A17384:2360
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.
1The visitation in spiritual things, is the gracious providence of God, revealing his marvellous and ⟨p. 539⟩everlasting mercies unto his Elect: and so he visits man either by Christ, or by the Gospel: He visited his people, when he sent his Son to redeem them, Luke 1.68.78. and 7.16. And so he doth, when he sends his Gospel by his servants to this end, to reconcile the world to himself in Christ: and thus God visited the world, when he sent his Apostles unto all Nations, preaching the Gospel. And thus he doth visit a Nation, when he sends the Gospel thither; or a congregation, when by the preaching of the Gospel, he gathereth a people to himself. There is also a personal and particular visitation, when God singles out this or that man from the rest, and converts him. And so in this place to visit the Gentiles, is to gather out of the Gentiles a people to his name, as in the case of this Apostle is said, Acts 15.14. Which place may well expound this: So that the day of visitation, if we respect whole congregations, is the time when God sends them the powerful preaching of the Gospel, and doth thereby muster and press a people to himself. And if we respect particular persons, it is the day when God effectually calls them, and converts them.
1The visitation in spirituall things, is the gracious prouidence of God, reuealing his marueilous and ⟨p. 539⟩euerlasting mercies vnto his Elect: and so hee visits man either by Christ, or by the Gospell: Hee visited his people, when hee sent his Son to redeem them, Luke 1.68.78. and 7.16. And so hee doth, when hee sends his Gospell by his seruants to this end, to reconcile the world to himselfe in Christ: and thus God visited the world, when hee sent his Apostles vnto all Nations, preaching the Gospell. And thus hee doth visit a Nation, when hee sends the Gospel thither; or a congregation, when by the preaching of the Gospel, he gathereth a people to himselfe. There is also a personall and particular visitation, when God singles out this or that man from the rest, and conuerts him. And so in this place to visit the Gentiles, is to gather out of the Gentiles a people to his name, as in the case of this Apostle is said, Acts 15.14. Which place may well expound this: So that the day of visitation, if wee respect whole congregations, is the time when God sends them the powerfull preaching of the Gospel, and doth thereby muster and presse a people to himselfe. And if we respect particular persons, it is the day when God effectually calls them, and conuerts them.
Six things may be observed here, concerning this visitation of grace.
Six things may bee obserued here, concerning this visitation of grace.
First,1 that till God do visit wicked men with his grace from heaven, there will be no sound reformation in them. Their natural conscience, the shame and punishment of men, with the Laws of Princes or Churches, may restrain somewhat of the excess of sin, but it is God's visitation only, ⟨p. 540⟩that can work a sound and through reformation. There is little hope, these Gentiles, which speak evil of Christians, will ever cease till the day of this visitation: and the reason is plain, because the laws and punishments of men cannot give a new nature to the offenders, which God in his visitation doth.
First,1 that till God doe visit wicked men with his grace from heauen, there will bee no sound reformation in them. Their naturall conscience, the shame and punishment of men, with the Lawes of Princes or Churches, may restraine somewhat of the excesse of sin, but it is God's visitation onely, ⟨p. 540⟩that can work a sound and thorow reformation. There is little hope, these Gentiles, which speake euill of Christians, will euer cease till the day of this visitation: and the reason is plaine, because the lawes and punishments of men cannot giue a new nature to the offenders, which God in his visitation doth.
The use is therefore to confirm the patience of the Saints.1 They have endured, and must endure the evil words of wicked men: and if any be weary of their injuries, they must pray earnestly for their conversion. The Wolfe doth not always devour, nor the Fox always deceive, nor the Dog always bark: but yet so long as they keep their natures, they will occasionally discover themselves. And therefore also Christians should learn discretion, not to trust worldly men over-far, upon new pretences.
The vse is therfore to confirm the patience of the Saints.1 They haue endured, and must endure the euill words of wicked men: and if any bee wearie of their iniuries, they must pray earnestly for their conuersion. The Wolfe doth not alwaies deuour, nor the Fox alwaies deceiue, nor the Dog alwaies bark: but yet so long as they keepe their natures, they will occasionally discouer themselues. And therefore also Christians should learne discretion, not to trust worldly men ouer-farre, vpon newe pretenses.
