A17384:2127
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.
Seventhly, idleness and slothfulness, 1. Thes. 4.11, 12.
Seuenthly, idlenesse and slothfulnesse, 1. Thes. 4.11, 12.
Eighthly, to be a busy-body in other mens matters, prying, and inquiring, and meddling with things that belong not to them, 1. Thes. 4.11, 12. 1. Pet. 4. To which, add prattling and talkativeness, 1. Tim. 5.13.
Eightthly, to bee a busie-body in other mens matters, prying, and inquiring, and meddling with things that belong not to them, 1. Thes. 4.11, 12. 1. Pet. 4. To which, adde prattling and talkatiuenesse, 1. Tim. 5.13.
Ninthly, such courses as have appearance of evil in them: such are, the use of vain apparel, and wilful resorting to persons and places that are of evil report.
Ninthly, such courses as haue appearance of euill in them: such are, the vse of vain apparell, and wilfull resorting to persons and places that are of euill report.
Thus of the matter to which he exhorts. The reasons follow, why they should be careful of an honest and fair behaviour; and first, because they live among the Gentiles.
Thus of the matter to which he exhorts. The reasons follow, why they should bee carefull of an honest and faire behauiour; and first, because they liue among the Gentiles.
Among the Gentiles.]
Those Gentiles were such as lived in their natural idolatry, the nations that had not received the Christian faith.
Those Gentiles were such as liued in their naturall idolatry, the nations that had not receiued the Christian faith.
Those that think this Epistle was written only to the provincial Jews, allege the words of this verse to prove it: for, they say, it was written to such as lived among the Gentiles, and were no Gentiles: and they only were the Jews.
Those that think this Epistle was written onely to the prouinciall Iews, alleage the words of this verse to proue it: for, they say, it was written to such as liued among the Gentiles, and were no Gentiles: and they onely were the Iewes.
But this reason is of no force: for, those Gentiles, that were converted to the Christian faith, became Christians, and so were no more Gentiles or Pagans: and so these words may be understood of all sorts of Christians that lived among the unconverted Gentiles, whether they were in their natural estate, either Jews or Pagans.
But this reason is of no force: for, those Gentiles, that were conuerted to the Christian faith, became Christians, and so were no more Gentiles or Pagans: and so these words may bee vnderstood of all sorts of Christians that liued among the vnconuerted Gentiles, whether they were in their naturall estate, either Iewes or Pagans.
In that the Christians lived among the Gentiles, and must, by their fair conversation, be rightly ordered towards those Gentiles, divers things may be observed.
In that the Christians liued among the Gentiles, and must, by their faire conuersation, bee rightly ordered towards those Gentiles, diuers things may be obserued.
First, we may hence note, how hard a thing it is to recover men from a false religion, though their religion be grossly absurd. In this place, whither the Gospel came, we see multitudes of men remained Gentiles still, and would not receive the Christian faith. And this is the more to be noted, if we either consider the reasons the Gentiles had to remain in their religion, or the manifest causes they had to move them to embrace the Christian Religion: for, for their own religion, they might easily observe these things amongst many other: First, their palpable and sottish idolatry, in worshipping so many gods, and those so accounted to be gods, being many of them apparently but senseless creatures; as, the Sun, Moon, and Stars, others of them but dead men; and others of them such, as of whom there was not the least colour or appearance of Divinity. Secondly, the most notorious wickedness of life, which did every where abound in all the nations that were Pagans, Rom. 1. Thirdly, that they followed a religion that gave them no hope of a better life after death, nor could describe any estate worth the desiring. Fourthly, there was no agreement among them, what should be the chief Good, while they lived: but men were carried according to the sensual desires of their own hearts.
First, we may hence note, how hard a thing it is to recouer men from a false religion, though their religion bee grossely absurd. In this place, whither the Gospell came, we see multitudes of men remained Gentiles still, and would not receiue the Christian faith. And this is the more to be noted, if we either consider the reasons the Gentiles had to remain in their religion, or the manifest causes they had to mooue them to imbrace the Christian Religion: for, for their owne religion, they might easily obserue these things amongst many other: First, their palpable and sottish idolatry, in worshipping so many gods, and those so accounted to bee gods, being many of them apparantly but senselesse creatures; as, the Sunne, Moon, and Starres, others of them but dead men; and others of them such, as of whom there was not the least colour or appearance of Diuinity. Secondly, the most notorious wickednes of life, which did euery where abound in all the nations that were Pagans, Rom. 1. Thirdly, that they followed a religion that gaue them no hope of a better life after death, nor could describe any estate worth the desiring. Fourthly, there was no agreement among them, what should be the chief Good, while they liued: but men were carried according to the sensuall desires of their owne hearts.
On the other side, for the Christian Religion, they saw that the doctrine of it was every where proved by miracles; and that their own Oracles, in every place where the Gospel came, were put to silence. Besides, they might observe, that the Christian Religion did teach the most absolute way for holiness of life, and that the Christians did live the most unrebukeably of all others, yea, did with gladness dye in the defence of their Religion: and further, the Christian Religion did show them the glory of heaven, and discovered that certain estate of most blessed Immortality.
