The General Epistle of St. Jude

Jude a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them which are called and sanctified of God the Father, and reserved to Jesus Christ: Mercy to you, and peace and love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence, to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, to exhort you, that you should earnestly contend for the maintenance of the faith, which was once given to the Saints. For there are certain men crept in, which were before of old ordained to this condemnation: ungodly men they are which turn the grace of our God into wantonness, and deny God the only Lord, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, forasmuch as you once knew this, how that the Lord, after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt, destroyed them afterward which believed not. The Angels also which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the Judgment of the great day. As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, which in like manner as they did, committed fornication and followed strange flesh, are set forth for an example, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise notwithstanding these dreamers also defile the flesh, and despise government, and speak evil of them that are in authority. Yet Michael the Archangel, when he strove against the Devil, and disputed about the body of Moses, dared not blame him with cursed speaking, but says, The Lord rebuke you. But these speak evil of those things, which they know not: and whatever things they know naturally, as beasts, which are without [reconstructed: reason], in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe be to them for they have followed the way of Cain, and are cast away by the deceit of Balaam's wages, and [reconstructed: perished in] the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, without all fear, feeding themselves: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds: [reconstructed: corrupt] trees and without fruit, [reconstructed: twice] dead, and plucked up by the roots. [reconstructed: Likewise the raging] waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame: they are [reconstructed: wandering stars], to whom it reserved the blackness of darkness forever: And [reconstructed: Enoch also] the seventh from Adam, prophesied of such, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with thousands of his Saints, to give Judgment against all men, and to rebuke all the ungodly among them of all their wicked deeds, which they have ungodly committed, and of all their cruel speakings, which wicked sinners have spoken against him. These are [reconstructed: murmurers], complainers, walking after their own lusts: whose mouths speak proud things, having men's persons in admiration, because of advantage. But, you beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you that there should be mockers in the last time, which should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are makers of sects, fleshly, having not the Spirit. But, you beloved, edify yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the holy Ghost, and keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to eternal life. And have compassion of some, in putting difference. And other save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, and hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now, to him that is able to keep you, that you fall not, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with joy, that is, to God only wise, our Savior, be glory, and Majesty, and Dominion, and Power, both now and forever, Amen.

Jude a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them which are called and sanctified of God the Father, and reserved to Jesus Christ: Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.

This Epistle is attributed to Saint Jude the Apostle, brother of James the less, and Simon: Mark 6, Luke 6. Whose mother was Mary the wife of Cleopas, and sister of the blessed Virgin Mary the mother of Christ: John 16. But it appears not expressly to be written by that Jude who was the Apostle, because herein he speaks and makes mention of the Apostles, as though he were but one of their disciples, and had written certain years after them. Neither does it contain any special or peculiar matter in it, other than that may well and fully be gathered out of the foregoing second Epistle of Saint Peter: to which it has entire reference, and out of which, all his reasons and sayings are in a manner taken. To conclude, this is nothing else, but an Epistle directly painting and pointing out the abuses, sleights and treacheries of our Papistical clergy.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you, of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you to exhort you, that you should earnestly contend for the maintenance of the faith which was once given to the Saints.

The effect of his meaning is this. I could not choose but write to you, to admonish and exhort you to persist and manfully go forward in that faith, which has now once been preached to you. As if he should say, It is needful and necessary that I should put you in remembrance, to strive and with all your endeavor to continue and persevere in the right way. The cause why it is so needful and necessary, here follows.

For there are certain men crept in, which were before of old ordained to this condemnation:

This is the cause why I have taken in hand to admonish you, to persevere and continue in that faith which you have heard: because even now there are creeping in, and already are entered, certain false seducers and deceitful preachers, which go about to teach and sow among you other counterfeit doctrines, contrary to those rules of faith which you have soundly learned: take heed therefore, for they be such a mischievous and fly generation, that they will subtly and suddenly steal away men's consciences, and with their erroneous trumpery seduce and [reconstructed: entice] them out of the right way of truth, before they can perceive it or be aware of their fetching collusions. So said Saint Peter before: There shall be among you false teachers, etc. And Saint Jude here says, they were long ago foreordained to this condemnation and judgment. Which thing is easy for us to understand, which know that no man is justified by any of his own works, but by faith only in Christ: in whom whoever assuredly and faithfully believes, and stays, as upon his chief buttress and only pillar of safety, is made partaker of all his benefits: and all Christ's works, by faith are become his. After this sure groundwork of faith once laid: all our works that we are able to do, ought to tend to the benefit and help of our neighbor. Whatever works are wrought to any other end than this, are devilish and damnable. Let a man therefore diligently take heed how he deals, and let him direct his works as fruits of his lively faith, to the help and benefit of his neighbor: for all other be odious and abominable in the sight of God, of which sort are these vowed professions, and meriting works of Massing priests and mumbling monks. He therefore that carries men from the anchorhold of faith to the [illegible] baubles and lousy ceremonies of these greasy votaries, and their works, is a deceiver and a seducer, and draws men with them into the like danger of condemnation.

Ungodly men they are, which turn the grace of our God into wantonness,

The preaching which is opened to us of the grace of God, and wherein Christ is set forth and commended to us, and how he with all his good benefits is exhibited and freely given to us, so that we are now clearly freed and delivered from sin, death, hell and all misery: this free grace and gift (I say) thus offered to us in the Gospel, these seducing and false deceitful hypocrites do abuse, to the maintenance of themselves in all lascivious wantonness. That is, they bear themselves bold under the name of Christians, and they boast and prate much of the Gospel but they live so dissolutely and disorderly, that they do all things according to the pitch of their own willful affections and lawless lusts, spending the time in riot, banqueting, carousing and gluttony. They vaunt and brag, saying, that they have taken upon them in a spiritual kind of life, and utterly renounced the delights of the secular state, and worldly dealings: whereas under the vizard of this pretended simplicity, they have invaded and raked into their hands (in a manner) all the wealth, delights and dignities in the world. This is already (says Jude) begun to be put in practice. For we read, that this mischief of bishops seeking lordly authority, and higher prerogative than other Christians, began above a thousand years ago, which thing in the epistles of Jerome is evidently to be seen.

And deny God the only Lord, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

So also writes Saint Peter in his [illegible]. But that denying (as it is there and here in [illegible]) is not with the mouth, (for outwardly in words they confess that God is the Lord) but in their works and dealings: they flatly deny the Lord Christ, not acknowledging him to be their Lord, but challenge rather a lordliness and predomination to themselves.

For when as they preach, that fasting, pilgrimage, building of abbeys, chastity, obedience, poverty, and such like, is the right high way to felicity, they thereby miserably seduce, and draw men from the truth, to those wretched works, utterly suppressing, concealing, and keeping Christ down. Which is no less, than if they should say: Christ avails nothing, neither can his works and [illegible] fires any whit help you. You must needs trust to yourself, and merit heaven with your own works. And thus they deny the Lord, who has bought and redeemed us with his own precious blood, as Saint Peter before declared.

I will therefore put you in remembrance, for as much as you once knew this, how that the Lord after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt destroyed them afterward which believed not. The angels also which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the judgment of the great day. As Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, which in like manner as they did committed fornication, and followed strange flesh, are set forth for an example, and [illegible] the vengeance of eternal fire.

Here he infers three several examples, whereof the two last are mentioned by Saint Peter. One only he here adds more, and [illegible] it of the children of Israel, whom God by many wonders brought out of the land of Egypt, and who for their unbelief died in the wilderness and were destroyed: so that of six hundred thousand men, beside women and children under twenty years, that came out of Egypt; there were left no more but only two. Numbers 11. This example he brings for an admonition and terror: as if he should say, let those that are called by the name of Christians, and under color thereof turn the grace of God into wantonness, take heed and look well to themselves, lest that happen to them, which fell upon the Israelites. And truly, since the time that blind popery began, and the clear light of the Gospel was covered and restrained from being publicly preached, one plague has still fallen in the neck of another, whereby God has still from time to time taken revenge of the unbelievers, and given them over into the very jaws of Satan.

Likewise notwithstanding these dreamers also defile the flesh,

These doctors and teachers he calls Dreamers, because that as when one dreams, he thinks himself to have somewhat, and to see many things, which in truth are but vain fantasies: and when he awakens and sees himself to have nothing, then he perceives all to be but a dream, and so makes no account of it. So, whatever these juggling rabbis and lordly masters do say, is nothing but mere dreams: which they shall one day, when their eyes shall be opened, well find and know to have been nothing at all. And namely, when they go about to persuade men that their shaven crowns, their forked caps, their willful poverty, their counterfeit chastity, their vowed obedience, and such like trash and gewgaws are things very acceptable to God — herein they marvelously [reconstructed: blind] themselves in their own imaginations, and think themselves to see that which in deed is but false and fantastical, and no better than a very fond and foolish dream: as in truth, all this their trash and trumpery is before God nothing else but mere dreams and lies. Therefore, in calling them Dreamers, he did very well, and hit them home with their right name, for that, with their dreams they seduce and beguile both themselves and the world.

This vice of living loosely and wantonly, the Apostles do peculiarly attribute and ascribe to those which are greased priests and marked Baalites. God long ago foretold us, that they should be a sect living without wives. And Daniel also prophesying of the kingdom of the Pope, foretold long ago, that their lust should be upon women (Daniel 11), because he foresaw that they would be such, as could not abide to be linked in lawful marriage with any women, but burn in lust and wicked concupiscence. And this is one of the outward jolly virtues, not much unlike to that their other inward properties, namely that they are dreaming sleepers.

And despise government, and speak evil of them that are in authority.

Their third quality is, that they refuse to be subject to the temporal sword, and civil magistrate. But we know, and so teach, that so long as we live upon earth, we are bound by the Word of God, to yield our obedience to magistrates. For the faith of Christ does not violate, infringe, and disannul external polity: and therefore it is not lawful for any man to exempt himself from his obedience toward them. Therefore we see it plainly and consequently proved, that the Pope's canons and decrees, touching ecclesiastical immunity, are nothing but very devices and inventions of Satan.

Yet Michael the Archangel, when he strove against the Devil, and disputed about the body of Moses, durst not blame him with cursed speaking, but said, The Lord rebuke you.

This is one of the places, for the which, this Epistle was by the old fathers not allowed and received for canonical: because he here alleges an example, which is not read elsewhere in any place within the whole body of the Bible: namely, that Michael the Archangel contended with the Devil, about the body of Moses. This contention some think grew hereupon, because there are so many notable stories written of Moses, namely, in the last chapter of Deuteronomy: where we read that the Angel of God buried him, but that no man knows of his sepulcher where it is to this day. Again, because the Scripture testifies of him, in the same chapter, that there arose not a prophet in Israel like to Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, etc. Seeing therefore in what great estimation and reverence Moses was among the Jews: some of the interpreters and expositors, that write upon that same last chapter of Deuteronomy, say, that Moses was buried by God, and that his sepulcher was never known, or found by any man. Which God did, to the intent the Jews should be kept from all occasion of committing idolatry, whereinto they might easily and quickly have slipped, if they had had the body of so noble and renowned a prophet among them, as Moses was. Therefore they gather, that this contention (here mentioned by Saint Jude) arose: because the Devil would gladly have had the body of Moses to be manifestly known where it was, to the intent the people might have had occasion to commit idolatry, thereby ministered to them. Now, albeit Michael were an Archangel, yet durst he not (says Saint Jude) rebuke him with cursed speaking, and railing sentence. But these blasphemous mouths and perverse persons, are not ashamed to despise, tread under foot, and speak evil of the powers, which are ordained by God, and to curse them to the eighth and ninth generation. And whereas they themselves are nothing else than wretched captives, and frail creatures: yet see they here, that Michael one of the chiefest angels, was afraid to curse and rail upon the Devil, being a most wicked spirit: not daring to say any further, than, The Lord rebuke you.

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: and whatever things they know naturally, as beasts, which are without reason, in those things they corrupt themselves.

These kind of persons are cursed speakers, and blasphemous railers, because they have skill of nothing but of excommunicating, accursing, and delivering over to Satan, not only kings, princes, potentates, and powers, but even God himself, and his blessed saints: as in the Bull of the Supper of the Lord is to be seen. They know not, that their salvation consists in faith and charity: they cannot abide to have their works dispraised, rejected, and condemned: neither will they suffer any to preach to the people, that we must only look for our salvation by the merits, death, and works of Christ: and therefore they condemn, accuse, revile, and blaspheme all true Christian doctrine: wherein they plainly discover themselves — how utterly blind and ignorant they are. But those things which they know by their own natural understanding, as trentals, masses and such like legerdemain, which fills both their pouches and their paunches, and brings in store of pelf, money and wealth, to that they wholly employ themselves, and thereby carry both themselves and others into perdition.

Woe be to them: for they have followed the way of Cain.

Cain killed his brother for no other cause, but for that his brother was more just and more godly than himself: and for that God had more respect and greater delight in his brother's sacrifice, than he had in his. Therefore the way of Cain, is to trust in our own works, and to renounce and reject those works that are true, and good works in deed: finally, to murder and slay all those that walk in the truth, and in the right way. Which nature and practice we see the Papists most earnestly with tooth and nail, daily to put in use.

And are cast away by the deceit of Balaam's wages.

They should be inwardly hidden with Christ, in an assured trust and confidence of God's divine grace: but they licentiously break out, and actually dispose themselves into sundry sorts of external and outward works: and do all things for greediness of gain, and pecuniary reward, to fill their bellies, after the example of the prophet Balaam, as was declared in the second chapter of the second Epistle of Saint Peter foregoing.

And perish in the gainsaying of Core.

Of the seditious rebellion of Core, and how he with his wicked confederates was swallowed into the earth, we read in the fourth book of Moses, chapter 16. Moses was appointed and called of God to this end, that he should bring and conduct the people of Israel out of Egypt: and his brother Aaron, to be the high priest. This Core, being also of the same tribe and family and ambitiously aspiring to carry some high authority, joined to him two hundred and fifty captains, of the best and most renowned among all the people: with whom he raised up such a mutinous faction, and seditious tumult, that brought all the company into an uproar, and wellnigh caused Moses and Aaron to flee, and give place to their fury. But Moses falling down upon his face, prayed to the Lord, that he should not look to their offering and sacrifice: and when he had spoken to the people, that they should separate themselves, and depart from the company of those wicked conspirators, he said: Hereby you shall know, whether the Lord has sent me, or no. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men, the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow down these men quick into the pit, then you shall understand that these men have blasphemed, and provoked the Lord. And as soon as he had made an end of speaking all these words, even the ground split asunder that was under them, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up with their families, and all the men that were with Core, and all their goods. So they and all that they had, went down alive into the pit, and the earth covered them. And there came out a fire from the Lord, which consumed the two hundred and fifty men, that had joined themselves to Core, and offered incense.

This example does Saint Jude bring against these our horrible and blasphemous Poplings: who charge us to be the authors of sedition and mutiny, when we preach against them: whereas in deed, it is they that are the causers of all garboil and trouble. For Christ is our Aaron and high priest: whom only we ought to hear, and acknowledge for the bishop of our souls. But that can not the Pope and his greased bishops abide: for they advance themselves aloft, and challenge to them all domination and power: and flatly oppose themselves against Christ. These, being altogether drowned and buried in earthly conversation and pleasure, and being the very world itself, does Saint Jude compare and resemble to Core and his companions, whom God strangely punished, so that the ground opened and swallowed them up alive.

These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, without all fear, feeding themselves: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds: corrupt trees and without fruit, twice dead, and plucked up by the roots. They are the raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame: they are wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

All this we have already heard largely discoursed in the Epistle of Saint Peter. The greater part of Christendom, has trained and brought up their children to the order of priesthood, and for none other cause, but to live idly and delicately without any labor of their own hands, or trouble of preaching: voluptuously enjoying and spending at their own ease and pleasure those goods, which poor men painfully got in the sweat of their brows. They are among the common people reputed and taken for the worthiest pillars, and (as it were) the jewels, and ornaments of the Christian congregation: whereas in deed they be but the spots and blemishes of the commonwealth, the scum and filth of the people, and the detestable masks of hypocritical holiness: they keep jolly cheer, and fare most deliciously, according to the old adage or proverb, which calls delicate and dainty delicacies, morsels for a priest. Finally they are without fear and care, verily thinking that Satan himself is not able to overthrow them. The flock they feed nothing at all, but are rather themselves the ravenous wolves, that devour and eat up the sheep. They are clouds that are carried on high, and swayed aloft in the air. For they have installed themselves in the chiefest places, and best rooms, and carry all the credit and countenance in the church: they ought to teach others, but they care nothing at all for that: suffering them to be carried here and there into the foggy mist of error and ignorance by the devil, the professed enemy of mankind. They are also fruitless and naked trees, such as are in the beginning of winter, bearing neither fruit nor leaves, yet they occupy a room as other trees do. They bear a show of the bishops of Christ, but they have in them no piece nor part neither of him, nor yet of his words or works, but are dead at the roots.

They are also raging waves of the sea, that is, even as the winds in the sea do toss and stir the waves this way and that way: so are they also carried wherever Satan drives them. They foam out their own shame, even as a pot, that has a great heat under it: they are so full of malice, that it runs over at the brim, they are so nuzzled in spitefulness and cruelty, that their swelling and cankered stomachs can not hold it, but must needs cast up and vomit out all their beastly filthiness, and therewith also defile and pollute others. They are wandering stars, such as they call planets retrograde having their motion backward: in like manner these fellows, whose life and doctrine is nothing but error, seduce and beguile both themselves and all those that follow them. And therefore there is reserved for them, the mist of darkness forever.

In these words and examples, Jude has depicted and set out our massing mates and poll-shorn prelates, who under the name of Christ and of the church, do bring in a sea of most lewd and execrable manners: and yet nevertheless under pretense thereof do catch and rake to themselves all the wealth of the world, and bring all men's heads under their girdles.

And Enoch also the seventh from Adam, prophesied of such, saying, Behold the Lord comes with thousands of his Saints, to give judgment against all men:

This place is not anywhere read in the Scripture: which is another reason why some of the ancient Fathers would not admit and receive this Epistle as canonical: however this is no sufficient cause, whereby to disallow or reject any Book: for Saint Paul also (2 Timothy 3) names Jannes and Jambres, two adversaries of Moses, whose names (notwithstanding) are not read in the whole Bible beside. However men's judgments have been or are, we will not now stand on that point. But this is true, that God from the beginning of the world has ever revealed his Word to some, wherein to the believers grace and salvation is promised, but to the unbelievers, judgment and damnation is threatened, and so it still continued even till the Ascension of Christ: from which time, the Word of God has been openly and generally preached over all the world. But before the nativity of Christ, God still chose some to himself whom he used as it were a certain thread, from hand to hand to deliver the manifestation and publication of his Word: first from Adam to Abraham: then from him to David, and so to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ, and others more to whom he revealed and delivered his truth.

The Gospel therefore was always preached in the world, but never so openly as now in these latter days. After this sort did this Patriarch Enoch preach and publish the Word of the Lord: which (undoubtedly) he had learned of his Father Adam, by influence from the Holy Ghost.

For it is recorded of him in the Scriptures (Genesis 5) that he led an upright and godly life, and therefore was taken up of God and was no more seen. Whereupon sprang that fable, that he should come again before the day of judgment: which thing is not to be looked for, unless we will understand it in this sense, that he shall come again in spirit: namely, for that, his preaching does fitly jump and agree to the time next before the general judgment: as here this present place very truly agrees thereto: wherein he speaks so certainly of the last day, as if he had presently seen it with his eyes. The Lord (says he) comes with thousands of his Saints: that is, with an infinite multitude. For, these words must needs be understood, only of the last day, wherein the Lord will come to judgment with all his Saints. For when he first came into the world, he came not with many thousands of his Saints, but alone: and that, not to judge, but to give grace.

And to rebuke all the ungodly among them of all their wicked deeds, which they have ungodly committed,

This place does Jude not unaptly here infer, directly sounding against false guides and counterfeit teachers, which he knew in great swarms should come a little before the last day: but it seems also very aptly to bear this interpretation and signification, that the Lord at his coming will first destroy and quite overthrow the Pope with all his imperious Pontificality. For, to such a great mischievous evil there is none other help or remedy, for the utter abolishing and quite taking of him away. For so long as the world endures, there will neither be end of him, neither can there any reformation and amendment in him be hoped for. And truly, this place cannot be understood of any other than of our Papists, who so miserably and lamentably seduce the world. For a more forlorn, desperate and wicked life, than that of the Papists, cannot possibly be imagined: wherein as they impiously already wallow, so will they still continue worse and worse, pretending (notwithstanding) great sanctimony and holiness under the name of Christ, whom they use as a cloak to contrive and hide all their villainous treachery. Under the name of Papists we may understand both them and all the rabble of seducing impostors and deceivers beside, which shall come a little before the last day, and all such as embrace and follow their godless impiety. This place therefore that he here alleges, is to be understood of the last day of judgment. We see, of whom he specially means that the said judgment is to be looked for. Whereupon we conclude that our tyrannous Shavelings and shaven Tyrants are with trembling expectation reserved for the last day and coming of the Lord, whether the same come and approach with speed, or stay yet somewhat longer.

And of all their cruel speakings, which wicked sinners have spoken against him.

In these words he both reproves their life, and reprehends their sayings: and it is as much as if he should say: They speak presumptuously and malapertly against the Lord, and against his coming, they are impudent and too arrogant, they deride and blaspheme him, as Saint Peter also in his Epistle writes of them. He speaks not here, of their life, as it is defiled and deformed with sins and iniquities, but as it is given over and entirely addicted to work all impiety. I call that impiety, when the life is led without faith, although the outward conversation be not altogether flagitious and damnable. Evil works are indeed the fruits of impiety: but impiety itself is properly called that life, which glitters outwardly with a gay show of hypocritical works, whereas the heart is utterly void of faith. Such impious persons (says he) the Lord will reprove, because the presumptuous doctrine which they boldly teach, they stiffly defend and obstinately maintain: leaning always to their own brainsick glosses and constructions, and not suffering themselves to be converted and turned to the truth: but are harder than the flint, and will never desist from condemning and blaspheming the doctrine of true godliness! Here we see, how lively these words of Enoch paint out and describe these kinds of persons that are and should foist themselves into the Church toward the latter end of the world, which undoubtedly are the Papists, as to every man evidently appears.

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts: whose mouths speak proud things,

If a man finds fault with their dealings, and reproves them as unlawful and dissonant to the Word of God, he shall be sure to bring himself thereby into a peck of troubles: they will murmur, repine, and gnash their teeth at him. As for example: if a man should but leave out or omit any piece or part of the Bishop's ordinary style and usual title, they straightaway with open throats cry out, 'Contempt and Disobedience.' There is no way left to withstand their lawless lusts and self-willed dealings, for they brag that they have power both over our bodies and over our souls: they have gotten into their hands both the swords: so that they cannot be compelled by law to do that which is just and right: and that any man should preach against them, that they cannot at any hand abide. They have exempted themselves and all theirs from all manner of tax, tribute, and imposition, so that no man dare once touch anything that belongs to them: finally, they are grown to that degree of tyranny, that no man dare presume to preach a word contrary to the order of their peevish proceedings. To allege any Scriptures against them, it is altogether pointless: for they say, that none may expound or interpret the same, save they themselves. By which means it has come to pass that in all places and in all things they live as licentiously as they list. For these sayings cannot be wrested or applied against us professors of the true Gospel, for that we reverently and dutifully submit ourselves, and yield our obedience as well to the Scriptures, as to the civil power: from both of which, they will be free and not compellable by any. Last of all, their decrees and canons are pestered and thwacked full of proud, arrogant, and swelling words, utterly void of all good and godliness.

Having men's persons in admiration, because of a vantage.

This hits their natures and dispositions very aptly, for they judge all things according to the person. In all the whole Pope's canons, you shall not once find it commanded, that the Bishop should humble himself beneath the poor Parish Priest, nor any of the fruits of a Christian life whatever. But all things rather sound thus: Let the Curate be under the Priest, the Priest under the Bishop, the Bishop under the Archbishop, the Archbishop under the Patriarch, and the Patriarch under the Pope. Finally, how everyone should wear his habit, his amice, his weed and cowl, after what fashion he should clip his hair, shave his crown and beard, and make his apparel, how many benefices and how many prebends he might keep, and so on. Thus, they brought all things to certain external ceremonies and traditions of their own making, and wholly occupied themselves in mere, childish, foolish, and frivolous trifles, which they held in great account and estimation: indeed they judged it no less than deadly sin, if any man should refuse to adore and reverence these their boyish toys. And therefore very well says Jude in this place, 'They have men's persons in admiration,' for they wrap up their lewd and loud lies in vizards of hypocrisy, and only admire those showy displays that are visibly presented to the eye. All this while they never speak a word, neither know anything as they should know, of faith, of charity, or of the cross. And yet the poor common people suffer themselves still to be besotted with these Popish bugs, and think themselves to do very acceptable service to God, in giving all their goods, substance, and patrimony to feed these filthy swine in the sty of this their lewd sensuality.

