Ohs. 3. Again observe, when Christ hath convinced, he will con- demn, and when he hath condemned, he will execute. Conviction now maketh way many times for conversion, but then for confusion ; now God killeth, that he may make alive, but then they are presently transmitted and seijt into their everlasting estate. Let us imitate the method of Christ's process in our judging ourselves; let us examine, judge, execute, not ourselves, but our sins; voluntary acts prevent enforced.
Ohs. 4. From that of all their ungodly deeds, &c., observe that the process of the last day chiefly lieth against the ungodly. These are expressly mentioned in the text ; unrigliteousness is a cause of God's w-rath as well as ungodliness, Rom. i. 18. But ungodliness doth chiefly })rovoke ; for the first part, and chiefest part of the law, provideth for our duty to God, ex ordine modum, ex loco sfatum et dignitatem ujiiuscujusque prcBcepti,'^ &c. The dignity of every command is known by the order of it. Now, in the first place, godliness is required, and then righteousness, or a care of moral duties.
1 Tertullian.
VeR. 15.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 297
If you would know who are ungodly, see the notes on ver. 4, where they are described at large ; all atheists, speculative and practical, pagans, sinners that slight the offers of Christ, that neglect com- munion with God, and are touched with no reverence and dread of his majesty, all these are ungodly persons, and also all that scoff at religion and holiness of conversation, that despise the ordinances of God, oppress and persecute his servants, hate his truths, these are all in the scripture branded with the same mark, as I could easily show you, if I listed to dilate upon this argument.
Now none of these will be able to hold up the head in the day of judgment: Ps. i. 5, ' The ungodly shall not stand in judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous ;' for since they hate or neglect God, how shall they be able to look him in the face, or appear among his servants ? They that have despised ' the mystery of godli- ness,' 1 Tim. iii. 6, vi, 3, how can they expect the reward of godliness ? You that mock at godliness, make duties the objects of your scorn, not your care, how will Christ scorn you at the last day ! Well, then, if you would have the day of judgment comfortable to you, be not only just and strict, but godly, for godliness is a notion distinct from holiness, 2 Peter iii. 11. It is not enough to do actions just and good, but we must do them upon the sight of God's will, and with aims at his glory. Holiness implieth a conformity to the law of God, but godliness an unfeigned respect to his glory. Now a Christian's whole life should have such a tendency and ordination, for it is called a ' living to God,' Gal. ii. 19.
Obs. 5. Once more observe, these ungodly men are the rather judged because they commit sin with an ungodly mind, or sin with a sinning mind ; for so it is in the text, ' ungodly deeds ungodly com- mitted,' A child of God may fall into wickedness, but he doth not commit it wickedly, with a full consent ; men are not condemned for infirmities, but iniquities. As a child of God cannot act with such liberty, purity, and perfection in the ways of God as he doth desire, so in the ways of sin he cannot do what he would, nor be carried out with such a full bent and purpose of heart as wicked men are, because of the opposition of the new nature. To this latter sense it is said, Gal. v. 17, ' Ye cannot do the things that ye would,' as will appear by a serious inspection of the context. Wicked men follow the devil's work with all their might : Micah vii. 3, ' They do evil with both hands earnestly.' The Lord, that is tender of those that sin through infirmity, yet taketh notice to the purpose when men sin for sin's sake, and their hearts are largely and eagerly set upon it ; those that are disclaimed at the day of judgment are called ' workers of iniquity,' Mat. vii. 23, such as make a business and a trade of it. A godly man doth not so much act sin as he suffereth by it, j^eccatum patitur, non facit {Bernard). He doth not pour out his whole heart this way ; there are constant dislikes in the soul, which are a let and restraint to him. Usually the sins of the godly are either sins of ignorance, incogitancy, sudden surreption, and daily incursion ; if they sin deli- berately, there is not such a spite and rage as there is to be found in the sins of the wicked.
Ohs. 6. From the next clause, and their hard speeches, observe,
298 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 15.
not only the deeds of ungodly men, but their speeches are brought into judgment. Words do not perish with the breath with which they are uttered ; no, they remain upon record, and we are to give an account of ihem at the last day. Mat. xii. 36, James ii. 12. Men are more serious in their actions, but in their speeches rash and inconsiderate, and those that dare not act evil dare yet speak. Oh ! consider, if Christ did only call us to an account for our actions, and our words w^ere free, it were another matter ; but he reckoneth with us about our speeches, therefore ' so speak and so do as those that would be judged by the law of liberty.'