The Pulpit Commentary — Jude — Section 36

the f<'rrnur of their prayers, and by their seasonable 11.dvOCl\cy of the gospel, &ro to contend for its preservation from mutilation &nd injury. ll. THE U);JVERSAL ASPECT AND FINAT, CHARAOTER OF THE GOSPEL JUSTIFY ENDEA• vouR TO PRESERVE IT UNIMPAIRED. This inspired ,vritcr was a Jew, and 11ll tho apostles of Christ wrre of the stock of Abraham, 1111d had been traine<l up in a eyetem of locRI ~crifice and national prhilege. This state of things made ml\ny of their countrymen narrow and exclusive, and disposed to look upon other nt\tions with the i,pirit of dislike and even of cont<>mpt. When our Lord came ho foretold the eitension 0f grace to the Grnt.iles, and said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto mr." His followers received his Spirit•, and found thnt, "where the Spirit of the Lord was there was liberty." "The middle wall of partition ,vas thrown down " and now by one Spirit Jew and Gentile have "access to the Father." It was the "common 1,alvat.ion," and, with all its Divine blessinc,-s and extraordinary privileaes olfered to men of every clime and tongue, that they might be fellow-heirs with bclie;e~ v.·ho, accor<ling to tho flesh, descended from Abraham, the father of the faithful. It was R system of grace which was the last and abiding revelaLion of the will of God for the sal\'ation of mRnkind. There hRd been vast and Jong-continued processes of gradual discovery to patriarchs, prophets, and psalmists; foresbadowings in the cere- monial Jaw, and typical service of ihe temple; continuous and far-reaching movements of prm•idence; and all these were designed to prepare the way of the Lord, and herald his approach, who is "the End of the Law for righteousness." Previous institutions were to give way anJ be shaken, that those things which "cannot be shaken may remain." 'fhe kingdom of Christ cannot be moved; and the truths which concern it are given once for all. None can add to them or take from them without being guilty of presumption and nnfaithfulness. They are committed to the saints, who are bound by loyalty to Christ their King; and by a desire to promote the good of others to guard the sacred and invaluable deposit. 11. THE GRAVE AND URGENT REASONS FOR SPIRITUAL VIGILANCE AND COURAGE, Jude does not allude to any persecution outside the Church which demanded steadfastness and decision; but he points to those adversaries who with policy and cunning climbed up some other way, and were dangerous because their corruption of Christian doctrine and of personal conduct pro,ed them to be enemies of the cross of Christ, They proved the truth of Cowper's lines- " Errors in life breed errore in the brain, And these reciprocally those again." These men entered into the Church, ae the serpent into Paradise, to tempt and seduce believers from the truth. They were the apostles of Satan, and turned the glorious grace of the gospel, which was given to deliver from sin, into indulgence in sensual pleasure, and thereby turned the clemency of God into a motive to further and more frequent rebellion agaiust him. It was a heavy charge against Israel that "she did not know that I /!ave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal" (Hos. ii. 8). If Jehovah was righteously angry at such per- version of temporal gifts, how murh more must he be offended by the profanation of his l(ospel to purposes of selfish indulgence! By the ministry of Jude he calls them _to share in his righteous displeasure against sin. 'l'o add to their transgressions and m1s- belief, these otlenders denied the right of Jesus Christ to control and shape their life and conduct. He died that, "whether we lh-e, we are to live to the Lord; or whether wo die, we are to Jie to the Lord : whether we Jive therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." These views were not innocent as differences about meats; but they affected the very bpirit and object of the gospel ; and, therefore, required of believers their most zealous concern for those things which were the means of their salvation and the basis of their hopes of eternal life. Characters of the description here introdu~d were already con- demned by the voice of God; and whatever their smooth and deceitful policy, whatever reluctance to censure these Christians might feel, they were, since such solemn interests were in jeopardy, to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints."- J. S. B. Vers. 6-16.-Here are reason, j<J'I' resi6ting evil men drawn from examples 'I/ tli~ 1-25.) TUE GTGNERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Divine nnger agaimt ollierB. As a scribe well-instructed, Jude brin~s from the treasures of Old Testament truth suitable illustrations to inspire believers with becoming earnest- ness in the work of defending the purity of the Church, and the completeness of Chris- tian doctrine. 