Doct. 2. Secondly, hence we may note, that God hath his time wherein he will certainly visit his people: He hath his day of visitation. All that God hath given unto Jesus Christ, shall be gathered in Gods due time. That which was believed concerning the gathering of the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan, that God would surely visit them, & bring them out, Gen. 50.24, 25. is much more certainly to be believed of the spiritual gathering of the elect out of this world, into the Canaan of God. And the reason is, because their conversion depends upon Gods eternal decree: and the foundation of God remaineth sure, and he knoweth who are his, 2. Tim. 2.19. And not one ⟨p. 541⟩of them shall be lacking in the season of their calling, Jer. 23.3, 4. The use may be for the confirmation of our faith, concerning the calling of such Jews, Gentiles or Christians, as yet sit in darkness and want the means of their Calling. God hath his day, and he will provide for the calling of all his Elect, how unlikely soever the work seem to us.
Doct. 2. Secondly, hence we may note, that God hath his time wherein hee will certainely visit his people: Hee hath his day of visitation. All that God hath giuen vnto Iesus Christ, shall bee gathered in Gods due time. That which was beleeued concerning the gathering of the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan, that God would surely visit them, & bring thē out, Gen. 50.24, 25. is much more certainely to bee beleeued of the spirituall gathering of the elect out of this world, into the Canaan of God. And the reason is, because their conuersion depends vpon Gods eternall decree: and the foundation of God remaineth sure, and hee knoweth who are his, 2. Tim. 2.19. And not one ⟨p. 541⟩of them shall bee lacking in the season of their calling,
Doct. 3. We may hence note, that when God hath visited a man with his grace, he is suddenly become another man, he is wonderfully altered, from that which he was before.
Doct. 3. Wee may hence note, that when God hath visited a man with his grace, hee is suddenly become another man, hee is wonderfully altered, from that which hee was before.
The use should be for trial:1 No Christian can have comfort that they are visited with the grace of God, if old things be not past with them, and all things become new: for every man that is visited with true grace,
The vse should be for tryall:1 No Christian can haue comfort that they are visited with the grace of God, if old things be not past with them, and all things become newe: for euery man that is visited with true grace,
First,1 hath a new Master: He will no longer serve any strange Lord; For he hath covenanted firmly with God to work righteousness. Rō. 6.16, 18
First,1 hath a newe Master: Hee will no longer serue any strange Lord; For hee hath couenanted firmly with God to work righteousnes. Rō. 6.16, 18
Secondly, hath new acquaintance: He that was wont to walk only in the way of the wicked,1 is now a companion only with them that fear God:2 all his delight is in them, Psal. 16. and 26.
Secondly, hath newe acquaintance: He that was wont to walk onely in the way of the wicked,1 is now a companion onely with them that feare God:2 all his delight is in them, Psal. 16. and 26.
Thirdly, hath a new Language: he speaks not as he was wont to do:3 For first, his Mother-tongue he hath utterly forgotten: He cannot curse, and lye, and swear, and rail, and speak bawdily as he was wont to do, which the coherence shows here. Secondly, in divers things he is furnished on a sudden with Language he could never speak before, as in the gift of prayer, he can now speak to God, and discourse with him, that before was dumb, ⟨p. 542⟩and opened not his mouth, Zephany 3.9.
Thirdly, hath a new Language: he speakes not as he was wont to do:3 For first, his Mother-toūg he hath vtterly forgotten: Hee cannot curse, and lye, and sweare, and raile, and speak bawdily as he was wont to doe, which the coherence shewes here. Secondly, in diuers things he is furnished on a sudden with Language he could neuer speake before, as in the gift of prayer, hee can now speak to God, and discourse with him, that before was dumbe, ⟨p. 542⟩and opened not his mouth, Zephany 3.9.
