A17384:1193
A commentary: or, sermons upon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter wherein method, sense, doctrine, and use, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.A commentary: or, sermons vpon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter vvherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of diuinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.
London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Secondly, we must take heed of stumbling. If men feel their hearts to be ensnared in respect of Christ, and that they are tossed with vile objections, &c. let them look to themselves, and amend in time: for, if Christ be a stone of stumbling, he may be a rock of offence.
Secondly, we must take heed of stumbling. If men feel their hearts to be insnared in respect of Christ, and that they are tossed with vile obiections, &c. let them look to themselues, and amend in time: for, if Christ be a stone of stumbling, he may be a rock of offense.
Thirdly, we must take heed of security, and contempt of the knowledge of God's ways. Despair will work terribly, when it lights upon a mind that hath contemned knowledge, and lived in all ease and security, Job 21.1, to 20.
Thirdly, wee must take heed of security, and contempt of the knowledge of God's waies. Despair will work terribly, when it lights vpon a minde that hath contemned knowledge, and liued in all ease and security, Iob 21.1, to 20.
Fourthly, we must take heed of apostasy from the profession of the love of the truth: for, despair is many times a woeful scourge to such kind of creatures; as the stories record, and experience shows.
Fourthly, we must take heed of apostasie from the profession of the loue of the truth: for, despair is many times a wofull scourge to such kind of creatures; as the stories record, and experience shewes.
Fifthly, we must in general take heed of all gross and presumptuous sins, especially the sins against the third, sixth, and seventh commandments: for, usually these sins go before in the desperation; such as are, swearing, and cursing, and perjury, and murder, and incest, and whoredom, &c. The Wicked flee, when none pursues them: but the righteous are bold as a Lion, Pro. 28.1. and 14.14.
Fiftly, wee must in generall take heed of all grosse and presumptuous sinnes, especially the sinnes against the third, sixt, and seuenth commandements: for, vsually these sins go before in the desparation; such as are, swearing, and cursing, and periury, and murder, and incest, and whoredome, &c. The Wicked flee, when none pursues them: but the righteous are bold as a Lion, Pro. 28.1. and 14.14.
Now, secondly, there are other things which we must do, that we may avoid despair.
Now, secondly, there are other things which we must doo, that we may auoid despair.
First, we must not smother our doubts in matters of Religion, especially in the cases of our conscience, but take the pains to ask and seek resolution: else, that which is but doubting at the first, may prove to be despair in the end. Those ⟨p. 270⟩lesser sores in mens hearts, may fester and rankle within us, till they prove to this great disease.
First, we must not smother our doubts in matters of Religion, especially in the cases of our conscience, but take the pains to ask and seek resolution: else, that which is but doubting at the first, may proue to bee despair in the end. Those ⟨p. 270⟩lesser sores in mens hearts, may fester and rankle within vs, till they prooue to this great disease.
Secondly, we must store our heads with the promises of the Gospel, and those comfortable places of Scripture, as may breed in us a full persuasion of God's singular compassion and mercy towards all penitent sinners; and withal do show us that plentiful redemption in Jesus Christ, and the marvellous efficacy of his blood to cleanse us from all our sins.
Secondly, wee must store our heads with the promises of the Gospell, and those comfortable places of Scripture, as may breed in vs a full perswasion of God's singular compassion and mercy towards all penitent sinners; and withall do shew vs that plentifull redemption in Iesus Christ, and the maruellous efficacy of his blood to clense vs from all our sins.
Thirdly, we should, above all things, put on the shield of faith; I mean, we should use all diligence to get the assurance of GOD's favour in Christ: for, assurance will preserve us safe from despair. For, as unbelief brings it: so faith preserves us from it.
Thirdly, wee should, aboue all things, put on the shield of faith; I mean, we should vse all diligence to get the assurance of GOD's fauour in Christ: for, assurance will preserue vs safe from despair. For, as vnbelief brings it: so faith preserues vs from it.
Fourthly, we should be careful upon all occasions to keep our assizes; and if we be endangered by any sin, we should make haste to judge our selves, that we be not condemned of the Lord. For, the attendance upon this point, maketh all safe: whereas the long neglect of our daily sins, without any humiliation for them, may turn in the end to the pangs of some miserable despair.
