A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2 Do not blame the Ministry, and dispensation of the Gospel, because some abuse Free grace, others cannot endure to hear it preached; but children must not be kept from their bread, because Dogs catch at it; because some are drunk with wine, and others eat to excess, shall the hungry man want his food? Shall hungry consciences lose their portion for others abuse? No, no, if carnal men serve their lusts of these truths, we cannot help it, we are not in the place of God; we can only deliver the Doctrine, we cannot give them gracious hearts to improve it. The Papists will not let the people have the Scriptures upon this reason, for fear of abuses; and Gardiner would not have this gap of free Grace opened to the people▪ &c. The Devil hath ever maligned a Gospel dispensation: Let not us withhold the truth for fear of inconvenience: Let us look to our commission, preach the Gospel to every creature, if men abuse it we are clear, their destruction is just, as the Apostle speaketh to this very case, Rom. 3. 8. Some slanderously report that we say, let us do evil that good may come thereof, whose damnation is just: some gave out that Paul taught that they might sin freely, that God might have the more glory in pardoning, their damnation is just, if they went away with such a vile conceit (saith he) they learned it not from me. Musculus complaineth in one of his books, that no place was so profane and irreligious ⟨p. 210⟩as those where the Gospel had been preached; and ^*Contzen a Jesuit, citing this passage, crieth out, See the fruit of Protestantism, and their Gospel preaching; many are of his spirit, do even hate the publication of the doctrine, of Grace, as if these were the cause of mens miscarriage: If men abuse the truth we cannot help it, however visible mistakes must be prevented, lest men go away with a Scorpion instead of Fish, and a stone instead of Bread.

2 Doe not blame the Ministry, and dispensation of the Gospel, because some abuse Free grace, others cannot endure to hear it preached; but children must not be kept from their bread, because Doggs catch at it; because some are drunk with wine, and others eat to excesse, shall the hungry man want his food? Shall hungry consciences lose their portion for others abuse? No, no, if carnal men serve their lusts of these truths, we cannot help it, we are not in the place of God; we can onely deliver the Doctrine, we cannot give them gracious hearts to improve it. The Papists will not let the people have the Scriptures upon this reason, for fear of abuses; and Gardiner would not have this gap of free Grace opened to the people &c. The Devill hath ever maligned a Gospel dispensation: Let not us withhold the truth for fear of inconvenience: Let us look to our commission, preach the Gospel to every creature, if men abuse it we are clear, their destruction is just, as the Apostle speaketh to this very case,