A17384:1386
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.
First,1 the holiness of the godly Christian slows from a pure conscience, and faith unfeigned: whereas there is no such repentance, or faith in the Hypocrite.
First,1 the holines of the godly Christian slowes from a pure conscience, and faith vnfained: whereas there is no such repentance, or faith in the Hypocrite.
Secondly, the true Christian hath his praise of God, but the Hypocrite of men, Rom. 2.26.
Thirdly, the true Christian obeys in all things: The Hypocrite but in some, as here for the most part, they may be found tainted with some evil vice.
Thirdly, the true Christian obeyes in all things: The Hypocrite but in some, as heere for the most part, they may be found tainted with some euill vice.
Fourthly, the true Christian is careful of his conversation in all places, and companies: The Hypocrite only, or chiefly, when he is, where he thinks, he shall be observed, and marked.
Fourthly, the true Christian is carefull of his conuersation in all places, and companies: The Hypocrite onely, or chiefly, when he is, where hee thinkes, hee shall bee obserued, and marked.
Fifthly, the true Christian will not cease bearing fruit, what weather soever come, Jerem. 17.7, 8. But the Hypocrite gives over, when hard times come He is not like the good ground, that brings forth fruit with patience: The Hypocrite will not hold our till the end, though the times be peaceable till his death. For the most part, he then bears the burden of his Hypocrisy, he cannot die in peace.
Fiftly, the true Christian will not cease bearing fruit, what weather soeuer come, Ierem. 17.7, 8. But the Hypocrite giues ouer, when hard times come Hee is not like the good ground, that brings forth fruite with patience: The Hypocrite will not hold our till the end, though the times bee peaceable till his death. For the most part, hee then beares the burthen of his Hypocrisy, hee cannot die in peace.
1Lastly, this is a terrible doctrine for open and notorious offenders. For hereby it is apparent they are strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel, and are not of this nation, their language and their works betray them: Drunkards, Adulterers, Swearers, Liars, Usurers, and such like cannot inherit, or have any lot in this heavenly Canaan. For all this nation is holy, and such are not they, their own consciences being Judges.
1Lastly, this is a terrible doctrine for open and notorious offenders. For heereby it is apparant they are strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel, and are not of this nation, their language and their works betray them: Drunkards, Adulterers, Swearers, Liers, Vsurers, and such like cannot inherit, or haue any lot in this heauenly Canaan. For all this nation is holy, and such are not they, their owne consciences being Iudges.
Nor is it a pleasing Doctrine to scandalous professors: For such as give scandal, are either Hypocrites, or godly: If they be Hypocrites, their scandals betray them, and testify to their faces, they have no lot amongst the Saints: and if they be godly Christians, that have fallen through weakness, yet they have cause to be much humbled: For by them the name of God is blasphemed; and besides many other inconveniences, that will pursue their fall, this is not the least, that hereby they have weakened their evidence, and wonderfully darkened the marks of their happiness: For if the Godly be a ⟨p. 311⟩holy nation, how discomfortably have they provided for themselves, and their own souls, that have so stained their profession of holiness!
Nor is it a pleasing Doctrine to scandalous professors: For such as giue scandall, are either Hypocrites, or godly: If they bee Hypocrites, their scandals betray them, and testifie to their faces, they haue no lot amongst the Saintes: and if they bee godly Christians, that haue falne through weaknes, yet they haue cause to bee much humbled: For by them the name of God is blasphemed; and besides many other inconueniences, that will pursue their fall, this is not the least, that heereby they haue weakned their euidence, and wonderfully darkned the marks of their happines: For if the Godly be a ⟨p. 311⟩holy nation, how discomfortably haue they prouided for themselues, and their owne soules, that haue so stained their profession of holinesse!
An holy nation.]
The sixth prerogative of Christians is imported in this word Nation, 1which shows the number. For though all the wicked are more in number then the godly: yet such is the glory and greatness of the number of all the godly of all ages, that if we could behold them on earth, as we shall see them in heaven, and at the last Judgement, we would wonderfully admire the beauty, and multitude of the Christian Army. All the godly together make a goodly nation, & though in largeness of number, they do not go beyond the wicked, yet in the privileges of their number, they go far beyond them. They are all one, and a whole nation of them, which imports divers privileges.
The sixt prerogatiue of Christians is imported in this word Nation, 1which shewes the number. For though all the wicked are more in number then the godly: yet such is the glory and greatnes of the number of all the godly of all ages, that if we could behold them on earth, as wee shall see them in heauen, and at the last Iudgement, wee would wonderfully admire the beautie, and multitude of the Christian Armie. All the godly together make a goodly nation, & though in largenes of number, they doe not go beyond the wicked, yet in the priuiledges of their number, they goe far beyond them. They are all one, and a whole nation of them, which imports diuers priuiledges.
First, they are all originally of one blood, born of the blood of Jesus Christ.
First, they are all originally of one bloud, born of the bloud of Iesus Christ.
Secondly, they are all governed by one Ruler: their Noble Ruler is of themselves: there is one heart in them to serve the Lord.
Secondly, they are all gouerned by one Ruler: their Noble Ruler is of themselues: there is one heart in them to serue the Lord.
Thirdly, they are all governed by one book of Laws.
Thirdly, they are all gouerned by one book of Lawes.
Fourthly, they all enjoy the same privileges in the communion of Saints, even those before contained in this verse.
Fourthly, they all enioy the same priuiledges in the communion of Saints, euen those before conteined in this verse.
Fifthly, they all enjoy the love of God: they are his portion. As Israel was his out of all the world: so the godly are his, and make all but one nation.
Fiftly, they all enioy the loue of God: they are his portion. As Israel was his out of all the world: so the godly are his, and make all but one nation.
In that all the godly are one nation, divers things may from thence be observed by way of use.
In that all the godly are one nation, diuers things may from thence bee obserued by way of vse.
1First, it should be very comfortable to all that are truly godly, and so it should comfort them divers ways. First, against the fewness of them that live in one place, and so against the reproach of the world for that reason. For here they may know, that if all the godly were together, there would be no cause to despise them for their number. Never such a nation of men, as they. Secondly, in the case of adversaries, the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. They are a whole nation of them, they may be oppressed, but they can never utterly be rooted out. Thirdly, in respect of their consanguinity with all the godly, though they differ much in estate or condition, yet wheresoever, or howsoever they live, they are all country-men, they are all of one nation; the partition wall is broken down. All godly Christians, whether Jews or Gentiles, are but one nation. Fourthly, in respect of the government and protection of Christ over them. Why criest thou then, O Christian; Is there no King in Zion?
1First, it should be very comfortable to all that are truly godly, and so it should comfort them diuers waies. First, against the fewnesse of them that liue in one place, and so against the reproach of the world for that reason. For heere they may know, that if all the godly were together, there would be no cause to despise them for their number. Neuer such a nation of men, as they. Secondly, in the case of aduersaries, the gates of hell shall not preuaile against them. They are a whole nation of them, they may be oppressed, but they can neuer vtterly be rooted out. Thirdly, in respect of their consanguinity with all the godly, though they differ much in estate or condition, yet wheresoeuer, or howsoeuer they liue, they are all countrie-men, they are all of one nation; the partition wall is broken downe. All godly Christians, whether Iewes or Gentiles, are but one nation. Fourthly, in respect of the gouernment and protection of Christ ouer them. Why criest thou then, O Christian; Is there no King in Sion?
