A17384:2112
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.
Thirdly, we may hence note, that every Christian must be careful, and look to it in particular, that his conversation be honest: honesty of life, is with special care to be intended; now this must be explicated.
Thirdly, we may hence note, that euery Christian must be carefull, and looke to it in particular, that his conuersation be honest: honesty of life, is with speciall care to be intended; now this must be explicated.
The word translated Honest, signifies properly, Fair; and the Translators respecting the matter of our conversation, render it well, Honest; so as withal for the manner we add, that it be a fair conversation: so that two things must be observed in our conversation, the Matter and the Manner. For the Matter: We must be sure that we be honest: It is a vain thing to think of being religious, if we fail in honesty; we must not only study the duties of the first Table, but we must be careful to prove the power of our Religion in ⟨p. 474⟩the sound practice of the duties of the second Table: we must live righteously as well as religiously, Tit. 2.12. we must add virtue to our faith, 2. Pet. 1.5. and withal, we should labour to excel in honesty, to carry our selves so in all our dealings, that our carriage might allure, through the fairness of our behaviour; we must in the things of honesty, strive for an alluring carriage. There be divers things in our outward conversation, which set a great gloss upon many actions, and certain particular duties which show exceeding comely in a Christian mans behaviour; those the Apostle would have us to study and be careful of, even all things that are honest, and might win credit to the profession of Religion, Phil. 4.8.
The word translated Honest, signifies properly, Fayre; and the Translatours respecting the matter of our conuersation, render it well, Honest; so as withall for the manner wee adde, that it bee a faire conuersation: so that two things must bee obserued in our conuersation, the Matter and the Manner. For the Matter: We must bee sure that we bee honest: It is a vaine thing to thinke of being religious, if wee fayle in honesty; wee must not onely studie the duties of the first Table, but wee must be carefull to proue the power of our Religion in ⟨p. 474⟩the sound practice of the duties of the second Table: we must liue righteously as well as religiously, Tit. 2.12. wee must adde vertue to our faith, 2. Pet. 1.5. and withall, we should labor to excell in honesty, to carry our selues so in all our dealings, that our carriage might allure, through the fairenesse of our behauiour; we must in the things of honesty, striue for an alluring carriage. There be diuers things in our outward conuersation, which set a great glosse vpon many actions, and certaine particular duties which shew exceeding comely in a Christian mans behauiour; those the Apostle would haue vs to studie and bee carefull of, euen all things that are honest, and might win credit to the profession of Religion, Phil. 4.8.
This then is the question: What are those things which would so adorn the outward conversation of Christians and make it fair and amiable?1 For answer hereunto there are things distinctly which are of singular praise, and much adorn a Christians conversation, and make it fair.
This then is the question: What are those things which would so adorne the outward conuersation of Christians and make it faire and amiable?1 For answer heereunto there are things distinctly which are of singular praise, and much adorne a Christians conuersation, and make it faire.
The first is harmlessness, to be free from all courses of injury, and cruelty, and oppression and the like. A hurtful and injurious conversation is a foul and unseemly conversation.
The first is harmelesnes, to bee free from all courses of iniury, and cruelty, and oppression and the like. A hurtfull and iniurious conuersation is a foule and vnseemely conuersation.
The second is discretion: when men carry themselves with all due respect of their words, and the consideration of the time, place, and persons with whom they converse: a discreet conversation, is a wonderful fair conversation: ⟨p. 475⟩when as a foolish, vain, rash, conceited, talkative behaviour, is extremely irksome and loathsome, Col. 4.5. Jam. 3.13.
The second is discretion: when men carry themselues with all due respect of their words, and the consideration of the time, place, and persons with whom they conuerse: a discreete conuersation, is a wonderfull faire conuersation: ⟨p. 475⟩when as a foolish, vaine, rash, conceited, talkatiue behauiour, is extremely irkesome and lothsome, Col. 4.5. Iam. 3.13.
The third is quietness and gentleness, which excels, as it shows it self. First, by humbleness of mind, thinking meanly of himself, & esteeming others better then himself, Isaiah 4.2. in giving honour, going before others, Rom. 12.13. Secondly, by peaceableness, when men study to be quiet, Eph. 4.11, 12. and meddle with their own business, and avoid contention by all means, rather suffering wrong then prove quarrelsome, Heb. 12.14. Thirdly, easiness to be entreated in case of offence taken, and willingness to be guided in things profitable and good, Jam. 3.17.
