^ Qu. 'nothing' ? — Ed.
VeR. 21.] UPON THE EPISTLE OF JUDE. 355
claim in point of confidence, unless we mean to compliment with God. Well, then—
1. Let this encourage us to wait with hope, notwithstanding in- firmities as as well afflictions. What a good master do we serve ! He hath provided comforts not only against our miser}'', but against our unworthiness ; not only glory as a reward, but mercy as the cause of it tliat we may take glory out of the hands of mercy. He looked upon us not only as liable to suffering, but sinning; and therefore as he hath provided life and safety for us, so upon terms of grace.
2. It showeth us how we should ascribe all to mercy, from the beginning to the end of our salvation. We were taken into a state of grace at first out of mere mercy: 1 Tim. i. 13, r)Xe/]0T]v, I was all to i be-mercied ; Titus iii. 5, ' Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.' He doth not barely say, Not for our works, but Not for our works iv hiKaioavvr], not for our best works, those works of righteousness which might be supposed to be foreseen as done by us. So also when we are taken into a state of glory, it is still mercy, we can merit no more after grace than before : 2 Tim. i. 18, ' The Lord grant him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.'
Obs. 7. Once more, this mercy is called the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thence observe, that this mercy which we look for is dis- pensed by Jesus Christ ; he purchased it, and he hath the managing of it in the whole economy of grace : ' He shall take of mine,' saith he, concerning the Holy Ghost , and in the last day he distributeth to some 'judgment without mercy,' to others 'mercy; ' they are judged upon gospel terms. Well, then —
1. Get an interest in Christ, otherwise we cannot look for mei'cy in that great day : 1 John ii. 28, ' If we abide in him, then shall we have boldness.' They that slight Christ in the offers of the gospel have no reason to look for benefit by him ; you will howl and tremble then, and call upon the mountains to ' hide you from the wrath of him that sitteth upon the throne.' They that prize the mercy of Christ now, they find it to be the very last ; mercy, that planted grace in their hearts, will then put the crown upon their heads. Here it was their care to glorify Christ and to honour him, though with the loss of all ; there will Christ glorify them in the l^resence of all the world.
2. It maketh for the comfort of Christ's people and members. Our blessed hopes are founded upon the mercy of our Lonl Jesus Christ, and in his hands to dispense them. From thence you may collect: —
[1.] The fulness of this blessedness. An infinite merit purchased it, an infinite mercy bestoweth it. Surely the building will be answerable to the foundation. It is no small thing that we may expect from infinite mercy and infinite merit. Would an emperor give brass farthings ? Do men that understand themselves give vast sums for trifles ?
[2.] The certainty of this blessedness. Christ hath the managing of it. He never discovered any backwardness to thy good nor inclina- tion to thy ruin ; he died for thee before thou wert born ; he called
^ All to, etiuivalent to altogetJier ; as in Judges ix. .53. — Ed.
356 AN EXPOSITION, WITH NOTES, [VeR. 22, 23.
thee when tliou wert unworthy ; warned thee of dangers which thou never fearedst ; instead of deserved wrath, showed thee undeserved mercy ; intercedeth for thee when thou little thinkest of it ; hath been tender of thee in the whole conduct of his providence ; visited thee in ordinances ; is mindful of thee at every turn, and will he be harsh to thee at last ?
The last note is from that clause unto eternal life. The great benefit which we have by Christ is eternal life.
1. There is life ; all that you labour for is for life, that which you prize above other things is life : ' Skin for skin, all that a man hath Avill he give for his life ; ' tliat is, he will part with all things, even to his very skin, to save his life.
2. It is an excellent life.-^ The life of sense, which is the beasts', is better than that vegetative life which is in the plants, and the rational life which is in men is better than the sensitive, and the spiritual exceedeth the rational, and the glorious life the spiritual. Vegetative life is the vigour of the sap, sensitive life is the vigour of the blood, rational life is the union of the soul with the body, spiritual life is the union of the soul with Christ, and the life of glory exceedeth that in degree, for it standeth in the immediate fruition of Grod.
3. It is a happy life, not subjected to the necessities of meat and drink. We have then ' spiritual bodies,' 1 Cor. xv. 45. It is not encumbered with miseries as the present life is, Gen. xlvii. 9. It is a life which we are never weary of ; in deep distress life itself may become a burden : Elijah said, ' Take away my life,' 1 Kings xix. 4. But this life cannot be a burden.