A17384:2282
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, by knowledge, when we conceive of God after a glorious manner; thus we make him glorious in our own hearts, and this is a chief way of making God glorious: And this is one way by which the Gentiles glorify God: and this God stands upon, so as he accounts not himself to be known aright, till we conceive of him, at least, as more excellent then all things. Seeing we can add no glory to God's nature, we should strive to make him glorious in our own minds and hearts. And we may by the way see, what cause we have to be smitten with shame and horror to think of it, how we have dishonoured God by mean thoughts of him: And hereby we may also see how far man can be said to have the true knowledge of God in him; yea, there is some comfort in it too to a Christian, that humbleth himself to walk with his God: for, though, at the best, he come far short of conceiving of God as he is, yet God accounts himself to be made glorious by us, when we get so far as to conceive of him above all creatures; and that is, when he comes into our hearts as a king of glory, far above all that glory can be found in earthly Princes, Psalm 14.7, 9. And thus we make him glorious, not when we barely judge him to be ⟨p. 519⟩more excellent then all things, but when our hearts are carried after the apprehension of him, so as we love him above all, and fear him above all, &c. And thus we make God glorious in our hearts, by knowing him.
1First, by knowledge, when we conceiue of God after a glorious manner; thus we make him glorious in our owne hearts, and this is a chiefe way of making God glorious: And this is one way by which the Gentiles glorifie God: and this God stands vpon, so as he accounts not himselfe to bee knowne aright, till we conceiue of him, at least, as more excellent then all things. Seeing we can adde no glory to God's nature, we should striue to make him glorious in our owne mindes and hearts. And we may by the way see, what cause we haue to bee smitten with shame and horror to thinke of it, how we haue dishonoured God by meane thoughts of him: And hereby we may also see how farre man can be said to haue the true knowledge of God in him; yea, there is some comfort in it too to a Christian, that humbleth himselfe to walke with his God: for, though, at the best, he come farre short of conceiuing of God as he is, yet God accounts himselfe to be made glorious by vs, when we get so farre as to conceiue of him aboue all creatures; and that is, when he comes into our hearts as a king of glory, farre aboue all that glory can be found in earthly Princes, Psalme 14.7, 9. And thus we make him glorious, not when we barely iudge him to be ⟨p. 519⟩more excellent then all things, but when our hearts are carried after the apprehension of him, so as we loue him aboue all, and feare him aboue all, &c. And thus we make God glorious in our hearts, by knowing him.
Secondly, by acknowledgement: When in words or works, we do ascribe excellency unto God; and to glorify him, is to acknowledge his glory; or as the phrase in Scripture is, To give him glory; and so there be divers special ways, by which we are said in Scripture to glorify God, as:
Secondly, by acknowledgment: When in words or workes, we doe ascribe excellency vnto God; and to glorifie him, is to acknowledge his glory; or as the phrase in Scripture is, To giue him glory; and so there be diuers speciall waies, by which we are said in Scripture to glorifie God, as:
First, when in words we magnify God, and speak of his praises,1 and confess that he is worthy to receive honour, and glory, and might, and majesty: so Revel. 4.11. Psal. 29. & 86.9.
First, when in words wee magnifie God, and speak of his prayses,1 and confesse that he is worthy to receiue honour, and glory, and might, and maiesty: so Reuel. 4.11. Psal. 29. & 86.9.
Secondly, when men confess that all the glory they have above other men in gifts or dignity, was given them by God: So David glorifies God, 1. Chron. 29.11, 12. And thus we make God the Father of glory, as he is called, Ephes. 1.17.
Secondly, when men confesse that all the glory they haue aboue other men in gifts or dignitie, was giuen them by God: So Dauid glorifies God, 1. Chron. 29.11, 12. And thus we make God the Father of glory, as he is called, Ephes. 1.17.
Thirdly, when men that are guilty of sins that cannot be proved against them, yet feeling themselves to be pursued by God, do confess to Gods glory and their own shame, their secret offences: Thus Achan gave glory to God, Josh. 7.19. And thus the penitent sinner glorifies God, when he cares not to abase himself in the acknowledgement of his own vileness, that God may be magnified in any of his attributes or ordinances by it, Jer. 13. 16. Mal. 2.2.
Thirdly, when men that are guilty of sinnes that cannot be proued against them, yet feeling themselues to be pursued by God, doe confesse to Gods glory and their owne shame, their secret offences: Thus Achan gaue glory to God, Iosh. 7.19. And thus the penitent sinner glorifies God, when hee cares not to abase himself in the acknowledgement of his owne vilenesse, that God may be magnified in any of his attributes or ordinances by it, Ier. 13. 16. Mal. 2.2.
Fourthly, When the praise of God, or the advancement of his Kingdom, is made the end ⟨p. 520⟩of all our actions: This is to do all to his glory, 1. Cor. 10.31.
