A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Having made this way, I come to the Observations: And¹ in the first place observe, That truth is usually slandered out of ignorance, because men do not understand the ways and things of God, therefore they do condemn them: in the Apostles days, the Doctrine of the Cross was accounted foolishness by those that knew least of it; and afterward the Christian Religion was condemned, because it could not be heard; Simul ac desinunt ignorare, desinunt odisse, so Tertullian in Apol. when they knew it, they could not hate it: 'tis the Devils cunning to keep us at a distance from truths, and therefore burdeneth them with prejudices, that we may suspect rather then search; and condemn that out of ignorance, and upon vulgar clamour, which upon knowledge, we could not choose but love and profess: and 'tis mans perverseness, and pride, to speak evil of things above his reach, and to disprove that which they have not attained unto or cannot understand: Nazianzen speaks of some ignorant people that condemned learning, because they had not the happiness to attain to it [Greek or Hebrew], saith he, Orat. 20. that their own deficiency being the more common, might be less odious; or to instance in an higher case, Papists and carnal men, scoff at imputed righteousness, assurance or salvation, and the testimony of the spirit, because they are things they are utterly unacquainted with: Well then, when we declaim against things, we should speak out ⟨p. 396⟩of advised knowledge, not rash zeal, See John 3. 11. We speak that which we know and testify, that which we have seen: zeal, as it must have a right aim, so a solid ground, to proceed upon: 'tis a vain thing to begin at the affections, and to hate before we know, Prov. 18. 13. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is a folly and shame to him, if you light right, 'tis but an happy mistake and stumble: quid i• quies quam ut oderint homines quod ignorant, eri•r•si res meretur odium, Tertul. ut supra. When our affections out-start our judgment, men grow obstinate in their ignorance, and will not know what they have a mind to hate; Malunt nescire quia jam derunt, as Tertullian goeth on: rash prejudices engaging men in opposition;