to withdraw and alienate them from the truth, for that was the necessity here expressed, as appeareth by the next verse; Exhortations the more necessary, the more pressing; need quickens both writer and reader, and the less arbitrary things are, the more throughly we go about them.

I have now done with the first part of the occasion, his earnestness in promoting their good. I now come to the second part, the urgency of the present necessity [it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you,] which is said to shew that this Epistle was not only occasioned by the fervency of his own bone, but the present exigence and necessity as affairs then stood; the School of Simon, the Gnosticks, and divers other hereticks of a like loose strain and libertine spirit, sought to withdraw and alienate them from the truth, for that was the necessity here expressed, as appeareth by the next verse; Exhortations the more necessary, the more pressing; need quickens both writer and reader, and the less arbitrary things are, the more throughly we goe about them.

Observe from hence, That necessity is a time for duty; ¹necessity is Gods season to work, and therefore it should be ours; For a season (if need be) ye are in heaviness, 1 Pet. 1. 6. Duties are best done, when we see they are needful and necessary; things that are arbitrary are done with a loose ⟨p. 142⟩heart; the creatures duties towards God begins at the sense of their own wants.