A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2. Christ is denied in Practise; and so 1. By Apostasy, and total Revolt from him; Matth. 10. 33. Whosoever shall deny me before men, &c. None sin as Apostates do; for they do as it were, after Trial, and upon deliberate judgement, acknowledge the Devil the better Master; they first for sook Satan, and then came to Christ, and then they go back again from Christ to Satan; and so do as it were tell the world, that with him is the best service; and therefore it were better they had never known the way of righteousness, &c. 2 Pet. 2. 22. 2. By not professing Christ in evil times, for no• to profess, is to deny: see Matth. 10. 32, 33. and Mark 8. 38. in an age when men prove disloyal in the Duty of the Covenant, called there an Adulterous generation: Some are ashamed for fear of Disgrace, as well as afraid for fear of danger to own Christ, and the ways best pleasing to him, this is to deny him. 3. Men deny Christ, when they profess him, and walk unworthily and dishonourably to their Profession: Actions are the best Image of mens Thoughts; now their Actions give their Profession the Lye; Titus 1. 16. They profess they know God, and in works they deny him. So 1 Tim. 5. 8. If any provide not for his own house, he hath denied the Faith; that is, done an act incompatible with the Christian Faith, of which he maketh profession; which is Interpretative, a denying the Faith. For the more clear opening of this, consider these Propositions.

2. Christ is denyed in Practise; and so 1. By Apostasie, and total Revolt from him; Matth. 10. 33. Whosoever shall deny me before men, &c. None sin as Apostates do; for they do as it were, after Tryal, and upon deliberate judgement, acknowledge the Divel the better Master; they first for sook Sathan, and then came to Christ, and then they go back again from Christ to Sathan; and so do as it were tell the world, that with him is the best service; and therefore it were better they had never known the way of righteousess, &c.