A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

for in allusion to mans judgment, he showeth, that though there be degrees in the sin, and will be in the punishment, yet the whole kind is very displeasing to the Lord.

for in allusion to mans judgment, he sheweth, that though there be degrees in the sin, and will be in the punishment, yet the whole kind is very displeasing to the Lord.

4. Because Reproaches have an influence, and do exasperate rather then convince: The Dog that followeth the game with barking and bawling, loseth the prey; and there is not a more likely way to undermine the truth, then an unseemly defence of it: Satan is mightily gratified (if men had eyes to see it) with the ill managing of Gods cause.

4. Because Reproches have an influence, and do exasperate rather then convince: The Dog that followeth the game with barking and bawling, loseth the prey; and there is not a more likely way to undermine the truth, then an unseemly defence of it: Satan is mightily gratified (if men had eyes to see it) with the ill managing of Gods cause.

First it serveth for Information, to show us the vanity of ¹those excuses by which men would disguise their wrath and passion; What will you plead, I am in the right way, 'tis Gods cause. Answ. Passion is blind, and cannot judge, James 1. 20. The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God; the wrong way may be usually descried by the excesses and violences of those that are engaged in it: if we be in the right, extremities and furies of passion, are not lawful, our religious affections may over-set us; when Religion which should limit us, is made a party to engage them; 'tis hard to keep bounds; a stone the higher the place from whence it falleth, giveth the more dangerous blow; so the higher the matter about which we contend: usually our Anger falleth with the more violence, and is the more unmortified, because of the pretence of zeal: if the erring parties offend through ignorance, remember a bone out of joint must