A17384:2293
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.
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:
In the first way of making God glorious: How meanly and dully do we, for the most part, conceive of God! How far short are our hearts of those descriptions of GOD made in his Word! ⟨p. 522⟩Wha• strange thoughts come into our minds at some times! Oh! how have we dishonoured the most High in our unworthy conceptions of his Justice, Power, Eternity, Wisdom, and Mercy!
In the first way of making God glorious: How meanly and dully doo wee, for the most part, conceiue of God! How farre short are our hearts of those descriptions of GOD made in his Word! ⟨p. 522⟩Wha• strange thoughts come into our mindes at some times! Oh! how haue we dishonoured the most High in our vnworthy conceptions of his Iustice, Power, Eternity, Wisdome, and Mercy!
For the second way of glorifying God: What heart could stand before his holy presence, if he should examine us in justice!
For the second way of glorifying God: What heart could stand before his holy presence, if hee should examine vs in iustice!
1. For our language: What man is he that hath not cause to mourn for his▪ want of language daily, in expressing of the praises of God! When did we make his praise glorious? have our mouths been filled with his praise all the day long? 2. For our extreme unthankfulness, when we meet with GOD himself: we have been healed with the nine Lepers: but which of us have returned to give glory to God, in the sound acknowledgement of his goodness to us? It is required, we should in all things give thanks: and yet we have scarce used one word of praise for a 1000 benefits. 3. Our slight acknowledgements of sin, our backwardness to search our ways, our carelessness when we know diverse grievous faults by our selves, either avoiding God's presence, and making confession for fashions sake, neither out of true grief for our sins: and in a special manner do we fail in those cases of trespass or sin, that come to the knowledge of others. Do we knowledge our sins one to another? Oh how hard it is to bring us to be easy to give glory to GOD herein! 4. What man is he that liveth, and hath not failed of the glory of GOD about the Sabbath? ⟨p. 523⟩Do we delight in God's work? Have we consecrated that Day as glorious to the Lord? Have not our minds run upon our own ways? After what an unspeakable manner have we slighted God in his Ordinances?
1. For our language: What man is hee that hath not cause to mourn for his▪ want of language daily, in expressing of the praises of God! When did we make his praise glorious? haue our mouths been filled with his praise all the day long? 2. For our extreme vnthankfulnesse, when we meet with GOD himself: we haue been healed with the nine Lepers: but which of vs haue returned to giue glory to God, in the sound acknowledgement of his goodnes to vs? It is required, we should in all things giue thanks: and yet wee haue scarce vsed one word of praise for a 1000 benefits. 3. Our slight acknowledgements of sinne, our backwardnes to search our waies, our carelesnesse when wee knowe diuerse grieuous faults by our selues, either auoiding God's presence, and making confession for fashions sake, neither out of true grief for our sinnes: and in a speciall manner doo we fail in those cases of trespasse or sinne, that come to the knowledge of others. Do we knowledge our sinnes one to another? Oh how hard it is to bring vs to bee easie to giue glory to GOD heerin! 4. What man is hee that liueth, and hath not failed of the glory of GOD about the Sabbath?
Lastly, what shall we answer to the Lord for our neglects of Jesus Christ? Have we glorified the Son? or rather, have we not shameful wants still in our faith? Which of us can say, that he lives by the faith of the Son of God? and are not our affections to the Lord Jesus, extremely dull and averse? Where is the longing desire after him, and the fervent love of his appearing?
Lastly, what shall we answer to the Lord for our neglects of Iesus Christ? Haue wee glorified the Son? or rather, haue wee not shamefull wants still in our faith? Which of vs can say, that he liues by the faith of the Sonne of God? and are not our affections to the Lord Iesus, extremely dull and auerse? Where is the longing desire after him, and the •eruent loue of his appearing?
And for the last way of glorifying God by effect: How unprofitably and unfruitfully do the most of us live? Who hath praised God in our behalf? Whom have we won to the love of God and the truth? Where are our witnesses that might testify, that our good works have caused them to glorify God?
