A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

So much briefly for the vindication of this Doctrine.

4. Let me now apply it. 1. Let the Elect so much the more admire Gods love to them, because that some are passed by, your mercies are not every ones mercies; Gods aim herein was, to commend his mercy to the Vessels of mercy, Rom. 9. 23. If he had passed us by, we could not have blamed his love; if he had punished us eternally, we could not have blamed his justice; consider God hath as much interest in them as in you. All souls are mine saith the Lord, Ezek. 18. 4. he was their Creator as well as yours, and we are all in our blood involved in the same condemnation; he saw as much of original sin in you as in them, we lay in the same polluted Mass: Oh that free grace should make such a difference! He had as much reason to choose Judas and Simon Magus as you; was not Esau Jacobs Brother? Mal. 1. 2. in all points alike, but only in Gods choice, when men choose 'tis for worth, who would choose crooked timber to make Vessels of honour? yet thus doth the Lord single out the worst and most depraved natures, to form them into a people for himself; how sensibly many times did God make a distinction between you and others in the same Ordinance: One is taken and another left, and one is taken to grace, and another left to perish in his own ways, others it may be were hardened by the same Sermon by which you were converted! Oh how ravishing is the sight of Gods love in election, and the distinct courses of his providence!

4. Let me now apply it. 1. Let the Elect so much the more admire Gods love to them, because that some are passed by, your mercies are not every ones mercies; Gods ayme herein was, to commend his mercy to the Vessels of mercy, Rom. 9. 23. If he had passed us by, we could not have blamed his love; if he had punished us eternally, we could not have blamed his justice; consider God hath as much interest in them as in you. All souls are mine saith the Lord,