Jude 1

Jude 1:1

BY God] the Italian, in God] namely, by vertue of his grace, by his Word and Spirit which he hath bestowed upon them Preserved] that is to say, defended, protected, and safe-guarded, out of danger of falling from the salvation which they had acquired In Jesus Christ] namely, to the communion of his body: Or by vertue of their spiritual union with him.

Jude 1:3

The common] namely, to me, to you, and to all beleevers That ye should] that ye should imitate the example of all other beleevers that have been before you, in maintaining and advancing the truth of the Gospel, against all the assaults and endeavours of the divell, and his followers, and instruments. Or to persevere in fighting as they had already happily begun.

Jude 1:4

Of old] that is to say, from everlasting Ordained] the Italian, written, or set downe by name, (by Gods decree, likened to a Register) to be given over to their naturall corruption and malice, which also he hath determined to punish, letting them runne to that height of impiety, to falsifie his truth, and to make themselves the divels instruments, and to reject Gods grace, smother up his Word and Spirit which should be prostered unto them The grace] especially in regard of the Evangelicall and spirituall liberty which they wrest to a most false sense, of licentiousnesse to all manner of vices, under pretence of the easinesse in obtaining pardon, Romans 6:1. and that by the spirit of liberty the conscience is freed from all inward remorse and condemnation, wherein the wicked said the essence of sinne consisted, and that without it there was no sinne whatsoever a man did

Jude 1:6

Which kept not] which did not persevere in the state of integrity and righteousnesse, in which they were created But left] that is to say, were for their Rebellion driven out of Heaven,Luke 10:18.

Jude 1:7

After strange] the Italian, after other flesh; a covered circumscription of the abominable lust against nature, Romans 1:27. Of eternall] whereof the materiall fire wherewith they were consumed was a signe.

Jude 1:8

Likewise also] the Italian, yet these; though these judgements be set before them for an example Dreams] that is to say, Men blinded and void of understanding through their damnable passions, like a man that dreams or raves:

Jude 1:9

The Archangel] the sacred History makes no mention of all this, Jude might know it by some divine revelation, or by some ancient tradition which he hath authorized by his relation, or by some book which now is not to be had; and indeed there remains some tract of this in the Jewish books About the bodie] which being secretly buried by the Lord, Deuteronomy 34:6. it is like that the Devill did seek to take it up again, either to satisfie his rage in abusing of it, or to make it an object of idolatry for the people.

Jude 1:10

They corrupt] they defile themselves by excesses, and abuse in those things, wherein, nature and even the bruit beasts shew them the Lawes and limited use of them, as of eating, drinking, and the use of woman.

Jude 1:11

They have gone] they follow Cains wickednesse, who was the first head of them who departed from the true Church and the pure service of God, as these men did Rangreedily after] the Italian, Suffered themselves to be carried away] that is to say, they have been shaken from the firmnesse of faith, and have been carried into these errours by the bait of gain and of worldly pleasures, as Balaam was And perished] imitating Core and his followers in his rebellion against Moses, being they rise against the Apostles and true Pastors of the Church, and do raise schismes and divisions, and have entangled themselves in the like unavoidable perdition as those men did.

Jude 1:12

Your feasts] wherefore see 1 Corinthians 11:21. Feeding] prophaning those sacred feasts with their glutonie, without any respect to the communion of Saints for the maintaining of which, these feasts were appointed, and for this cause were ended and sealed up by the celebration of the holy Supper Whose fruit withereth] which have neither life nor sap to bring forth any good fruit, even like trees after Autumne Twice dead] he hath a relation to those mens falling again into the state of sinne and death, after they had begun in some sort to live by the light and grace of the Gospell Plucked up] quite cut off from the spirituall union with Christ, who is the true foundation of life and grace.

Jude 1:13

Raging waves] unsetled, turbulent, and proud spirits, which boldly belch out their abominable opinions and doctrines Wandring starres] he seemes to meane those false glancing or falling Starres which fall from Heaven, because they were never fixed there, and are but meteors and transitory impressions in the air.

Jude 1:14

Prophesied] the Scripture makes no mention of this Prophesie of Enoch, threatning the wickednesse of his times with the future deluge. Saint Iude may have had it by tradition, confirmed by revelation of the holy Ghost, as the Jews have yet at this time some reliques of it in their writings Commeth] the Italian, is come; that is as much as to say, He shall certainly come With ten thousands] the Italian, With his holy thousands; namely, of Angels.

Jude 1:15

Hard speeches] the Italian, Cruell things; see 1 Samuel 2:3. Psal. 31. 18. and 75. 5. and 94. 4 Malachi 3:13.

Jude 1:16

Complainers] which is a signe of an ill composed, impatient, contentious, and insatiable spirit In admiration] falsly and flatteringly for to reap profit by them.

Jude 1:19

Separate themselves] that is to say, They do willingly cut themselves off from the true and spirituall communion of the Church, whereby they are deprived of life, grace, and Spirit, seeIohn 15. 6.

Jude 1:20

Building up] confirming and advancing your selves in your spirituall state of grace and regeneration (like a building) upon the onely foundation of faith in Christ In the] the Italian,by the] that is to say, By his motion and inspiration.

Jude 1:21

Keep your selves] that is to say, Persevere constantly to love God in truth, or take heed you fall not away from his love. Others, keep one another for the love of God, that is to say, help one another to preserve your selves from these dangers by a true, christian, and divine charity.

Jude 1:22

Of some] that is to say, Of those that are simple, weak, and seduced.

Jude 1:23

Others] namely, those that are hardned and perverse, or the seducers themselves Save] be, as much as in you lieth, instruments of their salvation by a profitable severity, Rom. 11 14. 1 Timothy 4:16. With fear] namely, of Gods judgements lively represented and darted into the conscience by the severe exercise of ecclesiasticall discipline Pulling them out] doing what you can to draw them from perdition, without any vain respects or considerations, as they draw things out of the fire in any fashion, or by what way they can Hating] shewing that you extreamly detest the participation of such mens uncleannesse: A phrase taken from legall impurities of garments, by touching of which men were defiled.