Fourthly, When the prayse of God, or the aduancement of his Kingdome, is made the end ⟨p. 520⟩of all our actions: This is to doe all to his glorie, 1. Cor. 10.31.
Fifthly, when we believe God's promises, and wait for the performance of them, though we see no means likely for their accomplishment: Thus Abraham gave glory to God, Rom. 4.
Fiftly, when wee beleeue God's promises, and wait for the performance of them, though we see no meanes likely for their accomplishment: Thus Abraham gaue glory to God, Rom. 4.
Sixthly, when we publicly acknowledge true Religion, or any special truth of God, when it is generally opposed by the most men: Thus the Centurion gave glory to God, Luke 23.47.
Sixtly, when wee publikely acknowledge true Religion, or any speciall truth of God, when it is generally opposed by the most men: Thus the Centurion gaue glory to God, Luke 23.47.
Seventhly, when men suffer in the quarrel of Gods truth, and true Religion. So 1. Pet. 4.16.
Seuenthly, when men suffer in the quarrell of Gods truth, and true Religion. So 1. Pet. 4.16.
Eighthly, when, on the Sabbath, men devote themselves only to Gods work, doing it with more joy and care, then they should do their own work on the week days, refusing to profane the Sabbath of the Lord, by speaking their own words, or doing their own wills: Thus Isaiah 58.13.
Eightthly, when, on the Sabbath, men deuote themselues only to Gods worke, doing it with more ioy and care, then they should doe their own worke on the weeke dayes, refusing to prophane the Sabbath of the Lord, by speaking their owne words, or doing their own willes: Thus Esay 58.13.
Ninthly, when men do in particular give thanks to God for benefits or deliverances, acknowledging God's special hand therein: Thus the Leper gave glory to God, Luke 17.18. so Psal. 113.4.
Ninthly, when men do in particular giue thanks to God for benefits or deliuerances, acknowledging God's speciall hand therein: Thus the Leper gaue glory to God, Luke 17.18. so Psal. 113.4.
Tenthly, by loving, praising, admiring, and esteeming of Jesus Christ above all men: For, when we glorify the Son, we glorify the Father, John 1.14. & 11.4.
Tenthly, by louing, praysing, admiring, and esteeming of Iesus Christ aboue all men: For, when we glorifie the Sonne, we glorifie the Father, Iohn 1.14. & 11.4.
Eleventhly, when we account of and honour godly men, above all other sorts of men in the World; and so these Gentiles do glorify God, in that they praise the Christians above all men, whom before they reviled: This is one way by which the Gentiles glorified God.
Eleuenthly, when wee account of and honour godly men, aboue all other sorts of men in the World; and so these Gentiles doe glorifie God, in that they prayse the Christians aboue all men, whom before they reuiled: This is one way by which the Gentiles glorified God.
Thus of the second way of glorifying God, which is, by acknowledging his glory.
The third way of glorifying God, is by effect, when men make others to glorify God, conceiving more gloriously of him, or in praising God and his ways: Thus the professed subjection of Christians to the Gospel, makes other men glorify God, 2. Cor. 9.13. So the fruits of Righteousness are to the glory of God, Phil. 1.10. So here the good works of Christians do make new Converts glorify God: so every Christian that is God's planting, is a tree of righteousness that God may be glorified, Isaiah 61.3. so are all Christians to the praises of the glory of God's grace, as they are either qualified or privileged by Jesus Christ, Ephes. 1.7.
The third way of glorifying God, is by effect, when men make others to glorifie God, conceiuing more gloriously of him, or in praysing God and his wayes: Thus the professed subiection of Christians to the Gospel, makes other men glorifie God, 2. Cor. 9.13. So the fruits of Righteousnesse are to the glory of God, Phil. 1.10. So here the good works of Christians do make new Conuerts glorifie God: so euery Christian that is God's planting, is a tree of righteousnesse that God may be glorified, Esay 61.3. so are all Christians to the prayses of the glory of God's grace, as they are eyther qualified or priuiledged by Iesus Christ, Ephes. 1.7.
Use. The uses of all should be especially for instruction and humiliation: it should humble us, if we mark the former doctrine, in that it discovereth many deficiencies in us: for, besides that it showeth, that the whole world of unregenerate men lieth in wickedness, and that as they have all sinned, so they are all deprived of the glory of God, and altogether delinquent in each part of making God glorious; I say, that besides the discovery of the general and extreme corruption of wicked men, it doth touch to the quick upon diverse persons, even the godly themselves; to give instance:
Vse. The vses of all should be especially for instruction and humiliation: it should humble vs, if we mark the former doctrine, in that it discouereth many deficiencies in vs: for, besides that it sheweth, that the whole world of vnregenerate men lieth in wickednes, and that as they haue all sinned, so they are all depriued of the glory of God, and altogether delinquent in each part of making God glorious; I say, that besides the discouery of the generall and extreme corruption of wicked men, it doth touch to the quick vpon diuerse persons, euen the godly themselues; to giue instance:
