Exposition of Jude, Exegesis of Jude · Verse 4 · Part 6
EXPLICATION.
Two things are here to be explained.
1. How Chriſt may be ſaid to be Denyed; and particularly, What Denyall of him is here to be underſtood.
2. Wherein the ſinfulneſſe thereof ſhews it ſelf.
1. How Chriſt may, be ſaid to be denyed.
Denying, foreign.] Denyall (properly) is verball, reſpecteth our words, and ſignifieth the contrary to affirmation. Thus thoſe envious Rulers ſpake concerning the notable miracle of healing the lame man, Acts 4.16.that they cannot diſ-affirm, or deny it. Mat. 26.70. Joh. 18.25, 27. John 1.20.Thus Peter denyed openly before them all, that he had been with Jeſus. Thus John denyed not who he was, &c.
But improperly, and figuratively, denyall may be taken for ſuch a renouncing or rejection of a thing as may likewiſe be expreſs'd by the actions, and in realitie; And thus Moſes is ſaid to deny, Heb. 11.24.or refuſe to be called the ſon of Pharaoh's daughter; and ſo ſome are ſaid to have a form of Godlineſſe, 2 Tim. 3.5.and to deny (namely, in their courſe and carriage) the power thereof. And
Chriſt may be ſaid to be denyed,
1. Doctrinally, and by our words.
2. Really, and by our works.
1. Doctrinally, and by our words: And thus Chriſt hath been denyed, 1. In his Perſon. 2. In his Offices.
1. In his Perſon: and thus 1. the Jews deny his Perſon wholly, or that he was the promiſed Meſſiah, Act. 3.13, 14. And the followers of Simon Magus taught (as he himſelf had taught them) that he was the Son of God. Epiphan. lib. 1. c. 21. Aug. de Hareſ. cap. 1. Joſeph. l. 2. c. 12 Tertul. lib. de Haereſ.The like is reported of Menander, Judas of Galilee, and he who ſtiled himſelf Bencocab; all which (as credible Stories relate) gave out, that they were Chriſts, and Meſſiahs; the later whereof, though he call'd himſelf Bencocab, the ſon of a Star, applying to himſelf that propheſie of the Star of Jacob, was afterward by way of deriſion, called Barcozba, the ſon of a lie. 2. Chriſt, in reſpect of his perſon, hath been denyed in either of his Natures: In his Godhead, by the Ebionites, Cerinthians, Arians, Samoſatenians, and of late by Servetus and his followers. In his Manhood, by the Valentinians, Marcionites, Manichees, Apollinariſts, and of late by ſome Anabaptiſts. 3. The Perſon of Chriſt hath been denyed by thoſe who oppoſed the hypoſtatical union of the two Natures; and thus he was denyed by Neſtorians, Euticheans, Sabellians; the firſt dividing Chriſt into two perſons. The ſecond confounding and mixing his two Natures. The third mixing him with the perſon of the Father.
2. In his Offices. 1. Chriſt in his Prophetical Office is denyed by Papiſts, who impoſe upon us a new Scripture; 1. 1 Cor. 11.26. Hebr. 13.4. 1 Tim. 4.3.By taking away from it, in denying the Euchariſtical Cup to the people, meats alſo and marriage, and (which is worſe) in denying the food of life, the reading of the holy Scriptures to the common people. 2. Col. 3.16.By adding to it, in bringing in a ſecond place for puniſhment after this life, the fained fire of purgatory; by inventing five ſacraments, and introducing their own unwritten traditions, which they equally eſteem with, and often prefer before the Scriptures; and by making a Pope the infallible judge of the controverſies of faith.
