100 (bis citing of it doth not make it to he Canonical ) for Jude might as Writer. as Paul doth ſeveral out of Heathen Authors, AQ 17. 28. and 1 Cor. I 5- 33- 4G Ih. 70 be tranſcribed out of 2 Pet. 2, and therefore not to be diftated by the Spirit. Bat
Becauſe much of this Epiſtle ſeems
well cite a Paſſage out of an Apocrypral 2. and Tit. 1. 12. Ard 4ly.
ig
37.
hh) may ”-
uth h,
a
Chap. I.
much difference in the whole, that it 1s plain they are not tranſcribed thence.
F UDE. Chap: x d
to this it may be ſaid, that though many Paſſages in this Epiſtle agree with what Peter Jpeaks, yet there 15 7
And yet why might not tio $74
rit diftate the fame Truths 10 ſeveral Penmen, either 10 be publiſhed to ſeveral Perſons, or the ſame Perſons ot different times ? Moſt of Obadiah's Prophecy 1s 10 be found in Jeremiah's, Pfal. 60. is in a great part the ſaurr with 108. and Pal. 14. the ſame with 53. And Paul by the ſame Spirit writ many of the ſome things 19 ths Epheſians, rd zo the Colofhans. And what is alledged of the Ancients queſtioning the Antbority of this F/niſt ic, 1s not ſo conſiderable, as what it might be alledged, even out of them, ſor the Confirmation of it. Sure we 1201 ſay, the Spirit of an Apeſtle breaths in this, as well as in others; the ſame Majeſty, Purity, and Efficacy
appear 1n it, and whatever may evidence its Droie Authority. It 1s written to the Chriſtian Jews.
- The
matter of it Agrees Very much with Per. 26 To and the Scope 1s moſtly the fame. VIZ. to 0M them ag itt thoje. who by their wicked Errors, and wicked Manners, ſecretly and ſliely brought im, might infett them, an ſod: es
them into the fame Wickedneſs with themſelves, whereby they might be expoſed 19 the {ume Fudoment 5.
he pronounceth, were like to come upon ſuch.
CHART. 4
+Luk.6.16, FUDE @ a ſervant b of Jeſus Chriſt, and * bro- Att. 1.13. J ther of James c, to them that are ſanQified by 7 a. !7- God the Father d, and þ preſerved e in Jeſus Chrilt, " i n ant called f. a Called alſo Labbeus, and Thaddews, Matth. 10. 3. b Not only in the general Notion, as a Believer, but in a more ſpecial, as an Apoſtle. Prieſts and Prophets in the Old-Teſtament are peculiarly called God's Servants, Pſ. 134. Amos 3. 7. and ſo are Miniſters in the New, 2 Tim. 2.24. c That Fames who was the Son'ot Alpheus, Matth. 10. He mentions his Brother to diſtinguiſh himſelf from Judas Wariot, and his Brother rather than his Father, becauſe Zames vias moſt famous in the Church, A4&s 15. Gal. 2. 9. and I Cor. 9. 5. as likewiſe to ſhew his Conſent with his Brother in his DoGtrine, and to make his Epiſtle the more acceptable. d Viz. As the prime efficient Cauſc of SanRification, which he works in Believers by the Son, through the Spirit. e Their Salvation and Perſeverance, and Deliverance from Dangers, not being in their own Power ; he inti- mates that Chriſt was appointed to be their King, and Head, and Keeper, the Author and Finiſher of their Faith, Heb. 12. 2. and fi- niſhed with Power tor their Prote&ion, and Security, and that by him they were kept unto the Salvation purchaſed tor them, viz. by his powerſul Operation, and gracious Influence maintaining their Faith, and Union with himſelf. f With an effe@tual Calling, the be- ginning of their Sanification, before-mentioned. The Copulative, and, is not in the Greek; and the words may be read, ſan&ified by God the Father, preſerved in Jeſus Chriſt, as being called; and fo called may be underſtcod as going before the other two; and then the Senſe is, to the called, ſan&ified by God the Father, and preſe;wved in Teſus Chriſt ;, or to them who being called, are ſantified, Kc. 2 Mercy g unto you, and peace, and love h, be multiplied 7. | 2 Which is the Fountain of Reconciliation, and all the Grace youchlafed you. See 1 Tim. 1. 2. and 2 Tim. 1.2. and Ti. I. 4. h Either he r.cans God's Love to them, or their Love to God, and eaci! other, 7 Mercy in the Effe@ts of it, Peace in the Senſe of it ; and either the Love of God in the Manifeſtation of it, or their Love *0 God and their Neighbours in the Degrees, and Exerciſe of 1t.
3 Beloved, when TI gave all diligence to write unto
ycu + of the common ſalvation, / it was needful » for |
*Phil 1.27, N10 write unto you, and exhort you, that ye * ſhould r Tim. 1. earneſtly contend 2: for the faith o which was once
r8, and 6. + de{jvered || unto the Saints.
12; h The Apoſtle here declares the firſt Cauſe of his writing to them 2 Tim. 4+ 4jz, his own Inclination and Readineſs, according to the Duty of his J Place (as an Apoſtle) ſo to do; 49. d. Being of my ſelf willing, and earneſtly deſirous to promote your Welfare, when abſent from you, by writing unto you. / 7. e. Thoſe things which concern the Salvation of us all in common, or that Salvation which is com- mon to all; there being but one Salvation for all Believers, and one way to it. m The ſecond Reaſon of his writing, viz. the ne- ceſſity of it, in reſpe& of the Danger they were in, as follows v. 4, » By Conſtancy in the Faith, Zeal for the Truth, Holineſs of Life, mutua) Exhortation, Prayer, Suffering for the Goſpel, gc. againſt thoſe that would pervert the Goſpel. o The Doftrine of the Gol- pel; Faith is taken for the Obje&t of Faith. + Either, once for all, becauſe it was delivered by all the Apoſtles as the only unchange- . able Rule of governing their Lives, and obtaining Salvation, to which nothing 15 to be added, and from which nothing is to be ta- ken away ; Or, it implies, that it was therefore delivered to them that they might never forſake it, and that if they do, they miſs of their Salyation, as being never like to have another way made
known to them. , || Viz. by God, not invented by Men. 4 For there are certain men crept 1n unawares, » Rom. 9. * who were before of old ordained p to this condem- nation 9, ungodly men, + turning the grace of God x Vet. o * into laſciviouſneſs 7, and denving / the only Lord
T2 Pet. 2. God 7, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. k p Gr. Fore-written, i. e. of whom it was formerly written, of * fore-told, viz. by Chriſt and his Apoſtles: or rather, it is to be un-
derftood according to our Tranſlation, before-ordained, wiz. in the
eternal Counſe! of God; Gud's Decree being con.pared to a Book,
in which things to be done, are written down. This the Apoſtle adds to prevent any Offence that might be taken at the Wickedneſs
of theſe Seducers; and therefore lets theſe Saints know, that though