The third is quietnes and gentlenes, which excels, as it shewes it selfe. First, by humblenes of mind, thinking meanely of himselfe, & esteeming others better then himselfe, Esay 4.2. in giuing honour, going before others, Rom. 12.13. Secondly, by peaceablenes, when men study to be quiet, Eph. 4.11, 12. and meddle with their own busines, and auoid contention by all meanes, rather suffering wrong then proue quarelsome, Heb. 12.14. Thirdly, easines to be entreated in case of offence taken, and willingnes to be guided in things profitable and good, Iam. 3.17.
The fourth is sobriety. When a man lives so, as he is not blemished, either with filthiness, or drunkenness, or covetousness: a man that is unspotted of the world for any foul crimes, and withal can show a mind not transported with the greedy desires after earthly things, is much honoured, and justly amongst men: the worst man cannot but acknowledge the praise of such: So as men show this in their dealings evidently, Rom. 13.13. Jam. 1.26.
The fourth is sobriety. When a man liues so, as hee is not blemished, either with filthines, or drunkennes, or couetousnes: a man that is vnspotted of the world for any foule crimes, and withall can shew a mind not transported with the greedy desires after earthly things, is much honoured, and iustly amongst men: the worst man cannot but acknowledge the praise of such: So as men shew this in their dealings euidently, Rom. 13.13. Iam. 1.26.
The fifth is fidelity and plainness: when men are just and true in all their dealings, and will keep their words and promises, and abhor the sins of deceit, and avoid subtlety and worldly wisdom, and show themselves to be plain men, as it was said of Jacob, that he was a plain man, not like subtle Esau. This ought much to ⟨p. 476⟩be sought after by Christians, that men may see their hearts by their words, 2. Cor. 1.12.
The fift is fidelity and plainnes: when men are iust and true in all their dealings, and will keepe their words and promises, and abhor the sinnes of deceit, and auoid subtilty and worldly wisedome, and shew themselues to bee plaine men, as it was said of Iacob, that hee was a plaine man, not like subtill Esau. This ought much to ⟨p. 476⟩bee sought after by Christians, that men may see their hearts by their words, 2. Cor. 1.12.
The sixth is profitableness: rendered in the end of this verse, good works. They lead a fair conversation, that do good, and are helpful to others, and ready to show any kindness or mercy to any that live near them, or have occasion to use them. This is an admirable praise.
The sixt is profitablenes: rendred in the end of this verse, good works. They lead a faire conuersation, that doe good, and are helpfull to others, and ready to shew any kindnes or mercy to any that liue neere them, or haue occasion to vse them. This is an admirable prayse.
1The use should be, therefore, to teach us to study how to adorn our conversation with such integrity and virtuous behaviour, as may win praise and reputation to our profession; especially we should at least shun all those hateful evils, which by experience we find to be grievous and loathsome, and are to be accounted as blemishes in our conversings, being things as are in a special manner loathsome, and provoke ill opinion in others, as being against honesty and that fair conversation should be found in us: as,
1The vse should be, therefore, to teach vs to study how to adorne our conuersation with such integrity and vertuous behauiour, as may winne prayse and reputation to our profession; especially we should at least shunne all those hatefull euils, which by experience we finde to bee grieuous and lothsome, and are to be accounted as blemishes in our conuersings, being things as are in a speciall manner lothsome, and prouoke ill opinion in others, as being against honesty and that faire conuersation should bee found in vs: as,
First, the sins of uncleanness, and whoredom, and fornication, and lasciviousness, and filthy speaking, Rom. 13.13. Eph. 5.3, 4.
First, the sins of vncleannesse, and whoredome, and fornication, and lasciuiousnes, and filthy speaking, Rom. 13.13. Eph. 5.3, 4.
Secondly, the sins of drunkenness and riotousness, Rom. 13.13. 1. Pet. 4.3.
Secondly, the sins of drunkennes and riotousnes, Rom. 13.13. 1. Pet. 4.3.
Fourthly, sins of deceit, lying, dissimulation, and hypocrisy.
Fourthly, sinnes of deceit, lying, dissimulation, and hypocrisie.
