A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. Delivered^*, not invented; 'tis not the fruit of fancy ²or humane devising, but hath its original from God; 'twas delivered by him to holy men chosen for that purpose, and by them delivered, by word of mouth to the men of that age wherein they lived, and by writing for the use of after ages: and delivered to be kept; 'tis a sacred Depositum which God hath put into the hands of the Church: Keep that which is committed to thy trust, 1▪ Tim. 6. 20. and to them were committed the Oracles of God, Rom. 3. 2. I shall observe, ⟨p. 147⟩1. The Mercy of God in delivering this Faith or Rule of Salvation. 2. The Duty of the Church concerning it.

1. *Quod tibi creditū non a te intentum quod accepisti non excogitasti. Vinc. Lyr. Mensis.Quod tibi creditū non a te intentum quod accepisti non excogitasti. Vinc. Lyr. Mensis.
2. 21.

1. The Mercy of God in delivering this faith to chosen men, ¹that by their means the world might come to the knowledge of it. The doctrine of Salvation first came out from God, and then was conveyed to us by the hands of holy men; we are not sensible enough of the privilege: Psal. 147. 19, 20. He showeth his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and Judgments unto Israel, he hath not dealt so with any Nation, &c. 'Tis not a common mercy, for many Nations want it; nor no casual thing: in the primitive times not only the doctrine of the Apostles was directed and ordered by the Holy Ghost, but also their journeys; the Gospel came not to them by chance, but as a special gift from Heaven. But that we may be more sensible of the Privilege, I shall show you, 1. The Benefit of the Word: By it Gods heart is opened to us, and our own hearts to our selves; by it we are acquainted with the way of Salvation, and come to understand the courses of the Lords Justice and Mercy, and in what manner he will govern and rule the World, which are altogether unknown to them that have not such a Revelation delivered to them. We should never have known the cause of our misery, our fall in Adam, nor the means of our Recovery, Redemption by Jesus Christ, if they had not been delivered to us in this doctrine and rule of faith; we should never have known how to worship God, or enjoy God. If carnal men should have a liberty to let Nature work, and set down a Divinity of their own, what a goodly Religion should we have in the World? a very comely Chimaera no doubt? For practicals it would be large enough I am sure, for natural conscience hateth fetters and restraints; in doctrinals it would be absurd enough: Man can never take a right draught and image of God; Who can empty an Ocean with a Cocklesh ll? And since the Fall we are grown quite brutish; our conceits are not so monstrous in any thing as in the Worship of God. The Pagan Philosophers, that were most profound in the researches and enquiries of Reason, they sate abroad, and thought of hatching an excellent Religion; but what was the issue? Professing