A Catholicon, Part 1 · Subpart 1
The first lecture.
BEfore I come to handle this epistle, foure things I will briefly touch, the author, the occasion, the authority of this epistle, the matter, argument, & parts thereof.
1. The author, is Iude the Apostle, called here the brother of lames: there are two called Iames, one the brother of Iohn which was beheaded by Herod, Act. 12. 20. the sonnes of Zebedeus, Mark. 3. 17. the other was Iames the younger, the sonne of Alpheus, Math. 10. 3. there were of them foure brethren, Iames, Ioses, Simon, Iude: Math. 13. 55. their mother was Marie, Math. 27. 56. the wife of Cleophas, Iohn 19. 25. who was also called Alpheus, and the sister of Marie: there were two Apostles of this name; as there were two Simons, Simon Peter, and Simon Cananeus: two Iames, one of Zebedeus, the other of Alpheus: so two Iudas, one Iscariot, which betrayed Christ, the other the brother of Iames: and three of these brethren, Iames, Iudas, Simon were Apostles.
2. The occasion was this, Iude remaining after most of the Apostles, vntill th… time of Domitian, some 50. yeares after Christ, and seing the decay of religion and manners, that some making a shewe of faith, yet gaue themselues to all voluptuous liuing, such as were the Nicolaitans mentioned, Apoc. 2. 6. the Apostle taketh occasion to write this epistle against such carnall professors, admonishing the brethren to take heede of such.
3. Some of the authoritie of this epistle hauehave seemed to doubt: both because it is compiled out of S. Peter his second epistle, second chapter: and for that mention is made of obscure and hid matters, not mentioned in Scripture; as of the body of Moses, v. 9. of the prophesie of Henock. v. 14. For answere whereunto, we say first, for one Apostle to followe another in their writings doeth no more derogate from them, then for one prophet to followe another: as the 36. and 37. chapters of I say are word for word the same with the 18. and 19. chapters of the second of the Kings: and in diuers other places, who listeth to obserue, shall finde the latter prophets doe borrowe of the former: secondly, these writings are now perished, which the Apostle citeth, or he had them by some approued tradition, which he allowed, as he was directed by the spirit, as Saint Paul maketh mention of Iannes and I ambres, 2. Tim. 3. 8. and like mention is made of the booke of Iaser, Iud. 10. 13. & Num. 21. 14. there is mentioned the booke of the battels of the Lord.
4. The parts of this epistle are foure, 1. the title or inscriptiō, v. 1. 2. the proposition containing the matter of the whole epistle, v. 2. 3. the amplification, which comprehendeth a description both of the sinnes of these carnall professors, and of their iudgements, vntounto vers. 17. 4. The conclusion containing a vehement exhortation to carefull circumspection, & heed taking: from v. 17. to the end.
Vers. 1. Iude the seruant of Iesus:] The inscription cōtaineth three things; the person saluting, the person saluted, the salutation in selfe, v. 2.
Iude, seruant:] he was also called one of Christs brethren after the flesh, Math. 13. Doctrine, 1. Seruant of Christ, most honourable title.yet he counteth this the most honourable title of all to be Christs seruant.
Probation: 1. Cor. 7. 23. It is a most excellent freedome to be the Lords seruant: 1. Tim. 1. 12. He put me in his seruice.
Demonstrat. Rom. 1. 1. 2. Pet. 1. 1. Paul and Peter first name themselues seruants, then Apostles: so that the name of Seruant is more excellent: and Iames which is called the Lords brother, Galath, 1. 19. yet leaueth that name, and calleth himselfe the Seruant of Christ: Iam, 1. 1. The Berheans entred into the seruice of Christ are counted honourable. Act. 17. 11.
Exornat: If it were such an excellent priuiledge to be a subiect to Caesar, a Romane, Act, 22. 25. much more to be seruant to Christ.
Reasons: 1. In regard of our Masters high protection, Heb. 13. 5. He will neuer leaue nor forsake vsus. 2. In regard of his prouision, Luk. 15. 17. They hauehave bread enough: that is, God prouideth all necessarie things for his. 3. In regard of the great reward of Gods seruice, Mat. 19. 28.
