Exposition of Jude, Exegesis of Jude · Verse 5 · Part 2 – Part 3
OBSERVATIONS.
1. Great is the ſin of thoſe who contemn repeated truths. Obſerv. 1.A Chriſtian muſt not have an itching, but an humble and obedient ear. Sinfull is that curioſitie that deſpiſeth a wholeſome truth becauſe it's common. Truths delivered of old, may poſſibly now be freſhly uſefull; and thoſe delivered now, may be helpfull in old age, or on our death-beds. Who would neglect a friend, that may ſtand him in ſtead hereafter? Every truth (like a Leaſe) brings in revenue the next year, as well as this. He that knows truth never ſo fully, knows no hurt by it; nay, the more he knows, the more of worth he ſees in it. How fooliſh are thoſe Chriſtians, who count no doctrine good, but what is new? who, as 'tis ſtoried of Heliogabalus, cannot endure to eat twice of one diſh? How juſt will it be for want to overtake the wantoneſs of theſe hearers?
2.Obſerv. 2. Chriſtians muſt not only receive, but retain alſo the truths of God. Our Memories muſt be heavenly ſtore-houſes and treaſuries of precious truths; not like hour-glaſſes, which are no ſooner full, but they are running out. The commandments muſt be bound upon our hearts, and holy inſtructions (like Books in a Library) muſt be chained to our memories. Keep theſe words in the midſt of thy heart, ſaith Solomon, Prov. 4.21. And, I have hid thy word in my heart, that I might not ſin againſt thee, ſaith David, Pſal. 119.11. The ſlipperineſſe of our memories cauſeth many ſlips in our lives. Peter forgot his Maſter, and then forgot himſelf: Firſt he forgot the word of a Maſter, and then he forgot the duty of a ſervant. Conſcience cannot be urged by that truth, which memory doth not retain. The ſame truths which being taken in, begat our graces, being kept in, will increaſe our graces. To help us in remembring heavenly truths, Let us 1. be reverent and heedfull in our attentions, as receiving a meſſage from God. He who regards not a truth in hearing, how ſhall he retain it afterward? 2. Let us love every heavenly truth, as our treaſure: Delight helps memory, Pſal. 119.16. and what we love we keep. 3. Our memories ſhould not be taken up with vanities: A Chriſtian ſhould be moſt carefull to keep that, which Satan is moſt induſtrious to ſteal away; and he is like a theef breaking into an houſe, who takes not away earthen veſſels, but plate and jewels; Satan empties not the head of worldly trifles, but of the moſt precious things. The Memory which is fill'd onelyonly with earthly concernments, is like a golden Cabinet fill'd with dung. 4. Let Inſtruction be followed with meditation, prayer, conference, Deut. 6.6.7. Pſa. 119.97.and holy converſation; by all theſe it is hid in the heart the more deeply, and driven home the more throughly.
3.Obſerv. 3. There is a conſtant neceſſitie of a conſciencious Miniſtry. People know and remember but in part, and as children; and till that which is imperfect be done away, we cannot ſpare miniſteriall remembrances. We ſhall want Paſtors, teachers, Eph. 4.12.13.&c. till we all meet &c. in a perfect man: And there are none weary of the Miniſtry, but they who love not to be remembred of their duty. Of this before.
4. The forgetfulneſſe of the people, Obſerv. 4.muſt not diſcourage the Miniſter. A Boat is not to be caſt up and broken in pieces for every leak: the dulleſt and weakeſt hearer muſt not be caſt off for his crazy memory, but pitied. The very Lambs of Chriſt muſt be fed; the feebleſt child in his houſe attended. Paul was gentle among the Chriſtians, even as a nurſe cheriſheth her children. If the preaching of a truth once will not ſerve the turn, if it be not underſtood or remembred the firſt time, Miniſters muſt declare it more plainly the next time, and put people in remembrance again and again.
5.Obſerv. 5. The work of Miniſters is not to contrive Doctrines, but to recall them. They ſhould deliver what they have received, not what they have invented. Their power is not to make, but manifeſt laws for the conſcience. That good thing (ſaith Paul to Timothie) which was committed to thee, keep, &c. Miniſters are not Maſters, but Stewards of the myſteries of God.
Thus much the first part of the preface, The duty of the Apoſtle. The ſecond follows, the commendation of the Chriſtians, Yee once knew this.
EXPLICATION.
It may be demanded, Why the Apoſtle ſaith that the Chriſtians once knew this following example of the Iſraelites, of which hee puts them in remembrance.
The Apoſtle mentions this knowledg of the Chriſtians, that he may gain their good will and favourable reſpect to the truth of which he was now ſpeaking, and that his arguing from theſe examples might the more eaſily find entertainment with them: For by ſaying that they knew this, 1. He labours to win them to a love of himſelf by commending them, and acknowledging that good to be, which he ſaw in them. He commends them for their knowledg and expertneſſe in ſcripture, and declares that he ſpake not to rude & ignorant, but to expert Chriſtians. 2. He gains the reputation of certainty to the truths of which he was ſpeaking, he appealing for this to their own knowledg, which was ſo clear herein, Concerning the word once, I have ſpoken largely before, pag. 231, 232.that he amplifieth it, by ſaying, that they knew it once, that is, certainly, unchangeably, and once for all, never to revoke and alter this knowledg: and both theſe inſinuations uſeth Paul to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 10.15. I ſpeak as to wiſe men, judg ye what I ſay: And to Agrippa, for the gaining his favour to that cauſe which he there defended, Acts 26.3. I think my ſelfe happy, that I ſhall anſwer for my ſelfe before thee, &c. becauſe I know thee to be expert in all cuſtomes, and queſtions which are among the Jews. And ver. 26. The king knoweth of theſe things, before whom I ſpeak freely. 3. By ſaying that they knew this, he prevents the objection which might be made againſt what he was about to ſpeak, in regard that it was old and ordinary; he inſinuating, that of ſet purpoſe be did produce a known and ancient truth, rather then a new and unheard of uncertainty.