A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

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, Jer. 44. 18, 19. Formalists cry up the goodness of the old Religion to disparage times of reformation; so the Roman Empire thrived more under false Gods; then under the Christian Religion, wherefore Augustine wrote his Books, De civitate. Dei, to answer that charge; Christians these times▪ may be the worse for those that went before, we may smart for their blood and Idols, and hatred of the people of God; judgments were then in the causes, as the clouds gather before the rain falleth.

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 plentifull all things were before the new Gospel came in, and they had nothing; but Moss and Mattens, as those sots, Jer. 44. 18, 19. Formalists cry up the goodness of the old Religion to disparage times of reformation; so the Roman Empire thrived more under false Gods; then under the Christian Religion, wherefore Augustine wrote his Books, De civitate. Dei, to answer that charge; Christians these times▪ may be the worse for those that went before, we may smart for their blood and Idols, and hatred of the people of God; judgments were then in the causes, as the clouds gather before the rain falleth.