SERMON I.

EPISTLE OF JUDE, VERSE 3.

Beloved, when I gave diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that you should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

THESE words of the Apostle form a part of the Catholic or General Epistle, which he addressed to the whole body of Christians in that day, whether Jews or Gentiles. He addressed them on a subject in which they were all equally interested, namely, their "common salvation :" that only mode of salvation, by which sinners could be brought back to God, which was contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and was to be offered to every nation under heaven-for thus did the Divine com

mission run, "Go ye into all the world, and

preach the Gospel to every creature." Thus the salvation which is proclaimed, is common to all; none are excluded from its gracious invitations and privileges, but those who obstinately, impenitently, and finally exclude themselves. "Whoever heareth"-" whoever is athirst" and "whosoever will," may come, and "take of the water of life freely."

In writing to them on this important subject, the Apostle states that it was needful for him to do so, and that it was also necessary that he should exhort them "to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." Every expression which the Apostle used on this occasion, marked the great importance he attached to the subject on which he wrote, and the duty to which he would urge them-his whole heart appears to have been engaged; he gave all diligence, and pressed it on every Christian to whom he wrote, that they should contend, and not only so, but "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." The word used in the original has peculiar force, Taywrieda: it properly signifies to strive as they did who were engaged in the Olympic games; that is, with all their force and energy.

The nature of the great object for which they were exhorted to contend, shews the ear. nestness with which they ought to contend for

it it was the faith once delivered to the saints; that form of doctrine which related to their common salvation. The manner in which it came to them bespeaks the care with which it ought to be preserved, and the energy with which it should ever be defended. It is said to have been once delivered to the saints-that is, once for all, as that which required no farther addition, and that which was never to be changed: for, though the canon of Scripture was enlarged during the lifetime of the Apostles, yet in point of doctrine nothing new was added, all contained the same truth; false doctrine was indeed attempted to be introduced by false teachers; but against these, the Apostle Paul instantly and earnestly contended; when writing to the Galatians, who were in danger of being led astray, he expresses himself in the strongest language: "Though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Thus he declares, that as he could preach no other Gospel unto them, neither should they receive

another.

This Gospel, or doctrine of faith, which is to be believed in order to salvation, is a reve

lation from God; it is contained in the Scriptures, even in that "sure word of prophecy," "which came not in old time, by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." This doctrine, therefore, was not of human devising; it had its origin from God, and was by his guidance and direction written and delivered as a sacred depositum, to be kept by his church for the use of after-ages. The Apostles appear by their writings to have finished what the Prophets began, and thus to have completed the canon of Scripture, which was consigned to the care of the church, that it might be transmitted in its purity from generation to generation it has ever been thought, that, in order to preserve it pure and unadulterated, St. John, who outlived the other Apostles, and wrote last, closed up his prophecy, and with it the whole canon of Scripture as it stands, with this very remarkable declaration : "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things that are written in this book." From the very strong manner in which this is