A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. No sin doth dishonour God so much as unbelief doth, 'tis¹ an interpretative blasphemy. a calling into question of his mercy, power, justice, but especially of his truth; 1 John 5. 10. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar; You judge him a person not fit to be credited; the giving of the lye is accounted the greatest injury and disgrace amongst men; for truth is the ground of commerce and humane society: So that to say a man is a liar, is as much as to say a man is unfit to keep company with men: But especially is this a great injury to God, because he standeth more upon his word, then upon any other part of his name, Psal. 138. 2. He hath magnified his word above all his Name: We have more experience of God in making good his word, then in any other thing. As faith honoureth God, so doth unbelief dishonour him; what God doth to the creature, that doth faith to God; God justifieth, sanctifieth, glorifieth the creature, and faith is said to justify God, Luke 7. 29. To justify, is to acquit from accusation; So doth faith acquit Gods truth in the word, from all the jealousies which the carnal world, and our carnal hearts do cast upon him. Faith is said to sanctify God, Numb. 20. 12. To sanctify, is to set a part from common use; and God is sanctified when we set God aloof, above all ordinary and common causes, and can believe that he will make good his word, when the course of all things seems to contradict it. Faith is said to glorify God, Rom. 4. 20. We glorify him declaratively, when we give him all that excellency which the word giveth ⟨p. 254⟩him: Now because unbelief accuseth God, limiteth him to the course of second causes, and denieth him his glory, therefore is it so heinous and hateful to God.

1. No sin doth dishonour God so much as unbelief doth, 'tis¹