VeR. 3.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 95
upon each other when they meet in glory ? It followeth one Lord. We are in the same family, how will you look God in the face if you ' fall a-smiting your fellow-servants ? ' Mat. xxiv. 45. Then one faith. There may he diflerent apprehensions, and every one may ahound in his own sense in circumstances, hut the faith is the same, they agree in the same essentials and substantial of religion. The enemies of the church, though divided in interests and opinions, yet, because they agree in one common hatred of the saints, can hold together. Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, and the men of Tyre, did all conspire against Israel, Ps, Ixxxiii. ; like Samson's foxes, though their faces looked several ways, yet were tied to one another by their tails, and ran together to burn up the corn-fields; and shall not the people of God agree, who all profess one and the same faith ? The next considera- tion is one baptism; that is, one badge of profession: it was a cause of difference among Jacob's sons that one had ' a coat of divers colours,' a special badge of affection. Consider you are all brought in by the baptism of water and the use of ordinary means ; none have a special and privilegiate call from heaven above the rest of their brethren. Lastly, it followeth, one God and Father of all. You all worship the same God ; there is nothing divides more than different objects of worship. When one scorneth what another adoreth it is extremely provoking ; l it was the plea used to Joseph, Gen. I. 17, ' Pardon the trespass of the servants of thy father's God.' Thus you see that we have better grounds of love than others have.
2. None can have higher motives than the love of Christ: Eph. v. 2, ' Walk in love, as Christ hath also loved us.' The pagan world was never acquainted with such a motive. Now none are affected and melted with the love of Christ but those that have an interest in it. Therefore Christ expecteth more love from Christians than from others : Mat. V. 46, ' If ye love them that love you, what reward shall ye have ? do not even the i:)ublicans the same?' The publicans were accounted the most vile and unworthy men in that age ; but a publican would love those of his own party ; therefore a Christian that is acquainted with Christ's love to strangers, to enemies, should manage his affec- tions with more excellency and pureness. The world is not acquainted with the love of Christ, and therefore only loveth ' its own,' but we are acquainted with it, and therefore should love others. See John xiii. 34, ' See that ye love one another, as I have loved you.' Jesus Christ came from heaven, not only to repair and preserve the notions of the Godhead by the greatness of his sufferings, but to propound to us a more exact pattern of charity, and to elevate duty between man and man.
3. None have a greater charge. Christ calleth it his * new com- mandment:' John xiii. 34, * A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another.' How new, since it was as old as the moral law, or law of nature ? I answer — It is called new because excellent, as a new song, &c., or rather because solemnly and specially renewed by him, and commended to their care, as new things and new laws are
^ ' Summus utriusque Inde furor vulgo, quod numina Ticinorum Odit uterque locus.' — Juvenal.
96 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTESj [VeR. 3.
much esteemed nnd prized ; or enforced by a new reason and example of bis own deatb. So 1 Jobn iii. 23, avrr) eariv r] iuroXr), ' Tbis is the commandment, that we sbould believe in liim wbom be batb sent, and love one anotber as be gave commandment.' It is made equal witb faitb. All tbe scriptures aim at ' faitb and love ;' it was Christ's dying charge, the great charge wbicli be left at bis deatb : Jobn xv. 17, ' These things I command you, that ye love one another/ Speeches of dying men are received with most veneration and reverence, esjDecially tbe chai-ge of dying friends. Tbe brethren of Joseph, fearing lest be should remember the injuries formerly done to bim, they use this plea, * Thy father did command us before be died, saying,' &c., Gen. 1. 16. Let us fulfil tbe will of tbe dead. When Christ took leave of bis dis- ciples, be left this as bis last cbarge. Think of it when tbou art bent to quarrel or to neglect others. Shall I slight his last commandment, his dying cbarge ? It is made the character of Christ's disciples : ' Hereby shall all men know that )'e are my disciples, if ye love one anotber.' It is as much as your disciplesbip,' &c.
Use 1. It servetb to press you to tbis amity and love. Why sbould those that are to meet in the same heaven be of sucb an estranged heart to eacb other ? Certainly it cometh from evil. In two cases God's people can agree well enougb — in glory and in misery ; in a pri- son, as Ridley and Hooper did ; and in beaven, as all do ; in heaven, where tbere is no sin, and in a prison, wbere lusts lie low, and are under restraint. Ob ! then labour for love and meekness. To which end take a few directions: — (1.) Honour tbe least of Christ's wbere- ever you find it. If any sbould despise others for their meanness, it would be more proper to God to do so than for any other, because they are most distant from bis perfection ; but be will not despise ' smok- ing flax,' Mat. xii. 20. You do not know what a spark of glory and of the divine nature may lie bid under smoke and a covert of darkness. Christ loved tbe 3'oung man tbat bad but some accomplisbments of nature in him,' Mark x. 21. ' Jesus loved bim ;' mucli more should you, when you find any weak appearances of Christ, though they do not come up to your measures. (2.) Let not difference in opinion divide you. It were to be wished that believers were of one lieart and of one way — tbat they all tbouglit and spoke tbe same thing ; yet, if they diiier, cherish them for what of God is in them. In a great organ the pipes are of a different size, which maketh the harmony and melody the sweeter : ' Whereunto we have attained, let us walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing,' Phil. iii. 16. Many men love to im- propriate religion, as if there were nothing of God to be found but in their own sphere. It is natural to a man to do so. We would be singidar, and engross all repute of piety, orthodoxy, and right worship to ourselves. (3.) Take heed of letting love degenerate into com- pliance. There is ' the bond of the Spirit,' Eph. iv. 3, and tbere is an ' unequal yoke,' 2 Cor. vi. 14 ; there are ' cords of love,' and the chain of antichristian interests, and you must be careful to make dis- tinction, Isa. liv. 15. ' They shall gatlier, but not by me.' Tbere are evil mixtures and confederacies that are not of God, which you must beware of, lest by joining with men you break with God, and turn love into compliance. The image was crumbled to pieces where