4Fourthly, he hath a new heart, Zach. 36.27. Which appears in what he hath not, which was wont to be in his heart; and in what he hath, which was never there before. And for the first branch, there is not in him any of these things following: By the way understand, that these things are not in him as they were wont to be (that is) they reign not, or they lie adying: and so, 21. There is not guile there; his spirit is without guile, Psal. 32.2. Which he shows, in that he avoids lesser sins aswell as greater,1 is as good in secret as well as in company, and serves God in his spirit aswell as his body, and is more desirous to be good then to seem so. 22. There is not malice and passion there, Isaiah 11. His outrageous and boisterous passions are subdued: of a Lyon, he is become a Lamb. 33. There is not covetousness or the love of world there, 1. Joh. 2.14. Jam. 4.3. he useth the world, but he admires it not. His taste in earthly things is lost. He savours them not as he was wont to do, Romans 8.5.
4Fourthly, hee hath a newe heart, Zach. 36.27. Which appeares in what hee hath not, which was wont to bee in his heart; and in what hee hath, which was neuer there before. And for the first branch, there is not in him any of these things following: By the way vnderstand, that these things are not in him as they were wont to bee (that is) they raigne not, or they lie adying: and so, 21. There is not guile there; his spirit is without guile,
And as in these things he is new, so in the furniture of his heart he is in many things new: for,
And as in these things hee is new, so in the furniture of his heart hee is in many things new: for,
First, he hath a new mind, he is renewed in the spirit of his mind:4 which appears, first, by his capableness in spiritual things: He that lately could not perceive the things of God, 1. Cor. 2.14. now hears as the learned: he sees in a mirror: he looks and wonders. The veil is taken away, that before covered him, 2. Cor. 3. Secondly, by the ⟨p. 543⟩transcendency of the things he knows: he can now look upon the very Sun: he knows God, and Jesus Christ, and the glory to come, and the excellent things given of God, which the heart of the natural man never perceived, John 17.3. 1. Cor. 2.9, 10. Thirdly, by the instrument by which he understands, he sees by faith and not by Reason in many things: he is fully assured in divers Mysteries, where sense and reason can give-in no evidence.
First, hee hath a new minde, hee is renewed in the spirit of his minde:4 which appeares, first, by his capablenes in spirituall things: Hee that lately could not perceiue the things of God, 1. Cor. 2.14. now heares as the learned: hee sees in a mirour: hee lookes and wonders. The vaile is taken away, that before couered him, 2. Cor. 3. Secondly, by the ⟨p. 543⟩transcendencie of the things hee knowes: he can now looke vpon the verie Sun: hee knowes God, and Iesus Christ, and the glory to come, and the excellent things giuen of God, which the heart of the natural man neuer perceiued, Iohn 17.3.
Secondly, he hath new affections: I will instance but in two of them;1 sorrow and love. He is another man in his sorrows: which appears both in the causes, and in the remedies of his sorrows. For the causes, he was wont never to be sorry for any thing but his crosses: now he is seldom sorry for any thing but his sin. And for the remedies, he was wont to drive away his sorrows with time, sleep, and merry company: but now nothing but good words from God will ease him: his love may be tried by the objects: and so whom he can love truly, or whom he doth love vehemently. He can love his very enemies, which he could never do before. And he doth love Jesus Christ, though he never saw him, 1. Pet. 1.9. and so fervently, as he accounts all things in the world, which he was wont so much to dote upon, but as loss and dung, in comparison of Jesus Christ, Phil. 3.8, 9.
Secondly, hee hath newe affections: I will instance but in two of them;1 sorrow and loue. He is another man in his sorrowes: which appeares both in the causes, and in the remedies of his sorrowes. For the causes, hee was wont neuer to be sorry for any thing but his crosses: now hee is seldome sorry for any thing but his sinne. And for the remedies, he was wont to driue away his sorrowes with time, sleepe, and merry company: but now nothing but good words from God will ease him: his loue may be tryed by the obiects: and so whom hee can loue truely, or whome hee doth loue vehemently. Hee can loue his very enemies, which hee could neuer doe before. And hee doth loue Iesus Christ, though he neuer sawe him, 1. Pet. 1.9. and so feruently, as hee accounts all things in the world, which hee was wont so much to dote vpon, but as losse and dung, in comparison of Iesus Christ, Phil. 3.8, 9.
