A17384:2319
A commentary
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.
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