A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

When Christ was upon the Cross, in the height of his love, he was devising what he should do for his Church to make her honourable and glorious, and he pitched upon Sanctification as the fittest blessing that he could bestow upon us: Every distinct Society must have some distinct honour and privilege; Now Christ had set apart the Church as a distinct Society to himself, and therefore he would not bestow upon her pomp and worldly greatness, other Societies had enough of that, but holiness, grace, which is our splendour and ^*ornament: And indeed this was a far better gift then any outward greatness and excellency could be; for moral excellencies are far better then civil and natural: It is Gods own honour to be holy, therefore it is said, that he is glorious in Holiness, Exod. 15. 11. He is elsewhere said to be ^*rich in mercy, but here glorious in holiness; his treasure in his goodness, but that which he accounts his honour is his holiness or immaculate purity; as you know among men their wealth is distinguished from their honour. But in this gift Christ had not only respect to the excellency of it, but to our need and want; Christ was then repairing and making up the ruins of the Fall; now we lost in Adam the purity of our natures, as well as the favour of God; therefore that the plaster might be as broad as the sore, he would not only reconcile us to God, but sanctify us; his Blood was not only [Greek or Hebrew], a Price, but [Greek or Hebrew], a Laver, wherein to wash us and make us clean: as under the Law there was in the Tabernacle a great Laver as well as an Altar, to show we must be washed and sanctified as well as reconciled ⟨p. 37⟩to God: and Christ came not only to abolish the guilt of sin, which is against our interest, our peace and comfort; but also to destroy the power of sin, which is against Gods glory. And as this was Christs aim in Redemption, so also in the Gospel, and all the precious Promises of it; he dyed that Ordinances might be under a blessing, and conduce to the promotion of holiness; for so it is there in Ephes. 5. 26. That he might sanctify us by the washing of water through the Word: There is a treasure of grace purchased, and left in the Church to be conveyed to us by the use of these Ordinances. So