And for the last way of glorifying God by effect: How vnprofitably and vnfruitfully doo the most of vs liue? Who hath praised God in our behalf? Whom haue we wonne to the loue of God and the truth? Where are our witnesses that might testifie, that our good works haue caused them to glorifie God?
But especially, woe be to scandalous Christians, that have either caused wicked men to blaspheme, or God's little ones to take offence, and conceive ill of the good way of God: if they repent not, it had been better for them they had never been born.
But especially, wo be to scandalous Christians, that haue either caused wicked men to blaspheme, or God's little ones to take offense, and conceiue ill of the good way of God: if they repent not, it had been better for them they had neuer been born.
And as for wicked men that are openly so (to give a touch of them and their estate) they have reason to repent in sackcloth and ashes, if their eyes were but open to see, what terror is implied in this doctrine, and how God will avenge himself upon them, both for their not glorifying of him, ⟨p. 524⟩and for changing his glory, and for the opposing of his glory.
And as for wicked men that are openly so (to giue a touch of them and their estate) they haue reason to repent in sackcloth and ashes, if their eies were but open to see, what terrour is implied in this doctrine, and how God will auenge himselfe vpon them, both for their not glorifying of him, ⟨p. 524⟩and for changing his glory, and for the opposing of his glory.
1. In not glorifying God. They have spent their days without GOD: they have either not conceived of him at all, or in a most mean and vile manner: they have not honoured him in his ordinances, or in his Sabbaths: they never loved the Lord Jesus in their hearts, &c. 2. In changing the glory of God, they have done shamefully. Some of them have turned Gods glory into the similitude of an Ox or a Calf that eateth hay. Some of them have given his praise to Images, and the works of their hands. Some of them have fixed the glory of their affections upon riches, pleasures, and favour of men. Some of them have made their belly their god: and some have given their bodies to harlots.
1. In not glorifying God. They haue spent their daies without GOD: they haue either not conceiued of him at all, or in a most mean and vile manner: they haue not honoured him in his ordinances, or in his Sabbaths: they neuer loued the Lord Iesus in their hearts, &c. 2. In changing the glory of God, they haue done shamefully. Some of them haue turned Gods glory into the similitude of an Oxe or a Calf that eateth hay. Some of them haue giuen his praise to Images, and the works of their hands. Some of them haue fixed the glory of their affections vpon riches, pleasures, and fauour of men. Some of them haue made their belly their god: and some haue giuen their bodies to harlots.
Thirdly, in opposing Gods glory, they have likewise offended grievously; they have spoken evil of the good way of God; they have abused his servants, and so despised him; they have set themselves against his Sabbaths, &c. To omit, that they have opposed Gods glory in their hearts, by setting up Idols there, and by allowing and striving to maintain Atheistical conceits against God.
Thirdly, in opposing Gods glory, they haue likewise offended grieuously; they haue spoken euill of the good way of God; they haue abused his seruants, and so despised him; they haue set themselues against his Sabbaths, &c. To omit, that they haue opposed Gods glory in their hearts, by setting vp Idols there, and by allowing and striuing to maintaine Atheisticall conceits against God.
The second use should be therefore, to beget in us a care to use all means to dispose of, and fit our selves, that we might make God glorious, and so amend and redress our ways herein; and that we may, the more effectually, be wrought upon herein, I will consider of two things. First, I will briefly show the reasons should stir us to all possible ⟨p. 525⟩care and diligence herein. Secondly, I would show how we may distinctly attain to the glorifying of God in all the three ways before mentioned.
The second vse should be therefore, to beget in vs a care to vse all meanes to dispose of, and fit our selues, that we might make God glorious, and so amend and redresse our wayes herein; and that we may, the more effectually, be wrought vpon herein, I will consider of two things. First, I will briefly shew the reasons should stirre vs to all possible ⟨p. 525⟩care and diligence heerin. Secondly, I would shew how we may distinctly attain to the glorifying of God in all the three waies before mentioned.
For the first. Diverse considerations should move us to the care of magnifying or glorifying of God by all the ways we can.
For the first. Diuerse considerations should moue vs to the care of magnifying or glorifying of God by all the waies we can.