Fourthly, we should be carefull vpon all occasions to keep our assises; and if we bee endangered by any sinne, we should make haste to iudge our selues, that wee bee not condemned of the Lord. For, the attendance vpon this point, maketh all safe: whereas the long neglect of our daily sinnes, without any humiliation for them, may turn in the end to the pangs of some miserable despair.
Use 4. Fourthly, hence the Godly may comfort themselves, because Christ is to them a rock to build on, Mat. 16. a rock for refuge and safety, Psal. 18.2. a rock for shadow, Isaiah 32.2. And therefore let the Inhabitants of the earth sing, Isaiah 42.11. and withal, if they consider how God showeth them, they should account their other ⟨p. 271⟩afflictions but light, in comparison of what falls upon wicked men.
Vse 4. Fourthly, hence the Godly may comfort themselues, because Christ is to them a rock to build on, Mat. 16. a rock for refuge and safety, Psal. 18.2. a rock for shadow, Esay 32.2. And therefore let the Inhabitants of the earth sing, Esay 42.11. and withall, if they consider how God sheweth them, they should account their other ⟨p. 271⟩afflictions but light, in comparison of what falls vpon wicked men.
Ob. But we read, that godly men have been in despair; as, David, Job, and others.
Ob. But we read, that godly men haue been in despair; as, Dauid, Iob, and others.
Sol. It is true: but yet there was ever great difference between the despair of the Godly and the Wicked, which I will briefly note.
Sol. It is true: but yet there was euer great difference between the despair of the Godly and the Wicked, which I will briefly note.
First,1 they differed in the causes. The honours of the Wicked proceeded from the curse of God: whereas the sorrows of the Godly proceeded from his mercy.
First,1 they differed in the causes. The honors of the Wicked proceeded from the curse of God: whereas the sorrows of the Godly proceeded from his mercy.
Secondly, they differed sometimes in the object: for, godly men despair of themselves; wicked men despair of God. It is a grace usual in repentance, to despair of all happiness from our selves: but now wicked men are out of all hope of God's mercy and help.
Secondly, they differed sometimes in the ob•iect: for, godly men despair of themselues; wicked men despair of God. It is a grace vsuall in repentance, to despair of all happinesse from our selues: but now wicked men are out of all hope of God's mercy and help.
Thirdly, they differ in the effects. For, Cain blasphemes God in his despair, and saith, his punishment is greater than he can bear, or his sins greater than can be forgiven: but the Godly give glory to God, and account him always just and good. Again, wicked men rage and repent not: but godly men bewail their sins, and cry mightily to God, Reu. 16.9, 10. Jer. 18.12. Wicked men be in travel, but they bring forth nothing but wind: they are never the better when they come out of their affliction, no though they poured out a prayer to GOD in the time of distress, Isaiah 26.16, 17, 18. Thirdly, the confidence of the wicked man is swept down as the house of a spider, they have no hope at all, Job 8.13. and ⟨p. 272⟩11. ult. Whereas godly men, at the worst, are supported with some kind of hope, or persuasion of mercy: and therefore usually they rather ask whether God's mercy be clean gone, than say it is so, Psalm 77. and they rather complain, that God hides himself from them, than that God hateth them, Psalm 88.15.
Thirdly, they differ in the effects. For, Cain blasphemes God in his despair, and saith, his punishment is greater than he can bear, or his sinnes greater than can bee forgiuen: but the Godly giue glory to God, and account him alwaies iust and good. Again, wicked men rage and repent not: but godly men bewail their sinnes, and cry mightily to God, Reu. 16.9, 10. Ier. 18.12. Wicked men bee in trauell, but they bring forth nothing but winde: they are neuer the better when they come out of their affliction, no though they poured out a praier to GOD in the time of distresse, Esay 26.16, 17, 18. Thirdly, the confidence of the wicked man is swept down as the house of a spider, they haue no hope at all,
Fourthly, they differ in the measure too. For, God always hath respect to the strength of his children, to lay no more upon them than they are able to bear: whereas he respects the sin of wicked men, and regards it not, though they cry out with Cain, they cannot bear it.
Fourthly, they differ in the measure too. For, God alwaies hath respect to the strength of his children, to lay no more vpon them than they are able to bear: whereas he respects the sinne of wicked men, and regards it not, though they cry out with Cain, they cannot bear it.
