A17384:2306
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, 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.
First,1 it is a great honour that God doth unto us, to account himself to receive glory any way from our endeavours. Shall the creature be admitted, in any sense, to that glory, to make his Creator, to make him (I say) in his excellency or glory? God doth account himself to receive a new Being, as it were, by those inward conceptions of his glory, and by those outward honours done unto him. Shall the King of glory vouchsafe to dwell in our hearts? and shall we not be exceedingly desirous to entertain him?
First,1 it is a great honour that God doth vnto vs, to account himself to receiue glory any way from our endeauours. Shall the creature bee admitted, in any sense, to that glory, to make his Creator, to make him (I say) in his excellency or glory? God doth account himself to receiue a new Being, as it were, by those inward conceptions of his glory, and by those outward honours done vnto him. Shall the King of glory vouchsafe to dwell in our hearts? and shall we not be exceedingly desirous to entertain him?
Secondly, Not to glorify God, is to sin grievously: it is not arbitrary, but most dangerous to allow our selves, either in inward neglects of God, or in outward unfruitfulness. Shall we attribute so much every day to the creatures we deal with? and shall we know or acknowledge so little of the Creator? It cannot be safe, to slight God.
Secondly, Not to glorifie God, is to sinne grieuously: it is not arbitrarie, but most dangerous to allow our selues, either in inward neglects of God, or in outward vnfruitfulnesse. Shall wee attribute so much euery day to the creatures we deal with? and shall we knowe or acknowledge so little of the Creator? It cannot be safe, to slight God.
Thirdly, it is one of the first things that breaks out in the new Converts: so soon as any of the Gentiles are visited of God, in the same day they glorify him, by conceiving gloriously of him, and by magnifying God in himself; and his servants and service, &c. And therefore without singular danger of losing our evidence of our calling, we must attend to this Doctrine, how hard soever it seem.
Thirdly, it is one of the first things that breaks out in the new Conuerts: so soone as any of the Gentils are visited of God, in the same day they glorifie him, by conceiuing gloriously of him, and by magnifying God in himselfe; and his seruants and seruice, &c. And therefore without singular danger of losing our euidence of our calling, wee must attend to this Doctrine, how hard soeuer it seeme.
Fourthly, we are bought with a price, and are God's, and therefore now both in soul and body we should be wholly devoted to his glory, 1. Cor. 6. ult. As God hath glorified us in our creation, and the many treasures he hath given us in Jesus Christ, and we hope the accomplishment of matchless glory in heaven: and shall we not be zealous for the glory of the Lord? Many glorious things be spoken of us through his grace: and shall we think or speak meanly of God?
Fourthly, wee are bought with a price, and are God's, and therefore now both in soule and body wee should be wholy deuoted to his glorie, 1. Cor. 6. vlt. As God hath glorified vs in our creation, and the many treasures hee hath giuen vs in Iesus Christ, and wee hope the accomplishment of matchlesse glorie in heauen: and shall we not bee zealous for the glorie of the Lord? Many glorious things bee spoken of vs through his grace: and shall wee thinke or speake meanely of God?
Fifthly, the Lord our God exceeds all things in glory, and therefore we should extol his praise above the heavens, and the whole earth should show it self to be full of his glory.
Fiftly, the Lord our God exceedes all things in glorie, and therefore we should extoll his praise aboue the heauens, and the whole earth should shewe it selfe to be full of his glorie.
Lastly, think with our selves▪ What make we in Gods Vineyard or Orchard? If we be trees of his planting, ought we not to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, that the Lord may be glorified? Isaiah 61.3.
Lastly, thinke with our selues▪ What make wee in Gods Vineyard or Orchard? If wee be trees of his planting, ought wee not to bee filled with the fruits of righteousnes, that the Lord may bee glorified? Esay 61.3.
Thus of some motives. The main care should be to learn what to do, that GOD might be made glorious by us: and so we should distinctly consider, how to make him glorious in our selves or in others.
