A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

First from making the true God an Idol in your thoughts, by forming apprehensions unworthy of the glory of his Essence, Psalm. 50. 21. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether like thy self; Now thus we do when we conceive him of such a mercy as to hold fellowship with one that continueth under the full power of his sins, so weak as not to be able to help in deep extremities, Zech. 8. 6. Of a rigorous and revengeful disposition, as not to pardon injuries and offences, upon submission and repentance, Hos. 11. 8. of a fickle nature, so as to fail in his promises, Numb. 23. 19. Thus 'tis easy to turn the true God into an Idol of our own brains. To remedy this, consider God in his works, and in Christ. In his works, ⟨p. 376⟩Cyril I remember observeth that before the flood, we read of no Idolatry. Aquinas addeth a reason to the observation, because the memory of the Creation was then fresh in their thoughts: Again, look upon God in Christ, you heard before in Levit. 17. if they did not bring their Sacrifice to the Tabernacle, it was called a Sacrifice of Devils; The Tabernacle was a Type of Christ; you make God an Idol▪ when you worship him out of Christ, For the Father will be honoured in the Son▪ John 5. Therefore when ever you go to God, take Christ along with you.

First from making the true God an Idol in your thoughts, by forming apprehensions unworthy of the glory of his Essence, Psalm. 50. 21. Thou thoughtest that I was altogether like thy self; Now thus we do when we conceive him of such a mercy as to hold fellowship with one that continueth under the full power of his sins, so weak as not to be able to help in deep extremities,