The Pulpit Commentary — Jude — Section 44

lifo? It should ho for rcmoV,ed from that of infidels, who have no object of faith to elevate them; and from that of pagans, who have o.n unholy faith; and from that of llomanists, whose fo.ith is to a grc:,,t extent nnlli6ed by such excesses as indulgences and purgatory; o.nd from that of rationalists, who think of sin being taken away without satisfaction being made for it. What we count an immeasurable advantage in our creed should be turned into a corresponding advantage in our life. But is it not some- times as though we did not believe our creed? Is there not a. vast disr,repancy between our life and the embodiment of our creed in the life of Christ? Let us listen, then, to the exhortation of this servaut of Christ, and advocate of consistency. 2. ReC1Jqnition of tlte Trinity in connection with our life. 'vVe believe, we have said, in God ; we believe also in the Three Persoas of the Godhend-in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We are to build upon the Three Persons, though in different ways. "Praying in the Holy Spirit." Under the dispensation of the Spirit, we must not forget the work of tbe Spirit. The Spirit is here placed first, and in connection with prayer. In a good life we mnst give the first place to prayer. It qualifies us for receiving the bounties of P,·ovidence, put.q us into working order, arms us against temptation. But prayer, to do this, must be prayer in the Holy Spirit. How can we wrestle with God in onr own might? How can we have the right desires from ourselves? It is only when we pray in the might of the Holy Spirit, who is promised to help our in6rmities and to teach us how we ought to pray, that we can succeed. The true idea of prayer is the Spirit of God pleading in our prayers, exciting within us the right desires-desires which a.t times cannot find expression in words, but only in sighings and groanings. We have often to complain that our prayers are cold. We have come under some worldly influence, and have no heart to pray. At such a time let us not neglect the duty, or attempt its performance in our own strength; but let us, in despair of self, depend on the Spirit'~ help, saying," Come, 0 Breath, and breathe on these dead desires, that they may live!" "Keep yourselves in the love of God." '!'his we are to do when, from the mount of prayer, we go down into the world. Our whole duty in the world may be summed up in this-that we keep ourselves in the love of God there. The temptation is to slide into the love of self. In things forbidden we cannot love God at all. "Have no fellow- ship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." In things lawful we can love God only by putting due restraints on ourselves. Let us eat and drink and work, not for selfish ends, but for the glory of God. To keep ourselves thus in the love of God will require effort. Without effort we can keep ourselves in the love of self. Without effort men are eliding every day to ruin. It is not those a.lone that sin hard who are lost, but those also who do not bestir themselves. Let ns, then, make every effort to keep ourselves out of the love of self, and in the lo,•e of God. "Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." We have been trying hard to keep ourselves in the love of God amid worldly allurements. We are not now to rest in anything we have done, as thonj!:h we had advantaged God in any way. " So likewise ye, when ye sho.11 have done all these things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." We are conscious of our feebleness as agents. We find it hard to live the most holy life, to attain to eminent distinction in holiness. 'vVe are conscious of self soiling even our best efforts. It is well, then, that we can look for mercy. But for mercy we should faint. It is well that we can look for the mercy" of our Lord Jesus Christ." We can hope that our poor services will be accepted of God with an all-merciful regard to that perfect service which he has rendered on our behalf. Thus, then, are we to build up the most holy life. We are to begin with prayer in the Holy Spirit; we are to go about every- thing in the world in the love of God, and then we are to look for acceptance of what we bo.ve done through Jesus Christ. That is to be our order of procEdure " unto the lifo eterual" (the unity of thought connects this with all)-until this life of time is merged in the life of eternity, until this very imperfect life is merged in the perfect life above. Let us look forward to this complement and goal of our life as that which is fitted to free and uplift us under present conditions. XI. EXHORTATION TO READERS REGARDING THI!: ENDANGERED. 1. Those who are in incipient danger, "And on some have mercy, who are iu doubt." By those" who are in doubt" we are to understand those who hesitated in their judgment of the courso pursued by tho men with whom J Ullc has been dealing. In their hesitating mood there  44 THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JUDE. ~l-25