A17384:2230
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, all works of piety are good works; all works of worship, that is, such works by which a man doth service to God, are all in the number of good works: and so, to pray, to fast, to hear the ⟨p. 506⟩Word, to receive the Sacraments, &c. are good works; for, Godliness hath the promises of this life, and of the life to come: and therefore it is profitable to all things, 1. Tim. 4.8. And these works must needs be accounted good works, for they are dear works: the blood of Christ was poured out, that we might be cleansed from dead works, to serve the living God, Heb. 9.14.
Secondly, all works of piety are good works; all works of worship, that is, such works by which a man doth seruice to God, are all in the number of good works: and so, to pray, to fast, to hear the ⟨p. 506⟩Word, to receiue the Sacraments, &c. are good works; for, Godlinesse hath the promises of this life, and of the life to come: and therfore it is profitable to all things, 1. Tim. 4.8. And these workes must needs be accounted good works, for they are dear works: the bloud of Christ was poured out, that wee might bee clensed from dead works, to serue the liuing God, Heb. 9.14.
Thirdly, all works of repentance: all that a Christian doth about his humiliation or reformation, are evangelically good works; as, if he confess his sins, and do execution upon his sins; if he make satisfaction for his trespasses to men; if he reform himself, or his household, or his charge: these and the like are all good works, 2. Chron. 19.3.
Thirdly, all works of repentance: all that a Christian doth about his humiliation or reformation, are euangelically good works; as, if he confesse his sinnes, and doo execution vpon his sinnes; if hee make satisfaction for his trespasses to men; if he reform himself, or his houshold, or his charge: these and the like are all good works, 2. Chron. 19.3.
Fourthly, to suffer for a good cause, is reckoned in the number of good works; as, to forsake father or mother, house or land, wife or children, liberty or life, for Christ's sake and the Gospel, it is in the number of those good things shall have good reward, Mat. 19.29. Jer. 31.16. Ruth 2.11, 12.
Fourthly, to suffer for a good cause, is reckoned in the number of good works; as, to forsake father or mother, house or land, wife or children, liberty or life, for Christ's sake and the Gospell, it is in the number of those good things shall haue good reward, Mat. 19.29. Ier. 31.16. Ruth 2.11, 12.
Fifthly, works of mens particular callings, whether in the Common-wealth, or Church, or family, or any vocation or trade of life: so, works of Justice, are good works; and to obey Magistrates, is called well-doing, verse 14 of this chapter: so, to preach the Gospel, is a good work, 1. Tim. 3.1. So, in the family, for parents to bring-up their Children well, is a good work, 1. Tim. 5.10. yea the labours of servants in the family, are such works as shall have reward of God, as well as works of piety, Isaiah 6. Col. 3.
Fiftly, works of mens particular callings, whether in the Common-wealth, or Church, or family, or any vocation or trade of life: so, workes of Iustice, are good workes; and to obey Magistrates, is called well-doing, verse 14 of this chapter: so, to preach the Gospell, is a good work, 1. Tim. 3.1. So, in the family, for parents to bring-vp their Children well, is a good work, 1. Tim. 5.10. yea the labours of seruants in the family, are such workes as shall haue reward of God, as well as workes of piety, Esay 6. Col. 3.
Sixthly, works of mercy are good works, whether it be spiritual mercy to instruct, admonish or reprove or comfort, Psalm 140. or whether it be outward mercy, in giving, lending, visiting, defending the poor, or the like. All confess these to be good works, Act. 9.16. But that alms may be a good work, these three rules must be observed: First, that it be given of goods well gotten, else no good works.1 Secondly, that he that gives it, have a good eye, to distribute where there is need: for to keep a good house, and to entertain ruffians, and drunkards, and gamesters, is not a good work nor hospitality, because here is not a good eye. Thirdly, alms must be given for a good end, not for the praise of men, or to merit thereby, Mat. 6. Thus of the kinds of good works.
Sixtly, works of mercy are good works, whether it be spirituall mercy to instruct, admonish or reproue or comfort, Psalme 140. or whether it bee outward mercy, in giuing, lending, visiting, defending the poore, or the like. All confesse these to be good works, Act. 9.16. But that almes may be a good work, these three rules must bee obserued: First, that it be giuen of goods well gotten, else no good workes.1 Secondly, that hee that giues it, haue a good eie, to distribute where there is need: for to keepe a good house, and to entertain ruffians, and drunkards, and gamesters, is not a good work nor hospitality, because heere is not a good eie. Thirdly, almes must bee giuen for a good end, not for the praise of men, or to merit thereby, Mat. 6. Thus of the kindes of good works.
