A17384:1486
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.
1First, for humiliation, and so first unto ungodly men in the Church that profess the service of Christ, and claim the privileges of Christians, and yet in stead of showing forth the virtue of Christ, show forth the wickedness of the Devil, by their lewd conversation causing the name of God to be blasphemed by Papists, and Atheists, and all sorts of Heretics, and Sectaries, by their whoredoms, swearing, malice, ⟨p. 333⟩drunkenness, and the lusts of their father the devil; and those of all sorts. These are they that carry Christ about in scorn, to be derided of the enemies of the truth: for, when with their words they profess Christ, by their works they deny him themselves, and cause him to be denied by others. Were there not a remnant that bear the Image of Christ in sincerity, who would ever embrace a religion that were professed by men of such wicked conversation? Secondly, it should exceedingly humble scandalous Professors, that would have the world think better of them than of the former sort, and yet become grievous to men by their vile offences. Thirdly, unfruitful Christians, which lie in a continual barrenness, whose ground is always fallow, have but little consolation from hence: for, though they are better than the former, in that they are not openly wicked, yet they fall short of their duty here, because they do not more effectually show forth the graces of Christ. And that there may be a healing of this error, they must mend, first, their ignorance, and pray to GOD to teach them to profit: secondly, their slothfulness, rousing up themselves to more zeal of good works, and care to answer the opportunities of well-doing.
1First, for humiliation, and so first vnto vngodly men in the Church that professe the seruice of Christ, and claime the priuiledges of Christians, and yet in stead of shewing foorth the vertue of Christ, shew foorth the wickednes of the Diuel, by their lewd conuersation causing the name of God to bee blasphemed by Papists, and Atheists, and all sorts of Hereticks, and Sectaries, by their whoredomes, swearing, malice, ⟨p. 333⟩drunkennesse, and the lusts of their father the diuell; and those of all sorts. These are they that carry Christ about in scorn, to be derided of the enemies of the truth: for, when with their words they professe Christ, by their works they deny him themselues, and cause him to bee denied by others. Were there not a remnant that bear the Image of Christ in sincerity, who would euer imbrace a religion that were professed by men of such wicked conuersation? Secondly, it should exceedingly humble scandalous Professers, that would haue the world think better of them than of the former sort, and yet become grieuous to men by their vile offenses. Thirdly, vnfruitfull Christians, which lie in a continuall barrenness, whose ground is alwaies fallow, haue but little consolation from hence: for, though they are better than the former, in that they are not openly wicked, yet they fall short of their duty heer, because they do not more effectually shew forth the graces of Christ. And that there may bee a healing of this error, they must mend, first, their ignorance, and pray to GOD to teach them to profit: secondly, their slothfulnesse, rowzing vp themselues to more zeale of good works, and care to answer the opportunities of well-doing.
Use 2. Secondly, for instruction. All that love the Lord Jesus, should hence be persuaded to increase in all care of well-doing, and study how to show forth the light of their works before men; and the rather, because, 1. They have received such singular mercy from the Lord.1 ⟨p. 334⟩2. They shall hereby glorify their heavenly Father, and make Religion to be well-spoken of, Phil. 2.15, 16. 2. Thes. 3.21. and put to silence the ignorance of the foolish: we should be as tender of the honour of our profession, as of our own honour. 3. They shall hereby wonderfully establish their own harts in the assurance of their calling and election, 1. John 1.5, 6. 2. Pet. 1.5. to 10. and much increase their own contentment, and joy in the Lord, 1. Cor. 15.58. 4. They shall have a full and plentiful reward in the day of the Lord, Rom. 2.7, 8, 9, 10, 11. 5. The hearts of their Teachers shall be hereby filled with joy, when they see they have not laboured in vain, Phil. 2.16. 2. Cor. 3.1, 2, 3.
Vse 2. Secondly, for instruction. All that loue the Lord Iesus, should hence be perswaded to increase in all care of well-dooing, and study how to shew forth the light of their workes before men; and the rather, because, 1. They haue receiued such singular mercy from the Lord.1 ⟨p. 334⟩2. They shall heerby glorifie their heauenly Father, and make Religion to be well-spoken of,
Of him that, &c.]
In the third place, it may be here considered of, why those virtues, showed forth by Christians, are yet called the virtues of Christ. For answer whereunto, we may be informed, that they are the virtues of Christ in divers respects.
