585. JDG 1:2. JUDE’S PRAYER FOR THE SAINTS

Jdg_1:2. Jude’s Prayer for the Saints

"Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied."’97Jdg_1:2.

Our text is the benevolent Christian desire of the apostle Jude, who was a son of Alpheus and a brother of James. You will remember that it was this servant of Christ who presented that interesting question to the Redeemer:’97"Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest?" &c. It is supposed that he wrote this epistle about the 65th or 66th year of the Christian era. It has been usual to denominate this a catholic epistle, as it seems to have been addressed to the saints of Christ in general, and not to any particular class or congregation of believers. Hence it is inscribed "To them that are sanctified," &c. Our present meditation has to do immediately with the benevolent salutation with which it commences. "Mercy," &c. Observe, the text contains three distinct objects of the apostle’s desire.

I. Mercy.

II. Peace.

III. Love. And that they all might be multiplied.

I. He desires for them mercy. Now this desire may include both the exercise of mercy towards them, and the exhibition of mercy by them. Indeed one is supposed ever to flow from the other. Divine mercy unto you. Observe,

(1.) They were already the subjects of mercy. Mercy had called and sanctified them. And yet,

(2.) They still required its communication,’97and for this the apostle prays. Now they need it,

1. In its sustaining and preserving power. "Hold thou me up," &c. "Kept by the power of God," &c. In perils. In difficulties. In weakness, &c. All their hope and safety is in God’s mercy.

2. In its restraining influence. The restraints of Divine grace are of the highest moment. Numberless are the sins of the best,’97but how many more would have been their apostasies, but for the restraining grace of God. God often keeps his people out of the way of evil. Preserves them from the edge of the precipice. Keeps from falling into the sins which do so easily beset us, &c. David blessed God who had kept him from evil.

3. In its supplying bounty. All our blessings are the streams of Divine mercy. So the apostle knew of the need of the saints of God, and this need in all its variety can only be met by mercy. All temporal, all spiritual, and all eternal good proceeds from the Divine mercy.

4. In its restoring and sanctifying efficiency. Infirmities and sins pertain to the holiest and the best. How often evil is contracted. Spots on our garments. Spirit cleaves to the dust, &c. Feet slide, &c. Now it is mercy that must restore and sanctify. Forgive our sins, and heal our diseases.

5. In its accepting condescension. "We labor whether present or absent," &c. Now our acceptance is all of mercy. Abstract justice never could accept. Nor abstract purity. But God beholds us in mercy,’97and thus in Christ Jesus we are accepted of him. So also our services and obedience.

6. In its crowning glory. Mercy must lay the foundation, rear the structure, and bring on the headstone. Mercy to finish the work of grace, and mercy to bestow the rewards of glory. Eternal life is the crowning mercy. "The Lord grant that he may find mercy," &c.

II. Peace. Here we may include,

1. Divine peace within us. This is ever the fruit of mercy. When God has forgiven, &c., in mercy, then he sheds his peace abroad in the soul. Being justified by faith, we have peace, &c. The storm is allayed. The waves are still, and behold in the soul the peace of heaven. Harmony and joy prevail where strife and confusion reigned. The dove hovers where the vulture only dwelt. The lamb lies down where the lion roamed abroad.

2. Sacred peace reigneth over us. Being under the control of peace’97subjects of the Prince of peace. Breathing the spirit of peace. Striving for peace. Not the victims of confusion, but peace. Not the slaves of strife, but the sons of peace. When this exists, there will be a pacific spirit towards all men. The mind, and heart, and tongue, and character, will be all pacific. Peace exemplified. Peace makers, &c. He desireth in the salutation,

III. Love. "And love be multiplied."

1. The love of God towards us. Doubtless there are degrees of this. Some are more beloved of God than others. God admires and delights in some more than others. We see this in all ages. Hence Enoch and Abraham, and Moses and David. Hence Christ’s regards were special towards John, and James, and Peter. He desires that God may delight in you. That his love may be of the highest degree. Of the most copious abundance. Incessant in its manifestation. Transforming and satisfying. That God might rest in his love, &c.

2. The love of saints towards God. Ah! here is the great and lamentable deficiency.

"Our love to Him so faint, so cold,

His love to us so great."

Now, love to God is the very essence of Christianity. The very life of piety. The very soul of religion. It should be ardent, increasing, supreme, constant, and ever flowing with admiration and delight. He requires that we love him with all our heart, &c. How we should desire and pray.

"Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove,

With all thy quick’ning powers,

And shed abroad a Saviour’s love,

And that shall kindle ours."

3. The love of believers towards one another, and towards all men. The evidence of our love to God is to be seen in the unfeigned love we have to one another. Often this love is feeble when it ought to be fervent. Often contracted when it ought to be expanded. Often selfish when it ought to be liberal, &c. It ought to be towards all saints, and in deed and in truth. So also it should include all men. The ignorant and perishing. Our enemies, and the enemies of the Redeemer.

Let the subject,

1. Lead to self-examination. How do we stand in reference to mercy, peace, and love?

2. We should be concerned for their increase.

3. Labor to increase it by faith and prayer, and devotedness to God.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS