A89503:312
A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude
A practical commentary, or An exposition with notes on the Epistle of Jude. Delivered (for the most part) in sundry weekly lectures at Stoke-Newington in Middlesex. By Thomas Manton, B.D. and minister of Covent-Garden.
London: printed by J.M. for Luke Fawn, 1658
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
It presseth us to this earnestness of contention and zeal1 ⟨p. 162⟩for the truths of God: We live in a frozen age, and cursed indifferency hath done a great deal of mischief. Christians! Is Error grown less dangerous? or the truth of Religion more doubtful? Is there nothing certain and worth contention? or are we afraid to meddle with such as shrewd themselves under the glorious name of Saints? We will not oppose Saints, and so let the Truth go that was given to the Saints, to be kept by them: Oh my Brethren, Paul withstood Peter to the face, when Truth was like to suffer, Gal. 2. 11. So should we withstand them to the face rather then make such sad work for the next age, and leave our poor babes to the danger of error and seduction. What's become of our zeal? There is none valiant for the Truth upon the Earth: Prejudices and interests blind men so that they cannot see what they see, and are afraid to be zealous lest they should be accounted bitter. We have been jangling about discipline, and now doctrine it self is like to escape us. In the Name of God let us look about us; Are there not crafty Thieves abroad that would steal away our best treasure? and in the midst of the scuffle cheat us and our posterity of the Gospel it self? We have been railing at one another for lesser differences, and now we begin to be ashamed of it: Satan hopeth that Error and Blasphemy it self shall go scot-free. Ah my Brethren, 'tis time to awake out of sleep; whilst we have slept the Enemy hath come and sown tares: What a tattered Religion shall we transmit to ages to come, if there be not a timely remedy? To help you I shall show,
It presseth us to this earnestness of contention and zeal1 ⟨p. 162⟩for the truths of God: We live in a frozen age, and cursed indifferency hath done a great deal of mischief. Christians! Is Error grown less dangerous? or the truth of Religion more doubtful? Is there nothing certain and worth contention? or are we afraid to meddle with such as shrewd themselves under the glorious name of Saints? We will not oppose Saints, and so let the Truth go that was given to the Saints, to be kept by them: Oh my Brethren, Paul withstood Peter to the face, when Truth was like to suffer,