Touchstone to Determine the True Catholic Faith, Part 2
Iudas the seruaunt of Iesus Christ, Text. Verse. 1.and brother of Iames] This is a rare saluation, as a learned man noteth; and vnlike the other saluations of the Apostles: but full of doctrine, full of comforte. This Epistle is but a shorte Epistle: but by it, as by a little touchstone, gold from copper: as by a small fanne, wheate from chaffe: that is true Christians and Catholikes, from false, and counterfaite, are easilie to be discerned. Here, as in a litle map, the whole sum of Christian religion, is set down: who will not then highlie esteeme it; wherein so excellent thinges, so plainely & briefely are cōteined? The principal duty of seruaunts in the holy scriptures, is taught vsus in two wordes, that is, in obedience, and feare.Eph. 6.5. You seruaunts (saieth S. Paul) obey your masters. Wherein this worde (obey) in the gréeke, importeth an obedience of the eare, specially: that is, that all seruantes shoulde obey their masters worde and commaundement: be it neuer so harde, séeme it neuer so strange, although it be against reason, in their owne iudgements.Gen. 12.1. So Abraham obeyed God, like a good seruante, going out of the lande of Vr of the Chaldees, being 70. yeares old.Gen. 22.10. So he would hauehave offered his sonne Isacke. in whome, God had promised him, all the nations of the worlde should be blessed, and whom hee loued most dearelie. So Noah obeyed the commaundements of God,Gen. 6.22 in laying out his monie, in making an Arke: when as all the mightie, and wise men of that world, laughed him to scorne, and accounted him as a foole for his labour: Being alone, and none to take his parte or to assist him, but Gods worde onelie, which no doubt was a notable comforte vntounto him. The verie carpenters, that earned his monie, and framed the arke, were drowned, they beléeued not this worde and commaundement of God.
Wée hauehave examples againe in the scripture of euill seruants. Saul a King, being commanded to slay Amalecke, thought,Sa. 15.9. by his authoritie, he might pardon the king, and saue the fatlings: and hee had some good intente in this his doing, to offer sacrifice thereof to God. But for this his disobedience, to Gods word and commandement, though a king, hee was reiected. The Israelites are reproued by all the prophets, for their costlie sacrifices, and stately buildings, which they called their high places, which besides Gods commandement they ordained. And therefore by the prophet Esay, Esay. 1.12God condemneth all this their external, hypocriticall, and voluntary religion: saying, who required this at your handes, to trample in my courts? That is, to bee present with your bodies, but to hauehave your hearts far off. Offer you no more the lying or false offering or gift: your frankinsence or perfume are abhomination to me. Verse 26.And after, Sion shall be called the faithfull citie: she shall be ashamed of the great elmes, & pleasant gardens, she hath chosen to serue God in. So that the principall duty of Gods seruantes, is obedience to his word, as appeareth by these examples.
Secondlie, to feare to offende him. Both these are also by our sauiour in the gospell, linked together in two wordes: who is a faithfull and wise seruant. Luke. 12.42. Rom. 10.17 Pro. 1.7Faithfulnes, is obedience to his word, to do all things he commandeth. Faith commeth by hearing, & hearing by the word of God: And the first point of wisedome is to feare the Lord. So that seruants must bee faithfull in doing their maisters will, and wise in fearing to offend him. So the Lorde by the prophet Malachie requireth this of his seruants. If I be a master, where is my feare? Mal. 1.6In times past there was great feare in the worlde, whereof many will talke at this daie; howe loath men were to break their penāces laid on them: but this was the feare of man. All Gods seruants must feare to breake his commandements. For the feare of God consisteth chiefelie in kéeping his commandements.Matth. 25 So the Iewes were afraide to eate with vnwashen hands, to sweare by the golde of the temple, and such like precepts they obserued: but this was no feare of God. Herein though they feared, yet they were not Gods seruants.
Brother of Iames.] This remembrance of his brother in writing this epistle, should also teach vsus in all our dealinges and affaires to remember our brethren: That those whom we deale with, are our brethren. And surelie this onlie consideration woulde kindle charitie amongst vsus: who woulde deale hardlie with his brother? The forgetfulnes hereof, is the cause of all the hard dealings, that now is in the world. We forget that we deale with our brethren. This consideration, woulde cease manie quarrels: which are so common at this daie, and more common then euer heretofore. Abraham said to Lot, let there be no strife I pray thee, Gen. 13.8between thee and me, neither between my hearde men and thine. For we are brethren. Surelie, if our contentious countrimen, that for euerie light trifle, will go to lawe, would remember but this short lesson of their father Abraham (whose sonnes if they be not, they can neuer be saued,) I am perswaded it would end manie of their vain suites. This only reason moued Abraham in a waightie matter to peace and concord; and shall it not moue vsus in lighter causes?
Secondlie, S. Iude names himselfe the brother of Iames, to make a differince betweene himselfe and Iudas the traitor. And herby he also teacheth al christians a notable lesson, that is, not to hauehave anie affinitie or likenesse, with the wicked. Let euerie good christian, as much as in him lieth, be opposite against the wicked, and hauehave no fellowship with them, neither in their words, works, nor garments. And of this outward resemblance S. Paul saieth, foreign,Rom. 12.2 2. Thes. 5.22. bee not like in your outward shape and forme to the wicked world. And in an other place, Abstaine from al appearance of euill. It is a wonder to see at this daie, how sathan bewitcheth, euen some of them that feare God, that they are caried awaie with these outward shapes and fashions of the wicked.