In the third place, it may bee heer considered of, why those vertues, shewed forth by Christians, are yet called the vertues of Christ. For answer whereunto, we may be informed, that they are the vertues of Christ in diuers respects.
1First, because they are such virtues as are had only by such as be in Christ by effectual calling: for, all the Wicked are strangers from the life of God.
1First, because they are such vertues as are had onely by such as bee in Christ by effectuall calling: for, all the Wicked are strangers from the life of God.
Thirdly, because they are showed forth for his glory. All our gifts and services are devoted to the glory of Christ: as they are in him, so they are for him.
Thirdly, because they are shewed forth for his glory. All our gifts and seruices are deuoted to the glory of Christ: as they are in him, so they are for him.
Lastly, I think they may be called the virtues of Christ, because they resemble his virtues: as the picture of a man is called by the name of the man himself.
Lastly, I think they may be called the vertues of Christ, because they resemble his vertues: as the picture of a man is called by the name of the man himself.
And the consideration hereof should the more incite us to the care of these virtues, seeing we are here to follow no worse a pattern than the example of the Lord Jesus himself: and withal, we should be the more humble, when we have had and done all we can, seeing we have nothing but what we have received. And since all should be for his glory, we have reason to say at the best, We are unprofitable servants. And withal, it should comfort us against the sense of our infirmities, to consider, how weak soever we have been; yet our gifts are acknowledged for the virtues of Christ himself; and, by the benefit of Christ's intercession, are accepted of God, as if they had bin found in the person of Christ himself.
And the consideration heerof should the more incite vs to the care of these vertues, seeing wee are heer to follow no worse a patterne than the example of the Lord Iesus himself: and withall, we should be the more humble, when wee haue had and done all we can, seeing we haue nothing but what we haue receiued. And since all should be for his glory, we haue reason to say at the best, Wee are vnprofitable seruants. And withall, it should comfort vs against the sense of our infirmities, to consider, how weak soeuer wee haue been; yet our gifts are acknowledged for the vertues of Christ himself; and, by the benefit of Christ's intercession, are accepted of God, as if they had bin found in the person of Christ himself.
Thus of the third point.
He that hath called you.]
The fourth thing to be noted, is this Periphrasis here given of Christ. In stead of saying, the virtues of Christ, he saith, the virtues of him that called you; which he doth of purpose to exalt the praise of the gifts of God in our calling; and partly to show, that we enter upon the possession of the former prerogatives, the most of them, when we are called by the grace of Jesus Christ, and partly thereby guiding us to the knowledge of that work of God, which may assure ⟨p. 336⟩us of our interest in the former prerogatives. All which shows, that we have great reason seriously to study the doctrine of our calling by Jesus Christ.
The fourth thing to be noted, is this Periphrasis heer giuen of Christ. In stead of saying, the vertues of Christ, hee saith, the vertues of him that called you; which he doth of purpose to exalt the praise of the gifts of God in our calling; and partly to shew, that we enter vpon the possession of the former prerogatiues, the most of them, when we are called by the grace of Iesus Christ, and partly thereby guiding vs to the knowledge of that work of God, which may assure ⟨p. 336⟩vs of our interest in the former prerogatiues. All which shewes, that we haue great reason seriously to study the doctrine of our calling by Iesus Christ.
1Calling is either personal, or natural, or spiritual, or supernatural. The personal calling is to some office; the natural, to the exercise of some moral virtue: the spiritual or supernatural, is to Christ, calling us to seek happiness and blessedness in him. This is here meant.
1Calling is either personall, or naturall, or spirituall, or supernaturall. The personall calling is to some office; the naturall, to the exercise of some morall vertue: the spirituall or supernaturall, is to Christ, calling vs to seek happinesse and blessednes in him. This is heer meant.
And so the calling of a Christian is to be reckoned among the gifts or endowments God bestows upon his people: which that we may distinctly understand according to the order of them, there are seven gifts of God.
And so the calling of a Christian is to bee reckoned among the gifts or endowments God bestowes vpon his people: which that wee may distinctly vnderstand according to the order of them, there are seuen gifts of God.
7First, vocation; by which he calls men out of the world, into the Church.
Secondly, justification; by which he forgives the Called their sins, and clothes them with the rich Robe of Christ's righteousness.
Secondly, iustification; by which he forgiues the Called their sins, and clothes them with the rich Robe of Christ's righteousnes.
