A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

VERS. XII. These are spots in your Feasts of Charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear. Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds, Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit twice dead, plucked up by the roots.

IN the former Verse the Apostle setteth them forth by examples, in this by similitudes: Let us go over the expressions a part, as the Text offereth them [These are spots in your Feasts of Charity] [Greek or Hebrew], the word also signifieth Rocks, but is fitly here rendered spots, for 'tis in Peter, [Greek or Hebrew], 1 Pet. 2. 13. spots they are and blemishes—so he called them as being in themselves defiled, and to others disgraceful: or because defiling with their presence, and infecting by their example, [in your Feasts of love or charity] these were Suppers used in the primitive times, either to manifest their brotherly union, or for the comfort and refreshing of the poor in obedience to Christs Injunction. ⟨p. 408⟩Luke 14. 12, 13. though little observed for the ends for which they were at first appointed; divisions being hereby nourished, 1 Cor. 11. 21. each faction by themselves taking their own supper, and the poor excluded, 1 Cor. 11. 22. Some dispute the lawfulness of them, it being an addition to the Lords Supper, taken up in imitation of the Heathens, and blasted by Gods providence in the very beginning, never approved, and (it seemeth) but slightingly spoken of: Your love Feasts, saith our Apostle; however, they might be lawfully used. Tertullian showeth a lawful use of them in his time, Tert. in Apol. cap▪ 39. Coimus in Caelum ut ad Deum quasi manu faustâ, &c. We meet together (saith he) that by an holy conspiracy we may set upon God by a force that is welcome to him, where prayers are made, and the Scriptures opened; and after this meeting a Supper began with prayer, Non prius discumbitur quam oratio ad deum praegustetur editur quantum esurientes capiunt bibitur quantum pudicis est utile; and their discourses were such as did become the ears of God, and after washing they sang a Psalm, and so soberly departed: Now these sensual persons did defile the love Feast, the infamy of their lives being a scandal to the meeting, and the Church fared ill for their sakes, for Peter maketh them to be spots, not only for their disorderly carriage at the meeting it self; but because of their constant course,