A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

some are drunken, and libidinous practises, for this was frequent in the meetings of the Gnostics.

some are drunken, and libidinous practises, for this was frequent in the meetings of the Gnosticks.

Observe hence, That sensual persons are the spots of a Christian society; they are not only filthy in themselves, but bring a dishonour upon the whole Church, whereof they are members, Heb. 12. 15. Take heed lest any root of bitterness spring up amongst you, whereby many may be defiled; now what that root of bitterness is he showeth you, vers. 16. Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as was Esau, who sold his Birthright for a mess of Pottage. When any root springeth up, or breaketh out into a scandalous action, the whole ⟨p. 409⟩society is defiled, therefore it showeth that such are discovered, for otherwise we should turn a Church into a Sty, their spot is not as the spot of his children, Deut. 32. 5. they have not Gods mark, but Satan's: Calvin observed, that nothing doth mischief the Church so much as remissness, and kindness to wicked men; partly as they do infect by the taint of their evil examples, and partly as they bring infamy upon the Body; therefore cut off these ulcerous members: Again, we learn that the purest Churches have their spots: In Christs Family there was a Devil, John 6. One of you is a Devil: You would be scared to see a Devil come among you; every malicious sinner is a Devil, and every sensual sinner is a Beast; such may now and then creep into the Church, but they should not be allowed there; they that put off the nature of man, are unfit for the communion of Saints; these are spots to be washed off: Holiness is the Churches Ornament, Psal. 93. last Holiness becometh thy House, O Lord, for ever. Again, they that are in a Church should be the more careful; you defile your selves else, and the society whereof you are members; yea, your miscarriages reflect upon Christ himself: Carnal Christians carry up and down in the world the picture of the Devil, and put Christs name upon it, and so expose it to scorn and derision in the world. 'Twas an old complaint of the Gentiles, mentioned by Cyprian in his Book de duplici Maryrio, the words are these, Ecce qui jctant se redemptos a Tyrannide Sathanae; qui praedicant se mortuos mundo, nihilo minus vincuntur a cupiditatibus suis, quam hos quos dicunt, teneri sub regno Sathaae, quid podest ills Baptismus, quid prodst Spiritus sanctus, cujus arbitrio dicunt see temperari? &c. So in Salvian's time, the Heathens were wont to upbraid the Christians thus, Ubi est Catholica Lex quam credunt?