A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

3. Profession accompanied with some rash and fond affection to Christ, is not enough to acquit us from denying him. Many in an heat and humour will be ready to die for their God, and yet deny him ordinarily in their lives: as a quarrelling Ruffian will stand up for the honour of his Father, who yet by his debauched courses is the very grief of his heart; it may be he wisheth his death to enjoy the Inheritance, yet if any other should speak a disgraceful word of him, he is up in ⟨p. 238⟩Arms presently, and ready to fight with him▪ So some ••• pretend much affection to their Religion, and are ready to •• him that shall question it, or to venture their own lives in the quarrel; and yet none do this Religion so great a despite and dishonour as they do themselves by their ungodly conversations: The Apostle supposeth that some may give their Bodies to be burned, that have not Charity, 1 Cor. 13. 1. for all this ado is not for their Religion, but their humour: If their Religion were rightly understood, they would not endure it, because it altogether disproveth such practises as they delight in; and all that they do is no more then they would do for an Idol, if they were born there where Idols are worshipped. The Blasphemies of a Pagan, or an open Enemy to Religion, do not touch Christ so near in point of honour, as the scandalous Behaviour of a Christian; when Pagans declaim against him, 'tis but the malice of an enemy; Dogs will bark, 'tis their kind; but your disobedience to his Laws, and unsuitable carriages, doth far more dishonour and represent him as an ulcerous Christ to the world▪ because you pretend so much affection to him, and can live in such a fashion; you would be taken for his greatest friends, and so in effect you make the world believe that he doth approve your Doings.

4. Christ may be denied, though there be a stricter Profession of his Name, and some faint love and relish of his sweetness. Besides the loose National Profession of Christianity, which God in a wise Providence ordaineth for the greater safety and preservation of his Church, there may be a strict personal profession, taken up from inward conviction, and some taste and feeling, and yet Christ may be denied for all this; as some that had tasted the good Word, turned aside to the world, and so are said to crucify him, rather then to profess him,