A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

1. The causes of murmuring are many, but all naught, as 1. Pride and Self-love, when men are conceited of themselves, they storm that others are preferred before them; a proud man must needs be discontented, because he sets an high price upon himself, and when others will not come up to his price, he is troubled; you will find such a proud thought rising in your heart, that men of your worth are not taken notice of, and yet they that deserve least, complain and murmur most; the best say, I am not worthy: real worth is humble, the loaden boughs hang their heads, the Nettle mounteth, when the Violet lieth shrouded under its leaves, and is only found out by its own scent: All Gods blessings are low to him that is high in his own eyes.

1. The causes of murmuring are many, but all naught, as 1. Pride and Self-love, when men are conceited of themselves, they storm that others are preferred before them; a proud man must needs be discontented, because he sets an high price upon himself, and when others will not come up to his price, he is troubled; you will find such a proud thought rising in your heart, that men of your worth are not taken notice of, and yet they that deserve least, complain and murmure most; the best say, I am not worthy: real worth is humble, the loaden boughs hang their heads, the Nettle mounteth, when the Violet lyeth shrouded under its leaves, and is only found out by its own scent: All Gods blessings are low to him that is high in his own eyes.

2. Impatience. We cannot endure the least inconvenience, touchy nature would be at ease, tumbling and wallowing in all kind of pleasure; therefore as soon as we are touched in our skins, we fall a murmuring, Why is this evil befallen me? and Why should I wait upon the Lord any longer? An unsubjection of Will to God, will inevitably put us upon repining.

3. Presumption of merit, where all is of free cost, there is no complaining; Men ascribe to themselves, when they prescribe to God what he shall do for them or how bless them; every thing is welcome, where nothing is deserved; if you keep a man of Alms, you take it ill that he should not be pleased with his Diet: when we look to desert, we may wonder more at what we have, then what we want; God would do us no wrong, if we were reduced to a less pittance if in a prison, 'tis a favour we are not in hell: a Malefactor would be glad to commute his punishment, a greater for a less, death for exile; exile for loss of estate, and then the whole for a part: Can a firebrand of hell murmur? there is our desert, but we think God is bound and