1. THE elder unto the beloved Gaius, whom I truly 2 love. Beloved, I pray, that in every respect thou mayst prosper and be in health, as thy soul prospereth. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came, and

testified of the truth that is in thee, as thou walkest in 4 the truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that 5 my children walk in the truth. Beloved, thou dost faith

fully whatsoever thou dost to the brethren and to strangers, 6 who have testified of thy love before the church; Whom

Ver. 1. Gaius was, probably, the Gaius of Corinth, whom St. Paul mentions, Rom. xvi. 23. If so, either he was removed from Achaia into Asia, or St. John sent this letter to Corinth.

V. 3. For-I know thou usest all thy talents to his glory: the truth that is in thee-The true faith and love.

V. 4. I have no greater joy than this-Such is the spirit of every true Christian pastor: to hear that my children walk in the truth-Gaius probably was converted by St. Paul. Therefore when St. John speaks of him, with other believers, as his children, it may be considered as the tender style of paternal love, whoever were the instruments of their conversion. And his using this appellation, when writing under the character of the elder, has its peculiar beauty.

V. 5. Faithfully—Uprightly and sincerely.

V. 6. Who have testified of thy love before the church-The congregation with whom I now reside: whom if thou send forward on their journey-Supplied

if thou send forward on their journey after a godly sort, 7 thou shalt do well. For they went forth for his sake, 8 taking nothing of the Gentiles. We ought therefore to

receive such, that we may be fellow-helpers to the truth. 9 I wrote to the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore if I come I will remember his wicked deeds which he doth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth 11 them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that is a doer of good is of God; he that is a doer of evil, hath not seen God. 12 Demetrius hath a good testimony from all men, and from the truth itself: yea, we also bear testimony, and ye know that our testimony is true.

13 I had many things to write; but I will not write to 14 thee with ink and pen. But I trust to see thee shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.

Our

with what is needful: thou shalt do well-How tenderly does the apostle enjoin this!

V. 7. They went forth-To preach the gospel.

V. S. To receive-With all kindness, the truth-Which they preach.

V. 9. I wrote to the church-Probably that to which they came but Diotrephes-Perhaps, the pastor of it: who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them-To govern all things according to his own will: receiveth us not-Neither them nor me. So did the mystery of iniquity already work!

V. 10. He prateth against us Both them and me, thereby endeavouring to excuse himself.

V. 11. Follow not that which is evil-In Diotrephes, but that which is good— In Demetrius. He hath not seen God-Is a stranger to him.

V. 12. And from the truth itself—That is, what they testify is the very truth. Yea, we also bear testimony- and they that are with me.

V. 14. Salute the friends by name-That is, in the same manner as if I had named them one by one. The word friend, does not often occur in the New Testament, being swallowed up in the more endearing one of brother.

NOTES

ON

THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF ST. JUDE.

1. The Inscription,

THIS EPISTLE HAS THREE PARTS:

11. The Treatise, in which,

1. He exhorts them to contend for the Faith,

2. Describes the Manners of his Adversaries, and their

Punishment,

3. Warns the Believers,

4. Coufirms them,

5. Instructs them in their Duty to Others, III.. The Conclusion,

ver. 1, 2.

3.

4-16. 17-19. 20, 21.

22, 23.

24, 25.

This Epistle greatly resembles the Second of St. Peter, which St. Jude seems to have had in view while he wrote. That was written but a very little before St. Peter's death; and hence we may gather, that St. Jude lived some time after it, and saw that grievous declension in the church, which St. Peter had foretold. But he passes over some things mentioned by St. Peter, repeats some, in different expressions and with a different view, and adds others, clearly evidencing thereby the wisdom of God which rested upon him. Thus St. Peter cites and confirms St. Paul's writings, and is himself cited and confirmed by St. Jude.

St. Jude.

1. JUDE, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are beloved of God the Father, and

Ver. 1. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ—The highest glory which any, either angel or man, can aspire to. The word servant, under the old covenant, was adapted to the spirit of fear and bondage that clave to that dispensation. But when the time appointed of the Father was come, for the sending of his Son to redeem them that were under the law, the word servant, (used by the apostles concerning themselves and all the children of God,) signified one that, having the Spirit of adoption, is made free by the Son of God. His being a servant, is the fruit and perfection of his being a son. And whenever the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in the New Jerusalem, then will it be indeed that his servants shall serve him, Rev. xxii. The brother of JamesSt. James was the more eminent, usually styled, the brother of the Lord to

2 preserved through Jesus Christ, and called, Mercy unto you, and peace, and love be multiplied.

