unto thee: but I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall # speak face to face. Our friends salute thee. Peace be to thee. Greet the friends by name. The general Epistle of Jude. MAY 1, AUGUST 30, DEC. 31. ST. MICHAEL, evening, ver. 6 to ver. 16. RESTORATION OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. JUDE*, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 4 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, earnestly contend for the faith the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 5 I will there 3 Every Christian must expect to meet occasions, which will call forth all his resolution, in holding fast that which is good. and exhort you' that ye should which was once delivered unto fore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, These are they who abuse Christian liberty and grace-and "sin, Such, that grace may abound." virtually, deny their God. 5 What a striking warning, that election without holiness profiteth nothing. how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. Ver. 6. And the angels • Pride and discontent brought even which kept not their first angels to their fall. estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of 8 The proud, in their waking dreams Likewise also of ambition, scorn alike dominion, these filthy dreamers defile and those who lawfully exercise it. eternal life. 8 Jude is called in the Gospels, Thaddeus and Lebbëus, to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot. Jude was the brother of the Apostle James, bishop of Jerusalem. • Moses died, and was buried on mount Nebo by angelic ministration. The Israelites were kept in ignorance of the exact place of his sepulture; but otherwise they had offered divine honours to him, at the instigation of the devil. (Deut. xxxiv. 6.) 12 An awful picture this of those who give themselves up to sin-the sport of a wicked world, and the sharer of their own wild wills: restless, selftormenting, lost! the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 'Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not; but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto 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 Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their 19 Even in those early days, factious own ungodly lusts. 19 These men divided the church of Christ. be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, 15 15 How will they meet the Lord in death, who in life have "spoken against him their hard speeches," vilified his word, set at nought his Spirit, slighted his atonement ?-0 may they repent, whilst repentance can avail ! making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able 24 How noble-how affecting is this exhortation to glorify our God; all wise, all powerful, all merciful. It is well calculated to inspire a courage which no dangers may deter from duty, supply a patience which no sufferings shall weary, and encourage a perseverance in well doing, which persecution and death shall alike fail to overcome. Reader, pray that this God may be wisdom, and strength, and comfort to thee! The Revelation of St. John the Divine. [To those chapters only, which are appointed as Lessons, is note or comment affixed.] CHAPTER I. ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, morning. THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand. JOHN to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which The Holy Spirit is spoken of here as seven spirits, because He presided equally over the seven churches specified in ver. 11. It is usual indeed, in prophetic language, thus to designate the fulness and perfection of any quality or agent. (1 Cor. xii.6.) are before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own 6 blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God 6 As a member of Christ and a child of God, remember that thou art an inheritor of his kingdom. and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and 7 Not only they who literally pierced the Saviour's side, but they who now crucify Him afresh by their sins, shall they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. then see Him with shame and agony, and shall wail because of Him with remorse and despair. (Jude 15.) "Even the heavenly-minded St. John was banished to the Isle of Patmos, as a preacher of the Gospel of Christ. Who then shall be surprised at per secution? Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 'I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus 10 The holy services of the Lord's Christ. 1o I was in the Spirit day-how specially were they blest on the Lord's day, and heard to the Apostle! May God bless them to thee-in thy worship now! behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and 18 The Lord Christ had abolished the last: 18 I am he that liveth, death, and the grave He had opened. and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the 13 So when the minister, as he is now doing, reads the word of God to you in the Lord's house, it is the Lord who speaketh to you, though by the voice of his servant. Turn thy mind to hear Him. 13 13 The seven candlesticks represent the seven churches, in which the light is placed, and Jesus the true light is in the midst of them. (ver. 4.) 16 The seven stars are the seven bishops of the seven churches (see ver. 20), and the sword is the word. (Ephes. vi. 17.) things which shall be hereafter; 20 the mystery of the seven stars which thou saw est in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. 20 The word angel here is used in its first sense as a messenger; an ambassador-one who represents another such are the heads of the Church of Christ. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. CHAPTER II. UNTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them |