On the other side, for the Christian Religion, they saw that the doctrine of it was euery where prooued by miracles; and that their owne Oracles, in euery place where the Gospel came, were put to silence. Besides, they might obserue, that the Christian Religion did teach the most absolute way for holinesse of life, and that the Christians did liue the most vnrebukeably of all others, yea, did with gladnes dye in the defence of their Religion: and further, the Christian Religion did shew them the glory of heauen, and discouered that certain estate of most blessed Immortality.
Quest. But, may some one say, What might be the motives to the Gentiles, to make them continue so obstinate?
Quest. But, may some one say, What might be the motiues to the Gentiles, to make them continue so obstinate?
Ans. There were, chiefly, five things which caused this obstinacy in the Gentiles. The first was the tradition of their fathers & forefathers: they would not forsake that religion, which for so many hundred years their Ancestors had professed, 1. Pet. 1.18. Secondly, the god of this world did mightily labour to blind their eyes, that they might not understand the Gospel, 2. Cor. 4.4. Thirdly, they saw, that the Christian Religion was persecuted in all places, both by reproaches and martyrdom. Fourthly, they would not receive the Christian Religion, because there were but few that professed it, and that their wise men and great men of the world, for the most part, did reject it, 1. Cor. 1. The last and chief reason was the love of their sins, which ⟨p. 480⟩they saw they must forgo, if they embraced the Christian Religion. It was true also, that the wickedness of some hypocrites that crept in among Christians, did make the way of God evil spoken of, and many Gentiles to blaspheme, Rom. 2. I might add, that the doctrine of Christs Passion, was a scandal unto many Gentiles, who accounted it as a foolish thing, to believe him as a Saviour, that could not save himself from so ignominious a death; being willingly ignorant of the necessity of that oblation of Christ, as the Surety and Sacrifice for our sins.
Ans. There were, chiefly, fiue things which caused this obstinacy in the Gentiles. The first was the tradition of their fathers & forefathers: they would not forsake that religion, which for so many hundred yeers their Ancestors had professed, 1. Pet. 1.18. Secondly, the god of this world did mightily labour to blinde their eyes, that they might not vnderstand the Gospell, 2. Cor. 4.4. Thirdly, they saw, that the Christian Religion was persecuted in all places, both by reproaches and martyrdome. Fourthly, they would not receiue the Christian Religion, because there were but few that professed it, and that their wise men and great men of the world, for the most part, did reiect it,
It is profitable to consider of the obstinacy of these Gentiles, together with their motives: for, first we may see that they stood upon the same grounds in effect, upon which the Papists do rest at this day; for the Papists main allegations are, the traditions of Fathers and Fore-fathers, together with the multitudes of people that follow their Religion; but especially the consideration of the woeful estate of forlorn men, should teach us with the more thankfulness to celebrate the praise of Gods mercy to us, that did subdue our natures, and draw us out of blindness and wickedness, into the true Religion, and into the kingdom of Jesus Christ: And Ministers should hence learn with patience to do their work, and not to be discouraged, though multitudes of people be not brought to the obedience of Christ; they must not look to speed better then the Apostles, who in all places left thousands of people that would ⟨p. 481⟩not regard them nor their Ministries, 2. Tim. 2.25, 26.
It is profitable to consider of the obstinacy of these Gentiles, together with their motiues: for, first we may see that they stood vpon the same grounds in effect, vpon which the Papists do rest at this day; for the Papists maine allegations are, the traditions of Fathers and Fore-fathers, together with the multitudes of people that follow their Religion; but especially the consideration of the wofull estate of forlorne men, should teach vs with the more thankfulnesse to celebrate the prayse of Gods mercy to vs, that did subdue our natures, and draw vs out of blindnesse and wickednesse, into the true Religion, and into the kingdome of Iesus Christ: And Ministers should hence learne with patience to doe their worke, and not to be discouraged, though multitudes of people bee not brought to the obedience of Christ; they must not looke to speed better then the Apostles, who in all places left thousands of people that would ⟨p. 481⟩not regard them nor their Ministeries, 2. Tim. 2.25, 26.
Lastly, we should learn even of wicked men, how we should entertain the truth; for if it be so hard a matter to get men to change their minds when they hold gross errors and falsehood; how ought we to stick to the truth when we have received it, and not receive any other doctrine, though an Angel from heaven should teach us otherwise then is written in the Word of God? Gal. 1.7.
Lastly, we should learne euen of wicked men, how wee should entertaine the truth; for if it bee so hard a matter to get men to change their minds when they hold grosse errors and falshoood; how ought we to stick to the truth when wee haue receiued it, and not receiue any other doctrine, though an Angell from heauen should teach vs otherwise then is written in the Word of God? Gal. 1.7.
