A17384:2242
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, 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. 1. Tim. 1.19. Iames 2. 3. To witnes our election, and to make our calling sure, 2. Pet. 1.10. 4. To discharge our duty of obedience, vnto which we are bound euen in the couenāt of grace. 5. To further the edification of our brethren, whom we help both by example, and by well-doing to them. 6. To winne wicked men to a better estimation of our Religion, and to stop their mouthes, as heer, so verse 15. 7. To glorifie God, as is in this place mentioned. 8. They are good to make vs capable of rewards from God in heauen, Heb. 10.36. Rom. 2.7, 8. yea, and in this life too, 2. Tim. 4.8.
Secondly, I say, they are not good, 1. To justify us before God, as it is at large proved by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans and Galatians, only they are good to justify us before men, James 2. 2. Not to merit or deserve heaven by them: mens evil works do merit punishment; for, the wages of sin is death: but our good works cannot merit, both because the Scripture denies it expressly, Eph. 2.8. as also (to omit other reasons) because the nature of merit casteth away our works: for, there must be three things in a work that must merit. First, it must be a free work, that was not due by any debt: whereas our works are a part of our duty; and we owe more to God, than we can ⟨p. 508⟩[…] ⟨p. 509⟩[…] ⟨p. 510⟩do, Luke 17.9. Rom. 11.35. Secondly, the work that should merit, must be profitable to him of whom we would merit; but no goodness of ours can reach to God to profit him, Psal. 16.3. Job 22.2. Thirdly, the work that must merit, must be of equal value with the thing that is given for it; but neither our sufferings, nor our deeds in this life can be worthy of the glory that is to be revealed, Rom. 8.18. and therefore is eternal life called, The gift of God, Rom. 6.23.
Secondly, I say, they are not good, 1. To iustifie vs before God, as it is at large prooued by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Romans and Galatians, onely they are good to iustifie vs before men,
The uses follow, and are especially for Instruction: for this doctrine of good works should teach us,
The vses follow, and are especially for Instruction: for this doctrine of good works should teach vs,
First, to take notice of this doctrine, and as we are careful to believe, so to be careful to maintain good works; and hereby to confute the malicious Papists, that falsely charge us to deny and disgrace good works, Tit. 3.8, 14.
First, to take notice of this doctrine, and as we are carefull to beleeue, so to be carefull to maintain good works; and hereby to confute the malicious Papists, that falsly charge vs to deny and disgrace good works, Tit. 3.8, 14.
Secondly, every man should be ready to do good works, yea to every good work: since they are required of God, and are so many ways good, and serve us for such excellent uses: Yea, we should be zealous of good works, wonderful eager and desirous to enrich our selves that way, Tit. 3.1. & 2.14. yea, we should hereby show that we are indeed wise Christians, and well skilled in the use of our Religion, Jam. 3.13. and not men only, but women also should be forward in good works, 1. Tim. 2.10. It is their best apparel: which should be a special motive to them that are so careful of their attire: & indeed good works are to be desired and laboured for, as the best apparel of any Christian; ⟨p. 511⟩yea, they are his armour too, Rom. 13.13. Yea, they are a principal way for his enriching and preferment, 1. Tim. 2.20. so as it is a great curse upon a Christian, to have no mind to do good works, to be reprobate to every good work, Tit. 1. ult.
Secondly, euery man should bee ready to doe good works, yea to euery good worke: since they are required of God, and are so many waies good, and serue vs for such excellent vses: Yea, wee should be zealous of good workes, wonderfull eager and desirous to inrich our selues that way, Tit. 3.1. & 2.14. yea, we should hereby shew that we are indeede wise Christians, and well skilled in the vse of our Religion, Iam. 3.13. and not men onely, but women also should be forward in good works, 1. Tim. 2.10. It is their best apparel: whc should be a speciall motiue to them that are so carefull of their attyre: & indeed good works are to be desired and laboured for, as the best apparell of any Christian;
Thirdly, since there are so many things necessary to the constitution of a good work; Christians should (in stead of prying into the lives of others) every one try his own works, and turn often to the light, that it may be, indeed, manifest, that his works are wrought in God, Gal. 6.4. for, one day, every mans works shall be tried in the fire, when times of trial, by great afflictions, either upon mens Consciences, or otherwise, come; that man's works, that never seem glorious and praise-worthy, will be rejected, and cast away even by our selves, as vile and unprofitable. Besides, at the best, in our prosperity, if the most of our works be tried by the fire of these rules of God's Word, it is much to be doubted that our works will burn, though, upon our repentance for the evil that cleaves to our best works, our selves may be saved in the day of the Lord. Let Christians therefore be careful, that they lose not the things which they have wrought.
