A.D. 67. forward on their jourafter a godly fort, thou fhalt do well : ney, 7 Because that for his name's fake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive fuch, that we might be fel low-helpers to the by acquainting you how Great a Character you bear in the Christian Church upon this Account. 7 & 8. For, indeed, our Chriftian Bounty can never be better fpent than upon fuch Men, whose Zeal for the Honour and Religion of Christ is so true and generous, that to prevent Prejudices, and take off the Objections of fome of our Adverfaries, they Preach the Gospel to feveral Gentile Churches, with26. 1 Cor. out any Contributions from them, and earn their Living by their own Labours. By affifting fuch Preachers, you your felf become an Inftrument of promoting the Gospel, as indeed, 'tis every Chriftian's Duty to be as far as he is able. Ants xv. ix. 18. See Pref. § 1. truth. * unto 9 I wrote || Ver. 13. the church but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre eminence among them, 9. I was once * minded to have Writ at large, to your whole Church, to encourage all its Members to pay a due Respect to their Orthodox Minifters, and to avoid the Falfe and Wicked + Doctrines of Heretical Teachers; but Diotrephes, who is one of them, and his Party, I find, are so prevalent, that I confidered, a Letter was not likely to have much Effect, and ..Ver. 14. fo resolved upon another.. Method; + Ver. 11. receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating againft us with malicious words and not content therewith; neither doth he himfelf receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them 10. Viz. To come and Vifit your Church in Perfon, and take due Cognizance of that Malicious and Bufie Man, that prefumes to Reproach Me, and the reft of the Apostles, for not impofing Circumcifion upon the Gentile Christians; that denies all Entertainment to the Minifters fent by us, to your Church, and * I Wrote; iyfava, 1 had Written, or would have Written. So the Vulg. and Syr. very rightly, according to the common Latitude of Tenfe in the Eattern Tongues. See 1 Cor. xv. 32. them that would, and cafteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good, is of God but he that doeth evil, hath not seen God. Man a True Member 12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true. 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: 14 But I truft I fhall fhortly fee thee, and we fhall fpeak and even Perfecutes and Excommu- A.D. 67. 11. Mean time, I earnestly en- 12. Demetrius has the general 13 & 14. I must wave further Chriftian Friends here fend hearty face to face. Peace be | 1 John iii. 6--10. A PARA A PARAPHRASE To whom, § 1. and on what Occafion. Why general. ΟΝ ΤΗΕ EPISTLE GENERAL OF St. 7 UD E. The PREFACE. HE whole Argument of this Epistle has an exact Agreement, and feveral of its Expreffions are fo perfectly the fame with the Second of St. Peter, that the moft Judicious Writers make it a ftrong Conclufion, it must have been Written about the fame Time, and levelled at the Lewd Principles of the fame Jewish Zealots, and Heretical Teachers. For the Particulars whereof the Reader is referred to the Preface of Peter, § 4. and to Preface 1 John, § 3. S2. As his Brother James directed His Epistle to the Churches of the Jewish Difperfion, fo St. Jude's feems plainly to have been fent to the Chriftians of the whole Circumcifion, both Foreign and Domestick; and therefore it bears the Title of a General Epiftle: Though I make no question but it had a Peculiar Refpect to Such amongst whom he had exercifed his Miniftry. The The CONTENTS. The Salutation and Defign of the Epifle; viz. To arm them against the Errors and Vices of Falfe and Heretical Teachers. The Certainty of their fevere Punishment, inferred from the Inftances of the Rebellious Ifraelites, the Fallen Angels, Sodom and Gomorrah. Very Black Defcriptions of thefe Hereticks. The Traditional Hiftory of Michael, and Prophecy of Enoch referred to. Chriftians not to be furprized at thefe Hereticks, becaufe foretold by the Prophets, and by Christ Himself. He Exhorts them to Steddinefs in the True Faith. Prays for them, and concludes. J UDE the fervant I & 2. of Jefus Chrift, and brother of James, to them that are fanctified by God the Father, and preferved in Jefus Christ, and called. 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love be multiplied. 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common falvation; it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye fhould earnestly con UDE (called in the Gof- Written pels Thaddeus, and Leb- A.D. 67. beus, to diftinguish him from Judas Ifcariot) the Brother of James, Bishop of Jerufalem, an Apoftle of Jefus Chrift, fendeth this Epiftle to the Jewish Chriftians, to all that in thefe Corrupted, Perfecuting and Apoftatizing Times, remain firm and fteddy to their Profeffion: Wishing you the utmoft Degree of Divine Favour and Happiness. 3. In Writing to you, dear Brethren, upon the great Subject of our Chriftianity, the chief and most neceflary Argument I can chufe to infift upon is, that of Courage and Conftancy to the plain and original Doctrines of it *. tend for the faith which was once * delivered unto the faints. 4. One *Ver. 3. The Faith once delivered: anak wapadobsion; Delivered once for all; i. e. So as to need no further Confirmation befide the Evidences given of it by Chrift and his Apoftles; and fo as to admit of no Alterations or Additions. See the Note on Heb. ix. 26. A.D. 67. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before* of old or dained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lafciThe Jewish vioufnefs, and denying the only Lord Hereticks. God, and our Lord 1 John xiii. Jesus Christ. Zealots. See Pref. 4. One would think, indeed, this were a needless Topick to Men really profeffing themselves Disciples of Christ: But, that Lewd and Wicked Set of Men, whofe Vices and Punishment were foretold by the Prophets and by Christ himself, fome of them denying Chrift to I be the True Meffiah at all, others || affirming He Lived, and Preached, and Died in Appearance only, and not in Reality; and all of them, by promoting fome Vicious Practice or other, have fo infinuated themfelves into, and corrupted the Chriftian Church, that we are forced to run back to the Defence of its first and plainest Principles. 5 I will therefore 5. Wherefore, to prevent you put you in remem- from being drawn into that defpebrance, though ye rate Principle of theirs, viz. That once knew this, how the External Profeffion of Religion, that the Lord having and the Privilege of being Member's faved the people out of the land of Egypt, of the true Church, is enough to fave afterward destroyed a Man, whatever his Practice be; them that believed and, at the fame time, to fatisfy you, how certain the Punishment of fuch Wretches will be ; let me remind you of the former Dealings of God in the like Cafes. The Ifraelites you know were the Chofen People, and Church of God: Yet how were They, that had the Favour of a Miraculous Deliverance from Egyptian Bondage, deftroyed for their Difobedience, and never faw the promised Land! not. 6. And Of Old fore-ordained to this Condemnation: SIG TYTO TO HIMA; Men of whom it was before-written that they would deferve this Condemnation, 2 Pet. ii. 3. Ibid. Denying the only Lord God; i. e. denying Him, in effect, by denying Chrift his Son, or by corrupting the True Religion, as to defeat all the main Defigns of it. See 1 John ii. 22, 23. |