A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. Cautions, 1 Take heed of setting God a task, Psalm 78. 20▪ Can the Lord prepare a Table in the Wilderness, &c. so Matth. 26, 40. if thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross, this is to go beyond the promise, and to indent with God upon conditions of our own making, so Matth. 4. if thou be the Son of God turn these Stones into Bread, so when we prescribe to God in matter of allowance. We would have God maintain us at such a rate, be so fed, so clothed, have so much by the year, such Portions for our Children, he that will be rich, &c. 1 Tim. 6. 9. God never undertook to give us meat for our lusts, when we subject his Providence to our direction, and prescribe what he shall do for our satisfaction, we do but make a snare for our selves. 2. Take heed of betraying faith, by distrusting present means, 'tis an usual thing. Luke 16. If one come from the dead they ⟨p. 270⟩would believe, if we had Oracles or Miracles, or God did speak to us from Heaven as heretofore, then we should not falter in our trust as we now do; but by this excuse you impeach the Scriptures, Moses and the Prophets are a sufficient ground for saith, and extraordinary means will not work on them, upon whom ordinary do not prevail there were weaknesses then, and so there will be, whatsoever Dispensation God use, Man is Man still they believed not though he opened the Clouds, and commanded Manna from Heaven, Ps. 78. 23. 3. Take heed of •ff's in principles of Faith, Foundation stones if laid loose endanger the whole building, take notice of the first hesitancy, Gen. 3. Yea hath God said? So Matth. 4. 3. If thou be the Son of God, &c. there was a plain Oracle from Heaven determining it a little before, Thou art my beloved Son, but the Devil would fain draw it to an IF. 4. Beware of sin, doubts are the fumes of sin, like the vapours that come from a foul stomach, uprightness begetteth serenity and clearness, as in nature there is often a [Greek or Hebrew], a circular generation, vapours beget showers, and showers beget vapours; so in moral and spiritual things, there is such a circular generation, unbelief maketh way for sin, and sin for unbelief, sin will weaken trust, it cannot be otherwise; shame, and horror, and doubt, these are the consequences of sin, God never undertook to bear us out in the Devils work.