Thirdly, since there are so many things necessary to the constitution of a good worke; Christians should (in stead of prying into the liues of others) euery one trie his owne workes, and turne often to the light, that it may be, indeede, manifest, that his works are wrought in God, Gal. 6.4. for, one day, euery mans works shall be tried in the fire, when times of tryall, by great afflictions, either vpon mens Consciences, or otherwise, come; that man's works, that neuer seeme glorious and praise-worthy, will bee reiected, and cast away euen by our selues, as vile and vnprofitable. Besides, at the best, in our prosperity, if the most of our workes be tryed by the fire of these rules of God's Word, it is much to be doubted that our workes will burne, though, vpon our repentance for the euill that cleaues to our best workes, our selues may bee saued in the day of the Lord. Let Christians therefore be careful, that they lose not the things which they haue wrought.
Now a Christian may lose his works divers ways.
Now a Christian may lose his workes diuers wayes.
First,1 if he be but a Christian in show, he may, nay he shall lose all he doth. The Pharisees lost all their works, because they were done in hypocrisy.
First,1 if he be but a Christian in shew, hee may, nay hee shall lose all hee doth. The Pharises lost all their workes, because they were done in hypocrisie.
Secondly, the Christian that hath some kinds ⟨p. 512⟩of heavenly gifts, and temporary grace, by falling away in the time of temptation, loseth all that he had wrought before. God requires patient continuance in well-doing, Rom. 2.8.
Secondly, the Christian that hath some kindes ⟨p. 512⟩of heauenly gifts, and temporary grace, by falling away in the time of temptation, loseth all that hee had wrought before. God requires patient continuance in well-doing, Rom. 2.8.
Thirdly, the true Christian may lose what he wrought, if he do his works without respect of these Rules: If it be not manifest that his works are wrought in God, they are lost to him; so many of his works as are so wrought: Besides, he loseth the comfort of all that he hath wrought, and the sense of it, if he fall into gross sin after calling, for so long time as he continueth in sin without Repentance.
Thirdly, the true Christian may lose what hee wrought, if he doe his works without respect of these Rules: If it be not manifest that his workes are wrought in God, they are lost to him; so many of his works as are so wrought: Besides, he loseth the comfort of all that hee hath wrought, and the sense of it, if he fall into grosse sinne after calling, for so long time as he continueth in sinne without Repentance.
Thus of good works.
Which they shall behold.]
It is manifest from hence, that good works may, and ought to be so done, as that men may see them: It is not true that all good works must be hid from the view and beholding of other men: this may seem strange, because the Pharisees were blamed for doing their works to be seen of men; but yet it may be easily and plentifully proved. I will first prove it, and then explain it: for proof, our Saviour Christ requires, that the light of mens good works should shine, that men may see their good works, Mat. 5.16. Christians, in respect of their practice, should be as shining lights in the midst of a froward and crooked generation, Phil. 2.15, 16. They must maintain good works, Tit. 3.8. They must show their Faith by their Works, and so they are justified before men, by the works which they behold, Jam. 2. They are the express words of S. ⟨p. 513⟩James also, in the third chapter, verse 13. Let him show, by good conversation, his works. And the Apostle Paul saith, If there be any praise, think on those things that may get praise, Phil. 4.8. Yea, some Christians are charged to be patterns of good works, Tit. 2.7.
It is manifest from hence, that good works may, and ought to be so done, as that men may see them: It is not true that all good works must be hid from the view and beholding of other men: this may seeme strange, because the Pharises were blamed for doing their works to be seene of men; but yet it may be easily and plentifully proued. I will first proue it, and then explane it: for proofe, our Sauiour Christ requires, that the light of mens good works should shine, that men may see their good works, Mat. 5.16. Christians, in respect of their practice, should be as shining lights in the midst of a froward and crooked generation,
