A89503:423
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.
First, Do you grow more careless and neglectful of duties, as if now there were not so much required of you? The Gospel never taught you that; but your own corrupt hearts; 'tis true, the more Christ is preached, the more Evangelical a man is in his duties; his heart is taken off more ⟨p. 219⟩from resting in them, he doth not pitch his hopes upon the tale of number of his duties, and he doth not perform them out of bondage, but more clearly, knowingly, comfortably, as upon Gospel grounds; but still he will be performing: as knowing that duties can never have too much of our care, and too little of our trust: in the Gospel we have more help, therefore in all reason we should perform more work: well then to grow more lazy, and less frequent in the worship of God, and the use of the means of grace: the more we are acquainted with Gods grace in Christ, is to abuse grace, which was given us to make us more cheerful, not more slack and negligent.
First, Do you grow more careless and neglectful of duties, as if now there were not so much required of you? The Gospel never taught you that; but your own corrupt hearts; 'tis true, the more Christ is preached, the more Evangelical a man is in his duties; his heart is taken off more ⟨p. 219⟩from resting in them, he doth not pitch his hopes upon the tale of number of his duties, and he doth not perform them out of bondage, but more clearly, knowingly, comfortablely, as upon Gospel grounds; but still he will be performing: as knowing that duties can never have too much of our care, and too little of our trust: in the Gospel we have more help, therefore in all reason we should perform more work: well then to grow more lazy, and less frequent in the worship of God, and the use of the means of grace: the more we are acquainted with Gods grace in Christ, is to abuse grace, which was given us to make us more chearful, not more slack and negligent.
Secondly, Less circumspect and wary in your conversations, loose walking is an ill sign: Christ himself taught us, To enter in at the strait gate, and to walk in the narrow way,