THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 7
from what corner the storm shall blow sve cannot tell ; some fear a return of popery, and that a second deluge of antichristianism shall overwhelm the western churches. The Papists, I confess, are danger- ous, but the great and next fear I think to be from Libertines and a yokeless generation of men, who are most reproachful to religion and most troublesome.
The spirit and drift of this epistle is carried out mainly against this fanatical and libertine party, and therefore I suppose it to be a mis- take in Dr Willet, Mr Perkins, and others, when they would turn the edge of it against the Papists. I confess they had a temptation that way, these being the only heretical party with whom the church of God was then in suit, and symbolising in many things with those of the other extreme, as usually darkness and darkness doth better agree than light and darkness ; but certainly the party described here are not a domineering faction, that carry things by power and greatness and height of natural abilities, as the Papists do, but a creeping party, such as by sordid and clancular ways seek to undermine the truth, a kind of mean and loose sort of people, that vented monstrous and gross conceits, chiefly out of envy, against those that excelled in gifts and place ; and if our modern Eanters, Familists, Quakers, be not here described in their lively colours (as if the apostle had lived to hear their blasphemous expressions and that contempt which they cast upon the officers of the church), I confess then I understand no- thing of the whole epistle. If the judicious reader let alone the larger discussion of the observations, and go but over the explications of each verse, he will soon find my observation true.
What I have done, through grace, to the clearer understanding of the apostle's scope, and the larger explanation of the common-places here offered, I shall not mention, but leave to the reader's judgment. Some will blame me for being too large, and others in many places for being too short. I shall only let the first sort know that in the larger explications of points of doctrine I have rather satisfied the desires of others than followed my own judgment, who, when these things were first delivered (which was long since) in the way of short notes, were willing to hear the points more largely debated, and so I went over them again in a sermon-fashion. If any blame me for being too short, let them know that therein I have more satisfied myself, as keeping to the laws of an expository exercise. I confess I am so conscious to the many imperfections of this work, that the reader had never been troubled with it had it not been extorted from me by such importunity as I could not withstand : especially did I judge the publication needless, the elaborate commentary of my reverend brother, Mr William Jenkyns, being already printed ; but when I saw that we went different ways in prosecuting the same truth, that objection ceased. Seasonable things must be often urged, and the variety of method maketh the repetition grateful. I observe God's providence in it, when divers men fall upon the same work, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth might be established. Beza, I remember, persuadeth Olevian to print his meditations on the Galatians, though many excellent writers had but lately and diligently explained that epistle. Dr King, Dr Abbot, and Dr Benefield all
8 THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.
wrote upon Jonah, and with approbation, near about the same time. As much as my occasions would permit me, I consulted with my reverend brother's book, and when I found any point at large dis- cussed by him, I either omitted it or mentioned it very briefly, so that his labours will be necessary to supply the weaknesses of mine.
This work hath been long in the press, and no wonder, the author lying under such an oppression of business, it being carried on by snatches and spare hours. Many faults have been occasioned, whether by the obscurity of the copy or the negligence of the printer I will not now determine. Surely I have had to do with those that learned how to make a pitcher in a tub, or else they would never have so pitifully mangled the Greek and Latin sentences that in some places they are scarce intelligible. I have added the errata in the end, which must be consulted with, or else the reader will hardly find sense,^ and in some places not true doctrine. The tables I have collected with some diligence, the one of scriptures, which are either vindicated or largely illustrated in this commentary, the other of the principal matters, especially the common-places here discussed. If by all thou findest any help in the way of thy heavenly calling, bless God, and forget not to put up one prayer for the meanest of the Lord's servants,
Tho. Manton.
^ Unfortunately the errata are worse printed than the text, and themselves contain many errata. It is hoped that nearly all errors are corrected in the present edition. — Ed.
AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES,
TJPON THE
EPISTLE OF JUDE.
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified hy God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. — Ver. 1.