Chapter 1

He exhorteth them to stand to their old faith, shewing them by examples, that it is damnable not to continue and be constant: ℣.8 inveighing against the lechery, blasphemy, apostasy, banqueting of the heretics, ℣.14 and that their damnation was long foretold. ℣.17 Catholics therefore to be unmovable, to reprove the obstinate, to recover all not desperate, to confirm the weak, and to live them selves virtuously and without mortal sin, which by God's grace they may do.

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   Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James: to them that are in God the Father beloved, and in Jesus Christ preserved, and called.

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   Mercy to you, and peace and charity be accomplished.

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   My dearest, taking all care to write unto you of your common salvation, I thought it necessary to write unto you: beseeching you to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.

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   For there are certain men secretly entered in (which were long ago prescribed unto this judgement) impious, transferring the grace of our God into riotousness, and denying the only Dominatour, & our Lord Jesus Christ.

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   But I will admonish you, that once know all things, that Jesus, saving the people out of the land of Ægypt, secondly destroyed them which believed not.

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   But the Angels which kept not their principality, but forsook their own habitation, he hath reserved under darkness in eternal bonds unto the judgement of the great day.

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   As Sodom and Gomorrhe, and the cities adjoining in like manner having fornicated, and going after other flesh, were made an example, sustaining the pain of eternal fire.

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   In like manner these also defile the flesh, and despise dominion, & blaspheme majesty.

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   When Michael the Archangel, disputing with the devil, made altercation for the body of Moyses, he durst not infer judgement of blasphemy, but said, Our Lord command thee.

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    But these, what things soever certes they are ignorant of, they blaspheme: and what things soever naturally, as dumb beasts, they know, in those they are corrupted.

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    Woe unto them, which have gone in the way of Cain: and with the error of Balaam, have for reward poured out themselves, and have perished in the contradiction of Core.

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    These are in their banquets, spots, feasting together without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water which are carried about of winds, trees of autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the roots,

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    raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusions, wandering stars: to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.

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    And of these prophesied Enoch, the seventh from Adam, saying: Behold our Lord is come in his holy thousands,

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    to do judgement against all, and to reprove all the impious, of all the works of their impiety whereby they have done impiously, and of all the hard things which impious sinners have spoken against him.

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    These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to their own desires, and their mouth speaketh pride, admiring persons for gain sake.

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    But you, my dearest, be mindful of the words which have been spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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    who told you, that in the last time shall come mockers, according to their own desires walking in impieties.

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    These are they which segregate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

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    But you, my dearest, building your selves upon our most holy faith, in the Holy Ghost, praying,

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    keep your selves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto life everlasting.

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    And these certes reprove being judged:

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    but them save, pulling out of the fire. And on other, have mercy in fear: hating also that which is carnal, the spotted coat.

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    And to him that is able to preserve you without sin, and to set you immaculate before the sight of his glory in exultation in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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    to the only God our Saviour by Jesus Christ our Lord be glory and magnificence, empire and power before all worlds, and now and for all worlds evermore. Amen.