2. In his Prieſtly office, Chriſt is denyed, 1. 1 Joh. 2.2. Mat. 20.18. Mar. 10.45. Heb. 10.12, 14 2 Cor. 5.21.By Socinians, who teach that he dyed not for us, that is, in our place and ſtead; but only for our benefit and profit, to ſhew us by his example the way which leads to ſalvation. 2. By Papiſts, who teaching that the Maſſe is a propitiatory ſacrifice, make the ſacrifice of Chriſt imperfect; and by joyning many other mediators and advocates with Chriſt, deny him to be the One and Only Mediator. They mingle the blood of Martyrs, yea of traytors, with the blood of Chriſt; teach that images are to be worſhipped, Angels invoked, relicks adored, &c.
3. In his Kingly office, Chriſt is denyed by Papiſts, who acknowledge the Pope the head of the Church, and teach that all power is given to him in heaven and earth, and that he can make lawes to bind the conſcience, and is univerſall Biſhop, &c. In a word, the eaſtern Turk denyes the perſon of Chriſt, and the weſtern his offices.
2. Chriſt is denyed really and by our works. And this denyall (I conceive) the Apoſtle here principally intends, for had theſe ſeducers in word denyed Chriſt, the Church would eaſily have eſpyed them. In ſpeech therefore they profeſſed Chriſt, but in their deeds they denyed him.Tit. 1.16.
Chriſt may be denyed by mens workes ſundry ways, 1. Heb. 10.29.By a malicious and diſpitefull oppoſing Chriſt and his Goſpel; of the truth and benefit whereof the holy Ghoſt hath ſo evicted a perſon, that he oppoſeth the Goſpel, even againſt the inward operation, and ſupernaturall revelation of the holy Ghoſt. This (as I conceive) is the unpardonable ſin, and was the ſin of Alexander the copper-ſmith, 2 Tim. 4.14.and of Julian.
2. By an open and wilfull apoſtatizing from the faith, and profeſſion of religion, haply for fear of perſecution, and out of too much love of this world. This (I conceive) was the ſin of Demas and Spira.2 Tim. 4.10.
3. By a politick and terme-ſerving neutrality, a lukewarmeneſſe, and halting between two opinions, for fear, or ſhame, when a man is oft on either ſide, but truly on neither. They on that ſide think him theirs, we on this ſide think him ours, his own conſcience thinks him neithers. To hold our peace when the honour of Chriſt is in queſtion, is to deny Chriſt, even to a miſtaking of the end of our redemption, 1 Cor. 6.20. Yee are bought with a price, therefore glorifie Chriſt in your body, Joh. 1.20.and ſpirit: Chriſt is not glorified, when his name is concealed. John Baptiſt confeſſed and denyed not. Whoſoever doth not openly confeſſe Chriſt, Pet. 3.15.doth ſecretly deny Chriſt. Chriſt is not to be hid, as the woman hid the ſpies in the deep well of our hearts, and covered over (as ſhe did the mouth of the well with corn) for worldly concernments. Rom. 10.10. Chriſtum deſeſerit, qui Chriſtianum ſe non aſſerit.If it be enough to beleeve in the heart, why did God give thee a mouth? He denyes Chriſt that doth not profeſſe himſelfe a Chriſtian. We are bound both conſentire and confiteri, both to conſent to, and confeſſe Chriſt. If it be ſufficient for thee to know Chriſt without acknowledging him for thy Lord, it ſhall be ſufficient for Chriſt to know thee, but not to to acknowledg thee for his ſervant. 2 Tim. 2.12.He who refuſeth to ſuffer for, dinies Chriſt. He who is not for Chriſt, is againſt him: There may be a ſinfull, a damnable moderation. The following Chriſt a far off, in this life, is no ſign that thou ſhalt be near to him in the next. No man will be afraid of being too profeſſed a Chriſtian at the day of judgment, or will think that he hath loſt too much for Chriſt, when he is preſently to loſe all things by death. If the time wherein we live be a night of profaneneſſe, its our duty the more brightly to ſhine as lights.Phil. 3.15.
