THE
ARGUMENT OF
THE EPISTLE OF S. JUDE.
IN the Gospel these are called Fratres Jesu, the Brethren of Jesus: James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Jude. Their father is called Alphaus, where James is termed, James of Alphæus: and their mother, Maria Jacobi minoris, Marie the mother of James the yonger & of Joseph. Which Marie in another place being called Maria Cleophæ, we perceive their father was named both Alphaus and also Cleophas. And that this Cleophas was brother to Joseph our Ladies husband. Hegesippus telleth us. Therefore because Joseph was called the father of Christ, his brothers children were called the Brethren, that is (according to the custom of the Scripture also) the kinsmen of our Lord; & not because they were the children of Joseph himself by another wife, much lesse (as Helvidius the heretik did blaspheme) by our B. Ladie the perpetual virgin MARIE. Howbeit some good Authors say, that their mother Marie was the natural sister of our Ladie, and that therfore they are called, Fratres Domini, the Brethren of our Lord.
Howsoever that be, three of them are reckoned among the 12 Apostles, James, and Simon Canancus, and Jude. Yea and that they were some-what more than Apostles, though less than Peter, S. Paul signifieth, where he saith speaking of himself and Barnabas: As also the other Apostles, and the brethren of our Lord, and Cephas. 1.Cor. 9.
And as S. Luke calleth this Jude, Jude of James, so he calleth himself in this Epistle of his, Jude the servant of Jesus Christ, and the brother of James. S. Matthew and S. Marke doe cal him Thaddæus, as Lebbæus also in the Greeke. His feast and his brother Simons together, the Church keepeth Octob.28. called Simon and Judes day.
His Epistle is an Invective against al heretikes, (as it were a Commentarie of 2.Pet.2) and namely (as S. Aug. hath told us) against those, which misconstred Paules Epistles and held Only faith, whom he calleth therfore, Men that transferre or pervert the grace of God into riotousness, v.4. exhorting Catholikes to be constant and unmoveable from their old faith, and to contend for the keeping thereof, v.3. and v.20. For heretikes (saith he) segregate themselves from the Church and from her faith v.19.