Use: 1. We lay open the hypocrisie of the pope who calleth himselfe a seruant Error. 1.of seruants, yet taketh vponupon him to be a king of kings: who professing himselfe a seruant, doth his own will and not his masters, like vntounto that euill seruant, which smiteth his fellowes, Mat. 24. 48. Secōdly, we are taught, that eueryevery man in his place should seeke to doe some acceptable seruice vntounto Christ, in setting foorth his truth: that no man be an vnprofitable mē ber, as they are which spend their time in ryot and wantonnesse.
Called and sanctified] Here are set down three parts of our iustification and incorporation Doctrin 2.into Iesus Christ, vocation by God the father, sanctification by the holy Ghost, preseruation by Christ: so that it is in vaine to be called first, vnlesse we be sanctified, and to be sanctified vnlesse we be kept and preserued, not to loose our sanctification.
Doctrine: that it is in vaine to be called, that is, stirred and mooued to receiue the faith, vnlesse we be sanctified.
Probat: Math: 20. 16. Many are called but few are chosen, that is, truely sanctified: Iam. 1. 14. it auaileth not to be so called to the faith.
Demonst: Mark. 6. 20. Herod seemed to be called and somwhat in wardly touched, but he was not sanctified; he would not forsake his sweete sin of incest in keeping his brothers wife. Simon Magus was baptized, and so called, Act. 8. but he was not sanctified to leaue his gaineful sin of couetousnesse.
Exornat: Like as the Israelites were called out of Egypt into the wildernesse, but there they murmured against God, & did not sanctifie him in his workes.
Confirmat: I am. 1. 22. Deceiuing your own selues: that is, they think it enough to heare the word onelyonly: another cause is forgetfulnesse, v. 24. The louelove of the world & their owne pleasure putteth from them the desire of sanctification.
Vse: 1. The papists slander vsus, that say, we preaching faith destroy good workes: Error 2.whereas we affirme with the Apostle, that our calling is fruitlesse without sanctification. 2. Let no man content himselfe to come to heare the word, but labour to amēd your liues, your drūkennes, extortiō.
Reserued] or preserued by or to Christ, that is, that he should keepe and continue them in their holy profession.
Doctrine: That they which are giuē vntounto Doctrin. 3.Christ, and truely called, shall be preserued Faith neuer lost.to the end, Phil. 1. 6.
Testim: 1. Pet. 1. 5. which are kept by the power of God through faith.
Exampl: 2. Tim. 4. 18. God will deliuer me from eueryevery euill worke, & preserue me to his kingdome. Like as Zachar. 4. 9. Zerubbabel did both lay the foundation of the temple and finish the worke, so God will establish and make perfect the worke begun in vsus: Psal. 68. 28.
Reason: The cause of this continuance and perseuerance is not in our selues, because we are subiect to mutabilitie, and are readie to fal like water, as Reuben that lost his birthright, Gen. 49. 5. but the cause is in Christ that holdeth vsus: Ioh. 6. 39.
Use: 1. Against the papists that say, faith Error. 3.faith may be lost, and that a man may fall away from his election, for Christ looseth nothing that is his, and Gods word & decree is immutable: Heb. 6. 2. That seeing many doe fall away, as Demas did, 2. Tim. 4. that we pray continually, that Iesus Christ may hold vsus.
Vers. 2. MercieMercy, peace, louelove be multiplied] MercieMercy frō God the father in forgiuenesse Doctr 4.of sin, peace in Christ in feeling our conscience setled, louelove in the holy Ghost, in beeing more and more assured of Gods louelove towards vsus.
Multiplied] doctrine: that we endeauour Assurance of saluation.to increase in the graces of Gods spirit, & in inward feeling and assurance.
Probat: Phil. 1. 9. Coloss. 1. 10. The Apostle wisheth that they may increase and abound in all graces.
Demonst. 2. Cor. 1. 5. Saint Paul sheweth concerning himselfe, that as his sufferings increased, so his consolation much more in Christ: such an one was Marke, at the first weake and fearefull, Act. 13. 39. but afterward strong and profitable. 2. Tim. 4. 11. In this respect, Iudg. 5. last verse, the righteous are compared to the sunne that still from his rising encreaseth.
Reason. The cause of this increasing, 1. Cor. 15. 10. The grace of God in vsus is not in vaine, but maketh vsus abound.
Vse. 1. The papists are confuted, who thinke a man can not grow vp to an assurance Error. 4.of saluation: seeing that the children of God may increase till they come to a perfect growth in Christ, Ephes. 4. 11. 2. They are reproued, that either loose their first louelove, or increase not but continue in one state.