A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

when men live as carnally and carelessly as an Infidel, there is not a pin to choose between them. 6. When men hear the Word, and never make application, or convert it to their own use, 'tis a sign they are under the power of reigning unbelief, in faith there is assent or believing the Word to be the Word of God; or that it is a faithful saying▪ 1 Tim. 1. 15. and then consent or approbation of the Word, as a good word or worthy saying, and then application or converting the Word to our own use; so in unbelief many doubt of the truth of the Word, others acknowledge not the worth of it, they do not glorify the word, Acts 13. 48. most that speaks well of the word and approve it in their consciences, do not urge their own hearts with it▪ What do we say to these things, Rom. 8. 32. and know it for thy good, Job 5. 27. the Word is far sooner approved then applied, and yet till it be applied it worketh not, when we see our selves involved and included in the general promise and precept, and are accordingly affected, then are we sa•d to believe, in Psal. 27. 8. the injunction is plural, seek ye my face; but the answer is singular, thy face Lord will I seek, thus must all truths be applied, and that in their method and order, for there is an Analogy and proportion between them, as the Doctrine of mans misery, that I may consider this is my case, and having a feeling of it may groan for deliverance, the Doctrine of redemption by Christ, that we may put in for a share, and assure our own interest; the Doctrine of the thankful life, that we may deny our selves, take up our cross and follow Christ in the obedience of all his Precepts. The first Doctrine must be made the ground of complaint; the second of comfort •nd hope; the third, of resolution and practise: But when we suffer these truths to hover in the brain without application, or hear them only as children learn them by ⟨p. 267⟩