Thus of some motiues. The maine care should bee to learne what to doo, that GOD might bee made glorious by vs: and so wee should distinctly consider, how to make him glorious in our selues or in others.
In our selves we should learn how to make him glorious: first, in our hearts, by a glorious conception of him in our minds: secondly, in our words and works, by acknowledgement.
In our selues wee should learne how to make him glorious: first, in our hearts, by a glorious conception of him in our minds: secondly, in our words and works, by acknowledgement.
The first question then is, What should we do ⟨p. 527⟩that we might conceive more gloriously of God? For answer hereunto, we must look to our hearts in divers particulars: for, that we may conceive of God according to his excellency, we must proceed by these degrees.
The first question then is, What should we doe ⟨p. 527⟩that we might conceiue more gloriously of God? For answer hereunto, we must looke to our hearts in diuers particulars: for, that wee may conceiue of God according to his excellency, we must proceed by these degrees.
1. We must strive to bring God into our minds:1 for naturally we live without God: and we may observe, that at the best we are wonderful prone to forget God: and therefore we must learn how to bring our hearts to the meditation of God. For not to think of God, or forget him, is a grievous offence, aswell as to think of him after a base manner. 2. It is not enough to bring God into our thoughts, but we must then be wonderful careful, that we bring not in an Idol of our own forming in stead of God: we must learn how to think of God as he is described to us in his Word: for fearful Idolatry may be committed in the heart of a man, as well as in his outward adoration; and therefore we must learn soundly to conceive aright of the nature of God. 3. When we have God there in his own likeness, we must enlarge his room in our hearts: For the true knowledge of God comes in but by sparkles; and God will be magnified. We must make him great, and enlarge the thoughts of God when we conceive of him. This is that, that is so often required in Scripture, under the term of magnifying God. 4. When we have attained to this, to think of God, with an ability to make him great in our ⟨p. 528⟩hearts, then we must yet proceed to the establishment of this conception of GOD: for else the thoughts of God, will pass through our heads like lightning, and be gone: and therefore we must be careful to establish the thoughts of God in us. 5. We must then labour to clothe the thoughts of God with glory and majesty: this is that which is here intended; we must not only make him in our hearts, and nourish the sparkles of his knowledge, but we must make him glorious also. 6. Yea, yet farther, when God is conceived of according to his excellency, we must love the Lord thus conceived of, our hearts must cleave unto him, & esteem him above all things. So that here are six distinct things to be heeded of such as will conceive of God aright. Now how these things may be attained to by us, followeth to be considered of.
1. Wee must striue to bring God into our minds:1 for naturally wee liue without God: and wee may obserue, that at the best we are wonderfull prone to forget God: and therefore wee must learne how to bring our hearts to the meditation of God. For not to think of God, or forget him, is a grieuous offence, aswell as to think of him after a base manner. 2. It is not enough to bring God into our thoughts, but we must then bee wonderfull carefull, that wee bring not in an Idole of our owne forming in stead of God: wee must learne how to think of God as hee is described to vs in his Word: for fearefull Idolatrie may bee committed in the heart of a man, as well as in his outward adoration; and therefore wee must learne soundly to conceiue aright of the nature of God. 3. When we haue God there in his owne likenes, we must inlarge his roome in our hearts: For the true knowledge of God comes in but by sparkles; and God will bee magnified. Wee must make him great, and inlarge the thoughts of God when wee conceiue of him. This is that, that is so often required in Scripture, vnder the terme of magnifying God. 4. When wee haue attained to this, to thinke of God, with an abilitie to make him great in our
Now for the first, to bring God into our minds, two things are of excellent use,
Now for the first, to bring God into our minds, two things are of excellent vse,
1First, the enforcing of our selves to consider of Gods works, and so to strive still to read in that great book of the Creatures.
1First, the inforcing of our selues to consider of Gods works, and so to striue still to read in that great booke of the Creatures.