The questions follow.
Quest. 1. How can any works done by any man in this life, be accounted good, seeing there is none that liveth, and sinneth not? yea all our works, even the works of the most righteous, are as a menstruous cloth, Isaiah 64.6.
Quest. 1. How can any workes done by any man in this life, bee accounted good, seeing there is none that liueth, and sinneth not? yea al our works, euen the workes of the most righteous, are as a menstruous cloth, Esay 64.6.
For answer hereunto, I say, It is true, that if God look upon the best works of the most godly in this life, and examine them by the rigour of his covenant, which he called, His covenant of works, then no flesh living can have comfort of his works, but all will appear loathsome as a menstruous garment. But the works of the believing Christians are otherwaies to be considered of: For,
For answer heereunto, I say, It is true, that if God looke vpon the best works of the most godly in this life, and examine them by the rigour of his couenant, which he called, His couenant of works, then no flesh liuing can haue cōfort of his works, but all will appeare lothsom as a menstruous garment. But the works of the beleeuing Christiās are otherwaies to be considered of: For,
First, they are tried by the covenant of grace, by the benefit of which covenant he is delivered ⟨p. 508⟩from the rigorous perfection of the Law, and his uprightness is accepted in stead of perfection:1 he is now no more under the Law but, by God's grace & acceptation, his works are taken as if they had been perfect.
First, they are tryed by the couenant of grace, by the benefit of which couenant hee is deliuered ⟨p. 508⟩from the rigorous perfection of the Law, and his vprightnes is accepted in stead of perfection:1 he is now no more vnder the Law but, by God's grace & acceptation, his works are taken as if they had been perfect.
Secondly, he hath the benefit of Christ's intercession, who presenteth his works before God, covering the evil of them, and tendering them to God, who accepts them for the love he bears to his Son: and thus we read in Scripture, that Christ presents the prayers of the Saints.
Secondly, he hath the benefit of Christ's intercession, who presenteth his works before God, couering the euill of them, and tendering them to God, who accepts them for the loue hee beares to his Sonne: and thus we read in Scripture, that Christ presents the praiers of the Saints.
Besides, that the Christian may not think too vilely of his works, but be comforted in the Lord concerning them, let him further consider these things:
First, that his good works have the Spirit of Jesus Christ, which is in him for the Fountain of them, 1. Cor. 12.11. Isaiah 26.12.
First, that his good works haue the Spirit of Iesus Christ, which is in him for the Fountaine of them, 1. Cor. 12.11. Esay 26.12.
Thirdly, that though his works are not good effectu, yet they are good affectu, they are good in desire: his desire was to have them as good as God himself did require. And this, God is pleased to accept, as if the work were perfectly done.
Thirdly, that though his works are not good effectu, yet they are good affectu, they are good in desire: his desire was to haue them as good as God himself did require. And this, God is pleased to accept, as if the work were perfectly done.
Quest. 2. What are works good for, in that they are called good works?
Answ. I answer, first, affirmatively: they are good, 11. To testify our thankfulness to God for all his benefits, in respect of which, we are debtors unto God, Rom. 8.12. ⟨p. 509⟩2. To assure the truth of our faith, as the fruits of faith, Mat. 7.17. 1. Tim. 1.19. James 2. 3. To witness our election, and to make our calling sure, 2. Pet. 1.10. 4. To discharge our duty of obedience, unto which we are bound even in the covenant of grace. 5. To further the edification of our brethren, whom we help both by example, and by well-doing to them. 6. To win wicked men to a better estimation of our Religion, and to stop their mouths, as here, so verse 15. 7. To glorify God, as is in this place mentioned. 8. They are good to make us capable of rewards from God in heaven, Heb. 10.36. Rom. 2.7, 8. yea, and in this life too, 2. Tim. 4.8.
Answ. I answer, first, affirmatiuely: they are good, 11. To testifie our thankfulnes to God for all his benefits, in respect of which, wee are debters vnto God, Rom. 8.12. ⟨p. 509⟩2. To assure the truth of our faith, as the fruits of faith, Mat. 7.17.
