A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

2. Such Reproaches are most unsuitable to matters of Religion; the God of peace will not be served with a wrathful spirit, and Christs warfare needeth no carnal weapons. Christianity of all Religions is the meekest and most humble; the Foundation of it is the Lamb slain; and the consignation, and sealing of it, is by the Spirit, who descended in the form of a Dove, both emblems of a modest humility; and should a meek Religion be defended by the violence and fury of our passions? Cursing doth ill become them that are called to inherit a blessing, 1 Pet. 3. 9.

2. Such Reproches are most unsuitable to matters of Religion; the God of peace will not be served with a wrathful spirit, and Christs warfare needeth no carnal weapons. Christianity of all Religions is the meekest and most humble; the Foundation of it is the Lamb slain; and the consignation, and sealing of it, is by the Spirit, who descended in the form of a Dove, both emblems of a modest humility; and should a meek Religion be defended by the violence and fury of our passions? Cursing doth ill become them that are called to inherit a blessing, 1 Pet. 3. 9.

3. They are flatly against the word; the Scripture is a great friend to the peace of humane societies, for it condemneth the least offensive word and gesture, Isa. 58. 9. Thou shalt put away from thee the yoke, and the putting forth of the finger; a gesture of indignation, and therefore God would have it laid aside, even the putting forth of the finger, as well as the yoke broken: So see Mat. 5. 22. But I say unto you, whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, is in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say unto his brother Racha, is in danger of the Council: and whosoever shall say thou fool, shall be in danger of Hell fire. The Scribes and Pharisees had restrained the fifth Commandment, to the gross act of murder; Christ telleth them, that rash anger, with all the expressions of it, is murder: His expressions allude to the Courts of the Jews, three there were especially among them; the lowest, the middle, and the highest: There lowest Judicatory was of three men, who took cognizance of lighter matters; as injuries and strifes about goods, and things of a pecuniary concernment: this Court was set up in lesser Towns, that had few inhabitants: The second Court was of three and twenty men, before whom the weightiest causes were brought; concerning the life of a man, all Capital crimes, or if an Ox had gored a man or woman; or in case of any abominable commixtion with a Beast, if a woman approached to a Beast, &c.