But, you beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you that there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

This place also gives some occasion to think, that this Epistle was not written by Saint Jude the Apostle, because the author hereof reckons not himself among the other Apostles, but speaks of them as though they had preached long before his time: whereby it may well be thought, that this was rather written by some other godly man, that had read Saint Peter's Epistle, and out of it culled and gathered these words and sentences. Who these mockers are, we have before declared, and who they also are, that walk after their own lusts: not only carnal and fleshy lusts, but those rather that savor of horrible impiety, wherein they live in each respect, according to their own inordinate desires: neither reverencing the civil magistrate, nor obeying the Word of God, but live so loosely and contemptuously, that they neither obediently acknowledge any external, nor yet internal government. All laws, as well divine as human, they flatly despise and set at nothing: and so fly in the air, in the middle between Heaven and Earth, even as they are hoisted up and carried aloft by their master the Devil.

These are makers of sects, fleshy, having not the Spirit.

Here he alludes to that which Saint Peter in his Epistle said, that there should come false teachers, who privily should bring in damnable heresies. These are they that disobediently break asunder the unity of faith: and being not contented with the common profession, and general appellation of Christians, (wherein each one is to serve and do good to his neighbor) they devise and invent certain new upstart sects of their own, whereby they feign a false counterfeit service to Almighty God. Furthermore they are natural, and fleshy, as brute beasts, having no more Spirit and understanding, than has a horse or an ass: they follow the judgment of nature, and are carried away with the concupiscence and lust of the flesh. Finally, they have not the Word of God, to direct and lead them, how to frame their lives and conduct.

But, you beloved, edify yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, and keep yourselves in the love of God,

In these few words he has briefly comprehended, the whole sum and effect of all true Christianity. Faith is the groundwork and foundation, upon which we must build: and this building or edifying is daily and hourly, to profit and go forward in the knowledge of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ: which is not done but by the operation of the Holy Ghost. Being in this sort built, we are not to do any work, whereby to purchase and win to ourselves any merit, or salvation, but only to profit and do good to our neighbors. And herein must we have a most diligent care, that we continue and persevere in true and sincere love, without any intermission: not as do these foolish people, who stay themselves upon their own rotten works, and devise certain peculiar sects, wherewith they draw away and seduce men from brotherly love and charity.

Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to eternal life.

Here is hope taught, and the cross commended. For our life ought so to be framed and led, that it should be nothing else, then a fervent sighing and a longing desire for the life to come. But yet so, that this our desire and longing must be wholly stayed upon the only mercy of Christ: to whom we must ardently pray, that it may please him, (even of his own mercy, and not for any merit that is in us) to take and translate us hence into the life to come, where endless joys forever abound.

And have compassion of some, in putting difference: And other save with fear, pulling them out of the fire:

This place is somewhat dark and obscure to be understood, but yet this is the true meaning thereof: Have you compassion of some: and save some. That is, so lead your lives, that it may even grieve you at the heart, to see some so miserably blinded, and willfully obstinate: Rejoice not at their misery, neither take any pleasure or delight in their lamentable miscreancy. But meddle not with their atheism, separate yourselves from them, and have no dealing or company with them. Other some, whom you may pull out of so great a danger, save and deliver by fearing them and holding them back with godly severity: deal with them courteously and gently, even as God has dealt with you: not roughly, not ragingly and sharply, but mildly and charitably. Do not with churlish sternness terrify and so spoil them: but deal with them, as you would with those that lie in the fire: whom you ought with careful diligence, wisely to pull out and save. If they be not contented to be pulled out and delivered, they are with gentle means and tender mercy to be borne withal: not (as the Pope and his heretical rabbis' use is) to be burned and spoiled.

And hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We have received the Holy Ghost by faith, and thereby are we purified: but yet nevertheless, so long as we here [reconstructed: live], this rotten sack of flesh and blood still hangs upon us, which is never without [reconstructed: whole] swarms of evil lusts. And this is that spotted garment, which while we here live, we ought to lay aside and put off.

Now, to him that is able to keep you, that you fall not, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with joy. That is, to God only wise, our Savior, be glory, and Majesty, and Dominion, and Power, both now and forever, Amen.

This is the conclusion and end of this Epistle. And thus are the Apostles wont in the end of their writings, preachings, exhortations and prophecies, to pray, to wish and to give thanks. We see therefore in these two Epistles, as well this of Jude, as that second of Saint Peter, what a true Christian life is: and how we may discern the sincerity of that doctrine which is pure, Catholic, and Christian, from that which is corrupt, counterfeit, and altogether anti-Christian.

FINIS.