A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. For the honour of God, of every Person in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit. For the honour of the Father, that his choice may not be disparaged: Ephes. 1. 4. He hath elected us to be holy. ^*There is some conscience in the world, that maketh them adore strictness: mere morality hath some majesty with it in the eye of Nature, but especially Gospel holiness; whereas looseness is looked upon with scorn and contempt; so that his chosen people would be a dishonour to him if they were not sanctified: therefore God the Father aimeth at it in all his dispensations; he chooseth us, that we may be of a choice spirit: as when Esther was chosen out among the Virgins, she was purified and decked with ornaments, and had garments given her out of the Kings Wardrobe; so we are made holy being chosen of God. And then he calleth us, that he may put this honour upon us in the eye of the world, to make us like himself; Be ye holy, as he that hath called us is h•ly, 1 Pet. 1. 15. It were monstrous that God should set his affections upon a people altogether ^*unlike him; that he should call them to be so near himself, that continue corrupt and carnal: It is the aim of his Providences as well as his special grace; we are afflicted, that we may be partakers of his holiness, Heb. 12. 10. threshed, that our husk may fly off: God certainly delighteth not in the afflictions of his people; no, ^*he loveth the prosperity of the Saints, but he had rather see them in any condition then see them sinful. Again, It is for the honour of God the Son, whose members we are; Head and members must be all of a piece, like one another: It were monstrous that Christ should have such a body as Nebuchadnezzar saw in his ⟨p. 36⟩dream, where the head was of pure Gold and the thighs Brass, and the feet Iron, &c. and it were an odd sight, that a face of Europe should be put upon the body of a Negro or Ethiopian; and as strange and odd it is, that Christ should have a disproportioned body quite unlike himself; yea it is little for his honour that he should be the head of an ulcerous body, as well as a monstrous body: so much of sin as you continue, so much you disparage your Redeemer, and put him to shame: therefore all Christs aim is to make us holy; for that end he redeemed us, that he might sanctify us, and make us a glorious Church without spot and wrinkle,