3

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write to you, and exhort you, to contend earnestly for the faith 4 which was once delivered to the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were of old described before, with regard to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and 5 denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. I am therefore willing to remind you, who once knew this, that the Lord having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed them that believed not. 6 And the #angels, who kept not their first dignity, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness to the judgment of the great day. 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them,

* 2 Pet. ii. 4.

them that are beloved--The conclusion, ver. 21, exactly answers the introduction: and preserved though Jesus Christ-So both the spring and the accomplishment of salvation are pointed out. This is premised, lest any of them should be discouraged by the terrible things which are afterwards mentioned: and called-To receive the whole blessing of God, in time and eternity.

other

V. 3. When I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvationDesigned for all, and enjoyed by all believers. Here the desigu of the epistle is expressed, the end of which exactly answers the beginning: it was needful to exhort you to contend earnestly-Yet humbly, meekly, and lovingly; wise your contentions will only hurt your cause, if not destroy your soul: for the faith-All the fundamental truths, once delivered-By God, to remain unvaried for ever.

V. 4. There are certain men crept in, who were of old described before-Even as early as Enoch; of whom it was foretold, that by their wilful sins they would incur this condemnation: turning the grace of God-Revealed in the gospel; into lasciviousness—Into an occasion of more abandoned wickedness.

V. 5. He afterwards destroyed-The far greater part of that very people whom he had once saved. Let no one, therefore, presume upon past mercies, as if he was now out of danger.

V. 6. And the angels, who kept not their first dignity-Once assigned them under the Son of God, but voluntarily left their own habitation-Then properly their own, by the free gift of God : he reserved-Delivered to be kept, in everlasting chains under darkness-0, how unlike their own habitation! When these fallen angels came out of the hands of God, they were holy, (else God. made that which was evil,) and being holy, they were beloved of God, (else he hated the image of his own spotless purity.) But now he loves them no more; they are doomed to endless destruction: (for if he loved them still, be would love what is sinful;) and both his former love, and his present righteous and eternal displeasure towards the same work of his own hands, are because he changeth not: because he invariably loveth righteousness, and hateth iniquity.

V. 7. The cities who gave themselves over to fornication-The word here means, unnatural lusts: are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of

*

which in the same manner with these, gave themselves over to fornication, and went after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal 8 fire. In like manner these dreamers also défile the flesh, 9 despise authority, rail at dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed concerning the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. 10 But these rail at all things which they know not: and all the things which they know naturally, as the brute beasts, 11 in these they are defiled. Woe to them: for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.

12

These are spots in your feasts of love, while they

2 Pet. ii. 10.

eternal fire-That is, the vengeance which they suffered is an example, or a type, of eternal fire.

V.8. In like manner these dreamers-Sleeping and dreaming all their lives, despise authority-Those that are invested with it by Christ, and made by him the overseers of his flock: rail at dignities-The apostle does not seem to speak of worldly dignities; these they had in admiration for the sake of gain, ver. 16: but those holy men, who, for the purity of their lives, the soundness of their doctrine, and the greatness of their labours in the work of the ministry, were truly honourable before God and all good men; and who were grossly vilified by those who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. Probably they were the impure followers of Simon Magus, the same with the Gnostics and Nicolaitans, Rev. ii. 15.

:

V. 9. Yet Michael—It does not appear, whether St. Judé learned this by any revelation, or from ancient tradition. It suffices, that these things were not only true, but acknowledged as such by them to whom he wrote; the archangel-This word occurs but once more in the Sacred Writings, 1 Thess. iv. 16. So that whether there be one archangel only, or more, it is not possible for us to determine: when he disputed with the devil-At what time we know not: concerning the body of Moses-Possibly the devil would have discovered the place where it was buried, which God for wise reasons had concealed: durst not bring even against him a railing accusation-Though so far beneath him in every respect: but simply said-So great was his modesty! The Lord rebuke thee-I leave thee to the Judge of all.

V. 10. But these-Without all shame: rail at the things of God, which they know not-Neither can know, having no spiritual senses and the natural things, which they know-By their natural senses, they abuse into occasions

of sin.

V. 11. Woe unto them-Of all the apostles, St. Jude alone, and that in this single place, denounces a woe. St. Peter, to the same effect, pronounces them cursed children: for they have gone in the way of Cain-The murderer, and ran greedily (literally, have been poured out, like a torrent without banks,) after the error of Balaam-The covetous false prophet: and perished in the gainsaying of Korah-Vengeance has overtaken them, as it did Korah, for rising up against those whom God had sent.

V. 12. These are spots-Blemishes, in your feasts of love-Anciently observed in all the churches; feeding themselves without fear--Without any fear of VOL. II.