A17384:2344
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.
God's special visitation of some men,1 is, when in a special providence he takes notice of certain men, and comes among them to work the redress of sin: and that is here meant. And this visitation must be considered, either according to the kinds of it, or according to the time of it, here called The day of visitation.
God's speciall visitation of some men,1 is, when in a speciall prouidence he takes notice of certaine men, and comes among them to work the redresse of sinne: and that is heer meant. And this visitation must bee considered, either according to the kindes of it, or according to the time of it, heer called The day of visitation.
For the kinds:1 God doth visit men either with the visitation of justice, or with the visitation of ⟨p. 536⟩mercy; in wrath, or in grace: and the former words of this Text are true of either of these kinds. For, if God visit wicked men by his special judgements, they will then give glory to God, and commend godly Christians; whom before, against their consciences, they spake evil of: which they will also do much more, if God visit them with his grace, and convert them.
For the kindes:1 God doth visit men either with the visitation of iustice, or with the visitation of ⟨p. 536⟩mercy; in wrath, or in grace: and the former words of this Text are true of either of these kinds. For, if God visit wicked men by his speciall iudgements, they will then giue glory to God, and commend godly Christians; whom before, against their consciences, they spake euill of: which they will also doo much more, if God visit them with his grace, and conuert them.
1First, then, of the visitation of justice: and so the point to be here observed, is, that Though God may spare wicked men long, and seem to wink at their faults, yet he will find a day to visit them for their sins: he will hold a visitation for their sakes: he will discover their wickedness, and avenge himself on them, Psal. 50.20. Eccles. 8. Psal. 37.13. Job 18.20. As they have had their days of sinning: so will he have his day of visiting; and that not only at that Day of the universal visitation in the end of the world, but even in this life also.
1First, then, of the visitation of iustice: and so the point to bee heer obserued, is, that Though God may spare wicked men long, and seem to wink at their faults, yet he will finde a day to visit them for their sinnes: hee will hold a visitation for their sakes: he wil discouer their wickednes, and auenge himself on them, Psal. 50.20. Eccles. 8. Psal. 37.13. Iob 18.20. As they haue had their daies of sinning: so will he haue his day of visiting; and that not only at that Day of the vniuersall visitation in the end of the world, but euen in this life also.
Use. And this doctrine should especially humble wicked men, and awake them out of their security; and the rather, if they consider seriously of diverse things about this day of their visitation.
Vse. And this doctrine should especially humble wicked men, and awake them out of their security; and the rather, if they consider seriously of diuerse things about this day of their visitation.
Secondly, that, when it doth come, it will be a marvellous fearful time with them: for, 1. God will then discover their sins, and make their wickedness manifest in the hatefulness of it, Lam. 4.22. 2. GOD will inflict sore punishments upon them: he will be avenged on them. The day of ⟨p. 537⟩their visitation will be the day of their calamity, Jer. 46.21. 3. The punishments determined, cannot be resisted: there will be no help, Isaiah 10.3. and 29.6. Coh. and 26.14. 4. God will not then respect their strength, but their sin. He will recompense them according to all that they have done, Jer. 50.29, 31. 5. If they escape one Judgement, another will light upon them, Jer. 48.44. 6. God will give them repulse in all they do: even in his service he will not accept them, Jeremiah 14.10. 7. It will be a time of great perplexity, and counsel will perish from the prudent, Mic. 7.3, 4. Jeremiah 49.7, 8. 8. God will declare himself to be in a special manner against them, Jer. 50.29, 31. Hosea 9.7.
Secondly, that, when it doth come, it will be a maruellous fearfull time with them: for, 1. God will then discouer their sinnes, and make their wickednes manifest in the hatefulnesse of it, Lam. 4.22. 2. GOD will inflict sore punishments vpon them: hee will bee auenged on them. The day of ⟨p. 537⟩
Quest. But what sort of men are in danger of such a fearful visitation?
Quest. But what sort of men are in danger of such a fearefull visitation?
Ans. All men that live in any gross sin against their knowledge: such as are the sins of blood, whoredom, deceit, swearing, profanation of the Sabbath, reproaching of Gods people, and the like, Jer. 5.9.29. and 9.9. especially where all or any of these things be found in men.
Ans. All men that liue in any grosse sinne against their knowledge: such as are the sinnes of bloud, whoredom, deceit, swearing, prophanation of the Sabbath, reproaching of Gods people, and the like, Ier. 5.9.29. and 9.9. especially where all or any of these things bee found in men.
First,1 extreme security in sinning: God will surely visit such as are settled in their lees Zeph. 1.12.
First,1 extreme securitie in sinning: God will surely visit such as are settled in their lees Zeph. 1.12.
Secondly, such as place their felicity in offending: such as love to wander, Jer. 14.10. such as do evil with both hands earnestly, as the Prophets phrase is, Mic. 7.3, 4.
Secondly, such as place their felicitie in offending: such as loue to wander, Ier. 14.10. such as do euill with both hands earnestly, as the Prophets phrase is, Mic. 7.3, 4.
Thirdly, such as continue and persist in wicked courses: such as cast out wickedness, as a fountain casts out water, as the Prophet speaketh, Jer. 6.6.
Thirdly, such as continue and persist in wicked courses: such as cast out wickednes, as a fountaine casts out water, as the Prophet speaketh, Ier. 6.6.
Fourthly, especially when men are shameless and impudent in offending, Jer. 6.15. and 8.12.
Fourthly, especially when men are shamelesse and impudent in offending, Ier. 6.15. and 8.12.
Use 2. And therefore men should be instructed, and take notice of their condition and danger, and foresee this day, and use all means to prevent it: for if men would turn unto God speedily, and repent with sound sorrows for their sins, the Lord would perhaps be entreated, and forgive the punishment of their sins, Jer. 6.6.
Vse 2. And therefore men should be instructed, and take notice of their condition and danger, and foresee this day, and vse all meanes to preuent it: for if men would turne vnto God speedily, and repent with sound sorrowes for their sins, the Lord would perhaps bee intreated, and forgiue the punishment of their sinnes, Ier. 6.6.
Thus of the visitation of justice. The visitation of mercy follows.
Thus of the visitation of iustice. The visitation of mercie followes.
2The visitation of mercy is, when God comes amongst men, to show some special mercy: and so he visits either about temporal or about spiritual things. In temporal things he visits either in the case of blessings or afflictions: In respect of temporal blessings, he visited Sarah, Gen. 21.1. when he gave her a son. In respect of afflictions, God visits, first, when he sends such crosses as do try the innocency and sincerity of his servants: so, Psal. 17.3. Secondly, when he lets his people know that he takes special notice of their distresses & sorrows: so, Exod. 4.3. Thirdly, when he sends his servants special deliverances: and so to visit, is to deliver.
2The visitation of mercie is, when God comes amongst men, to shew some speciall mercie: and so hee visits either about temporall or about spirituall things. In temporall things hee visits either in the case of blessings or afflictions: In respect of temporall blessings, hee visited Sarah, Gen. 21.1. when he gaue her a sonne. In respect of afflictions, God visites, first, when hee sends such crosses as doe trie the innocencie and sinceritie of his seruants: so, Psal. 17.3. Secondly, when hee lets his people knowe that he takes speciall notice of their distresses & sorrowes: so, Exod. 4.3. Thirdly, when hee sends his seruants speciall deliuerances: and so to visit, is to deliuer.
Thus of the visitation in temporal things, which is not here meant.
Thus of the visitation in temporall things, which is not heere meant.