Fifthly,1 he hath a new behaviour with him: he is wonderfully altered in his carriages, which appears in divers things. First, in respect of the ⟨p. 544⟩rule of his life: he walks by rule, Gal. 6.16. He cometh daily to the light, to see whether his works be wrought in God, Joh. 3.21. This is a sign, given by our Saviour Christ in that place. He is careful to order his behaviour by the warrant of the word, Phil. 2.15, 16. Secondly, in respect of the means he useth for the ordering of his conversation. And so he taketh presently hold on Gods Sabbath: he is careful to keep the Sabbath, honouring that day above all others, and esteeming, and desiring it for the employment thereof. Thus the Lord of the Sabbath saith, that it is a sign by which he knows the people, whether they be truly sanctified or not, Exod. 31.13. Isaiah 56.2.6. Thirdly, in respect of the things he employs himself in, he chooseth the things that please God, Isaiah 56.4. his desire is now in all his ways, to do such things as might be acceptable to God: Whereas before, he was most careful to please men, or to satisfy his own lusts. Fourthly, in respect of the manner of his conversation. In which four things especially shine: first, humility: he shows that the great opinion of himself is taken down in him: he is lowly and meek, which he hath learned of Christ, Math. 11.29. Secondly, affectionateness: He loves the name of the Lord, and to be the Lords servant, Isaiah 56.6. He doth good duties with good affections. Thirdly, contempt of the world: he can deny his profit, pleasure, ease, credit, or the like. He is no more worldly or eaten up with the cares of life: He doth not esteem of earthly things as he was wont to ⟨p. 545⟩do, and shows it in his carriage. Fourthly, sincerity: for, now he hath respect to all the Commandments of God: he desires to be sanctified throughout: he is not mended in many things, as Herod was, but is, in some degree, mended in all things: and, besides, he is careful of his ways in all places and companies: he will obey absent, as well as present,
or more ready to judge others, than to condemn himself, James 3.17.
or more ready to iudge others, than to condemn himself, Iames 3.17.
Fiftly,1 hee hath a new behauiour with him: hee is wonderfully altered in his carriages, which appeares in diuers things. First, in respect of the ⟨p. 544⟩rule of his life: hee walks by rule, Gal. 6.16. Hee commeth daily to the light, to see whether his works be wrought in God, Ioh. 3.21. This is a signe, giuen by our Sauiour Christ in that place. Hee is carefull to order his behauiour by the warrant of the word, Phil. 2.15, 16. Secondly, in respect of the meanes hee vseth for the ordering of his conuersation. And so hee taketh presently hold on Gods Sabbath: hee is carefull to keepe the Sabbath, honouring that day aboue all others, and esteeming, and desiring it for the imployment thereof. Thus the Lord of the Sabbath saith, that it is a signe by which hee knowes the people, whether they bee truly sanctified or not, Exod. 31.13. Esay 56.2.6. Thirdly, in respect of the things hee imploies himselfe in, hee chooseth the things that please God, Esay 56.4. his desire is now in all his waies, to do such things as might bee acceptable to God: Whereas before, hee was most carefull to please men, or to satisfie his owne lusts. Fourthly, in respect of the manner of his conuersation. In which foure things especially shine: first, humility: hee shewes that the great opinion of himselfe is taken downe in him: hee is lowely and meek, which hee hath learned of Christ, Math. 11.29. Secondly, affectionatenes: Hee loues the name of the Lord, and to bee the Lords seruant, Esay 56.6. Hee doth good duties with good affections. Thirdly, contempt of the world: hee can deny his profit, pleasure, ease, credit, or the like. Hee is no more worldly or eaten vp with the cares of life: He doth not esteeme of earthly things as hee was wont to ⟨p. 545⟩doo, and shewes it in his carriage. Fourthly, sincerity: for, now hee hath respect to all the Commandements of God: hee desires to bee sanctified throughout: he is not mended in many things, as Herod was, but is, in some degree, mended in all things: and, besides, hee is carefull of his waies in all places and companies: hee will obey absent, as well as present, Phil. 2.12. and there is no occasion of offense in him, 1. Iohn 2.8. He is wonderfull wary and carefull to prouide, that he may not bee an offense to any body: and withall, hee is not found to striue more for credit, than for goodnes;
