A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

But now positively, What is the fault there reproved? I Answer, 1. Foolish murmurings, or such a fond and unthankful admiration of former times, that we have not a good word for the present; Tacitus observed it, vitio malignitat is humane vettra laudantur, praesentia fastidio sunt; 'tis a common evil, men are praising past times, and declaiming against the present; querulous natures are never pleased, neither full nor fasting; past temptations are forgotten, ⟨p. 459⟩and therefore present evils •eem worst, and laziness many times occasioneth complaints: Many repine against God because he hath given us our lot in such an age, wherein public contests put us upon the trouble of prayer, discourse, and diligent searching in the mind of God, now usually to excuse other duties, we fall a complaining.

But now positively, What is the fault there reproved? I Answer, 1. Foolish murmurings, or such a fond and unthankful admiration of former times, that we have not a good word for the present; Tacitus observed it, vitio malignitat is humane vettra laudantur, praesentia fastidio sunt; 'tis a common evil, men are praising past times, and declaiming against the present; querulous natures are never pleased, neither full nor fasting; past temptations are forgotten, ⟨p. 459⟩and therefore present evils •eem worst, and laziness many times occasioneth complaints: Many repine against God because he hath given us our lot in such an age, wherein publick contests put us upon the trouble of prayer, discourse, and diligent searching in the mind of God, now usually to excuse other duties, we fall a complaining.

Again, private discontent may exasperate some, things are not suitable to their humours and interests; no wonder if Demetrius and the Copper▪Smiths call those evil times when the Gospel is like to get up, because their craft is like to go down and they are not favoured as they do desire: Again, sottish carnality may be in the wind, carnal men will extol the happiness of former times; their great hospitality and kind neighbourhood, their honest dealing, and good devotion; what a merry time it was, and how plentiful all things were before the new Gospel came in, and they had nothing; but Moss and Matins, as those sots,