4. By deſpairing of ſalvation offered through the merits of Chriſt, in the promiſe of the Goſpel. This is a thruſting from us the hand that would, and a caſting away the plaiſter that ſhould cure us. 1 John 5.10.This ſin makes God a lyar; changeth his truth into a lye, and Satans falſehood into a truth; and juſtifies the divell more than God. He that deſpairs of mercy (what-ever he pretends) practically denies the faithfulneſſe, ſufficiency, and ſincerity of the Lord Jeſus, and aſſerts the faithfulneſſe of him who is the father of lies.
5. Laſtly, By a looſe and profane converſation; and this kind of practicall, reall denying of Chriſt (I conceive) the Apoſtle particularly chargeth upon theſe ſeducers; They walked after their own ungodly luſts, their lives being full of earthlineſſe and epicuriſm, and their mouths of reproaches againſt holy obedience; they encouraging themſelves and others herein, by perverting the ſweet doctrine of the grace of God. Ii qui ſanguine Chriſti redempti fuerant, diabolo ſe rurſus mancipantes, incomparabile illud pretium irritum faciunt. Calv. in loc.They profeſſed the grace of Chriſt, but led moſt graceleſſe lives. Their practice gave their profeſſion the lye. If they were not aſhamed of Chriſt, yet were they a ſhame to Chriſt their Lord, who kept ſuch ſervants: they walked not worthy of their Lord. They had the livery of Chriſt upon their backs, and the works of the divell in their hands: The merit of his redemption they acknowledged, but they denyed the efficacy thereof, whereby he fanctifieth and reneweth the heart, ſubdueth ſin, and quickneth to new obedience. They acknowledged Chriſt a Jeſus, but denyed him as a Lord; Chriſt they took for their Saviour, but Satan for their maſter. They like it well to come to Chriſt for eaſe, but they will not take his (though eaſie) yoke upon them.
II.2d Branch of Explicat. Wherein appeares the ſinfulneſſe of this denyall of Chriſt.
1. It plainly comprehends the ſinne of Atheiſm. There's none who denies this only Lord God in his life, but firſt denyed him in his heart, and they who ſerve him not as the word commands, apprehend him not as the word diſcovers. They who are corrupt, and do abominable works, Pſal. 14.1.have ſaid in their hearts, there is no God. Life-Atheiſme is but the daughter of heart-Atheiſme. All outward actions are the genuine productions of the inward man; they are (as I may ſay) the counter-panes of the ſpirit, and ſo many derivations from that fountain. Now think, O Chriſtians, what an heinous ſin it is to deny that being, which thine own proves; nay, to hear, to ſpeak of God, to plead for God, to pray to God ſo frequently, and (in appearance) feelingly, and yet to deny that this God is.
2. The denyall of this Lord as clearly contains the ſin of unbeleife and diſtruſt. They who deny the ſervice of this their Lord, truly think what that wicked ſervant in the Goſpel ſaid; namely, that Chriſt, notwithſtanding all his promiſes, Mat. 25.24.is as an hard man, that reaps where he did not ſow; and that there is no profit in ſerving him. Heb. 3.12.'Tis this evill heart of unbelief that makes men depart from the living God. When men ſee no excellencie in Chriſt, 'tis eaſie for them to be perſwaded to reject him. He who beleeves not a jewel is precious, will eaſily part with it. He who denyes Chriſt, plainly ſhews that he hath no truſt in him, to receive any benefit from him. And how great a ſin is this unbelief, whereby fulneſſe it ſelf is eſteemed empty; Mercy it ſelf is reckoned cruell; Gain it ſelf deemed unprofitable; and all becauſe faithfulneſſe it ſelf is accounted falſe!