'fhey are reminded that no special relation to Jehovah-like that which subsisted between Israel and their Redeemer from the slavery of Egypt-will avail to protect men from the penalties of disobedience; and thererora many who had been delivered by miracle and by the mighty power of God were overthrown in the wilderness. There is a higher illu6tration adduced, which affirms that no dignity of nature such as the angels possessed, and no past perfection of adoration and service, will screen offenders from merited punishment. The "first estate" of the angels wa,: OM of splendour-ample knowledge drawn from the unclouded revelation of God, and blessedness of emotion; but the awful righteousness of the eternal throne cast them Into outer darkness. and reserves them for future condemnation and shame. The last example· is drawn from the wide and hateful corruption of those who dwelt in one of the fairest and most fruitful regions of ancient Canaan. The spot, which was well watered and like the garden of the Lord, was·defiled by man, whose sin drew down the flames of the Divine anger, which turned the region into desolation and made it permanent witness for the hatred of God a.r,ainst iniquity. Such demonstrations of the mind of Jehovah respecting sinners and their punishment should create in believers definite impressions of the evil of disobedience, and a determination, by Christian methods, to denounce it wherever they fiud it active, and endeavour to check and restrain its spread and influence. I. IT INVITES US TO CONSIDER THE SHAMEFUL MISUSE OF KNOWLEDGE AND SPEECH. These men who crep~ into the Church appear to have revealed the corruption of their nature during the hours of sleep-since they were the same wicked offenders as wheu they were full of activity during the day, and their nature, like the "troubled sea, cast forth mire and dirt." With this sad feature of their life there was connected the spirit of contempt for magistracy and the powers that were "ordained of God." To condemn this spirit of scorn and derision a fact is introduced which shows the spirit of reverence which obtains in. heaven. Michael the archangel, one of the most lofty an_d noble among the "principalities and powers," is brought to oppose and turn aside the accusa- tions of Satan, who is e. fallen and lying spirit, and is eager, agreeably to the vision of Zecharia.h (iii. 2) to urge the destruction of Israel, whose plight is represented by the high priest clothed in filthy garments. The Jews restored from captivity are like e. half- consumed brand or branch; and Satan,as e. murderer,desires the annihilation of the tribes of Israel. He is rebuked with calm dignity, when Michael might have overpgwered him with terrific and well-deserved upbraidings. The evil users of their speech and knowledge a.re condemned because they presumptuously venture to speak scornfully of Divine things, which, as "natural men," they cannot understand; and whereas the light and instincts of nature should guide to certain lines of conduct, even there they grossly abuse and pervert their faculties and powers to dishonourable indulgence. These facts show the deplorable activity of sin, and should awaken the prayer for that preservation from the evil of the world, which is impressively suggested in the intercessory petitions offered by our Lord just before his sufferings and des.th. II. THE FEARFUL PORTRAIT WHICH JUDE PRESENTS OF THESE TRANSGRESSORS AND THF.IR FINAL CONDEMNATION BY THE LORD JESUS AT HIS APPEARING. They are described as murmurers and complainers against the methods of providence-the rulers of countries and the claims of the gospel. They have men's persons in admiration; as 'l'ertullus complimented Felix, who was a crnel governor, to prejudice his mind against Paul (Acts xxiv. 2, 3), by means of "great swelling words." These offenders followed Cain in his unacceptable worship, in which thero was no sacrifice of a victim, no contri- tion of spirit, and no prayer for mercy. 'l'hey imitated the temper of Balaam, who for gain would have injured the tribes of Israel; and in the way of ambition rose up, as Korah and his company, against the solemn appointments of the .Aaronic family to serve at the altar. In the agape, or Ion-feast, they act as rocks at sea, upon which the ship is driven and wrecked. 'fhcy are shepherds who feed themselves without restraint; clouds that promise rain, and yet distil no moisture on the thirsty soil; trees which bear no fruit; and wandering st11rs which guide no traveller; and hasten to deserved and eternal darkness. 'l'he ancient 'Book of Enoch' foretells their certain and inevitable doom. 'l'he Son of God-who in his own character, and in the treatment of his people, 86 THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. [1-20.