3. The denyall of Chriſt is notorious and unſpeakable profaneneſſe: it evidently ſhews, that a man preferrs other things before, and loves other things more than Chriſt. No man ever denies and leaves this beſt of Maſters, till he be provided of a Maſter whom he thinks and loves better. But how great a diſparagement and indignity do they, who ſet up any thing above Chriſt, offer to Him, who hath ſent and deſigned Chriſt (Joh. 5.23. and 6.27.) the maſter-piece of all his mercifull and wiſe contrivements, and to Chriſt himſelf! For there's nothing which can come in competition with Chriſt, but is infinitely below him. All the combined excellencies of creatures, put into the balance with Chriſt, bear not ſo much proportion as doth a feather to a mountain. To forſake Chriſt for the world, or a luſt, is to leave a treaſnre for a trifle; a mountain of gold, for an heap of dung; the pure laſting fountain, for the muddie broken ciſtern; Eternity for a moment; realitie for a ſhadow; all things for nothing. And therefore;
4. The denyall of Chriſt is the height of folly, and the forſaking of our own mercy. Acts 4.12.Chriſt is the only remedie againſt death; to deny the remedic, is to periſh unavoidably: He who denies him who is the Saviour, nay, Salvation, cannot be ſaved, no, not by Salvation it ſelf. No diſeaſe kils that ſoul who caſts not away this Phyſick; but he who refuſeth the means of recovery, concludes himſelf under a neceſſitie of deſtruction. How ſhall wee eſcape, if wee neglect this great ſalvation? Hebr. 2.3.Other ſins put men upon a poſſibilitie, the deniall of Chriſt upon a neceſsitie of damnation. They who deny Chriſt, ſhall be denyed by Chriſt: He often denies them in this life, 2 Theſ. 2.11. Pſ. 81.11, 12.by leaving them to ſerve and love thoſe lords whom they have choſen in ſtead of him; and by a denyall of any power to them ever to return to him whom they have renounced; yea, Apoc. ult. 12.As in the caſe of Spira, and Judas.by a denying them to their own conſciences, which oft flaſh into their faces the flames of hell, for the quenching whereof, they ſometimes relinquiſh (though in vain) thoſe trifles for which they denyed Chriſt: But moſt aſſuredly will Chriſt deny theſe Chriſt-denyers at the laſt day; he will be aſhamed of them, not know them, and baniſh them from his preſence, notwithſtanding their calling Lord, Lord, Mat. 7.23.and hypocriticall claiming of former acquaintance with him. He that denies Chriſt, denies a Lord who will deſtroy all Rebels, Luk. 19.27. he denies a Lord not weak, titular and mortall; but juſt, everliving, and omnipotent.
5. The practical denyal of Chriſt diſcovers a moſt rotten and unſound heart. What greater falſneſs imaginable, than to profeſſe and deny Chriſt at the ſame time? to put on his cloak for ſecuritie in ſinning? to ſpeak ſervice, and live oppoſition to him? to call him Maſter, only to mock him, and to do the work of his enemies? not to ſerve him whom we do ſerve? to be in the skin a Chriſtian, and in the coar an Heathen? Certainly, this meer outſide, complementall Chriſtianity, that bowes to Chriſt, and yet buffets him, ſhall one day be found to have had profeſſion onelyonly for an increaſe of judgment. Oh how juſt will it be for thoſe who never truly loved Chriſt, notwithſtanding their profeſſions, to hear Chriſt profeſſing that he never-knew them! The rotten profeſſor is the fitteſt fuell for eternall flames.
6. The denyall of Chriſt implies the greateſt unthankfulneſſe. If it be an unkind wickedneſſe to deny a creature, a ſervant that fears thee; what is it then to deny that Lord whom thou ſhouldſt fear? If to deny a Father that begat the body; what is it then to deny God, that created the ſoul? If to deny a wife, with whom thou art one fleſh; what is it to deny the Lord, with whom thou art one ſpirit? What evill have any found in him, to forſake, to renounce ſuch a Maſter? How great was his goodneſſe, to take ſuch unprofitable ſervants as we are into the family of his Church! What ſaw he in in us more then in heathens, to reveal to us the light of his truths, and the myſteries of ſalvation! What an honour did he put upon us, when he took us for his by baptiſmal initiation! Were not the imployments ever noble, ſafe, and ſweet, which he put upon us? is not the reward rich and bountifull which he hath promiſed? Muſt not our own conſciences be our own accuſers, when he requires of us the reaſon of denying him?