A17384:264
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. In Ministers there are two things, which marvellously hinder the admiration, and desire after the word. The first is, the manner of their teaching, when they teach unskilfully, deceitfully, vaingloriously, negligently, or coldly. When there is not a majesty, and purity, and life in the Teacher, it is no wonder if there be no affection in the people. 2. Cor. 4.2. 1. Thessal. 2. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8. 1. Cor. 2.4. 2. Tim. 2.15. The second is their ill lives. What made the people in Eli's time so loath the service of God, but the wicked lives of Hophni and Phinehas. 1. Sam. 3. Ministers must teach by example as well as by doctrine, if they will not be despised. 1. Tim. 4.12.
1. In Ministers there are two things, which maruelously hinder the admiration, and desire after the word. The first is, the manner of their teaching, when they teach vnskilfully, deceitfully, vaingloriously, negligently, or coldly. When there is not a maiesty, and purity, and life in the Teacher, it is no wonder if there be no affection in the people. 2. Cor. 4.2. 1. Thessal. 2. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8. 1. Cor. 2.4. 2. Tim. 2.15. The second is their ill liues. What made the people in Elies time so loath the seruice of God, but the wicked liues of Hophni and Phineas. 1. Sam. 3. Ministers must teach by example as well as by doctrine, if they will not be despised. 1. Tim. 4.12.
2. The Devil, that god of this world, doth mightily labour in this point to keep men from affecting the Gospel. If he cannot hinder men from hearing, then his next work is by all possible endeavours to blind their minds, and mar their tastes, that they may not perceive nor regard the glorious things of God in Christ: 2. Cor. 4.4.
2. The Diuell, that god of this world, doth mightily labour in this point to keepe men from affecting the Gospell. If he cannot hinder men from hearing, then his next worke is by all possible indeuours to blinde their minds, and marre their tastes, that they may not perceiue nor regard the glorious things of God in Christ: 2. Cor. 4.4.
3. Evil company is a wonderful impediment, it causeth perpetually hardness of hart, and carelessness: it keeps the hearts of the wicked men in a continual habitual deadness, and the best men seldom light into profane company but they get some degree of dullness, and deadness of affections by it. Pro. 9.6. Psa. 119.115.
3. Euill company is a wonderfull impediment, it causeth perpetually hardnes of hart, and carelesnes: it keepes the hearts of the wicked men in a continuall habituall deadnes, and the best men seldome light into prophane company but they get some degree of dulnes, and deadnes of affections by it. Pro. 9.6. Psa. 119.115.
4. God himself being provoked by mans extreme wilfulness in sinning, gives them over to a spirit of slumber, and curseth their very blessings; yea, restraineth sometimes the very gifts of his servants, that so he may execute his judgements upon a rebellious people. The Lord hideth his statutes from them; and with-holding his spirit, keeps back the life of the word in their harts. Isaiah 6.10. yea many times to scourge the unthankfulness, and unprofitableness, of his own people, he doth for a time hide his testimonies from them. Psal. 119.19.
4. God himselfe being prouoked by mans extreame wilfulnes in sinning, giues them ouer to a spirit of slumber, and curseth their very blessings; yea, restraineth sometimes the very gifts of his seruants, that so he may execute his iudgements vpon a rebellious people. The Lord hideth his statutes from them; and with-holding his spirit, keeps back the life of the word in their harts. Esay 6.10. yea many times to scourge the vnthankfulnes, and vnprofitablenes, of his own people, he doth for a time hide his testimonies from them. Psal. 119.19.
Thus much of the lets without us.
Thus much of the lets without vs.
The internal lets must be considered. First, In the wicked. Secondly, In the godly.
The internall lets must be considered. First, In the wicked. Secondly, In the godly.
The cause of this heartlessness and want of affection in the wicked, is,
The cause of this hartlesnes and want of affection in the wicked, is,
First,1 their ignorance, they know not either the word, or the worth of the word, or their own need of it.
Secondly, their profaneness & irreligiousness: They live without God, or without Christ in the world, they make no conscience of their ways. They forget their later end: they mind not the good of their souls, but only earthly things: they ⟨p. 58⟩never tasted of the bountifulness of the Lord, but were altogether corrupt, and strangers from the life of God, only greedy in sinning.
Secondly, their prophaneness & irreligiousnes: They liue without God, or without Christ in the world, they make no conscience of their waies. They forget their later end: they minde not the good of their soules, but only earthly things: they ⟨p. 58⟩neuer tasted of the bountifulnes of the Lord, but were altogether corrupt, and strangers from the life of God, only greedy in sinning.
Thirdly, Atheism. There is in the harts of all wicked men in some degree abominable conceits concerning God and his word. They either doubt, whether the scriptures be the true word of god: or else they are strongly carried to resolve, there is no profit in the knowledge of gods ways, or in serving the almighty. Job. 21.14. Malac. 3.15.
Thirdly, Atheisme. There is in the harts of all wicked men in some degree abominable conceits concerning God and his word. They either doubt, whether the scriptures be the true word of god: or els they are strongly carried to resolue, ther is no profit in the knowledge of gods waies, or in seruing the almighty. Iob. 21.14. Malac. 3.15.
Fourthly, Cares of life: The love of the profits, or pleasures of this life, choke the word, and the power of it, as is apparent by these places. Math. 13. Luke, 14. Psal. 119, 36, 37, &c.
Fourthly, Cares of life: The loue of the profits, or pleasures of this life, choak the word, and the power of it, as is apparant by these places. Math. 13. Luke, 14. Psal. 119, 36, 37, &c.
Fifthly, In some either whoredom or wine: for these two sins together, or either of them take away mens harts, they are void of all due consideration, and of all affection to gods word: They are senseless creatures. Hosh. 4.
Fiftly, In some either whoredome or wine: for these two sinns together, or either of them take away mens harts, they are voide of all due consideration, and of all affection to gods word: They are senseless creatures. Hosh. 4.
Thus of the chief lets in the wicked.
Thus of the cheef letts in the wicked.
The lets of affection in the godly are divers.
The lets of affection in the godly are diuers.
1First, Sometimes it is their worldliness, their too much minding and plodding about the things of this life, or their excessive burdening of their heads about their calling. They have too much to do, or they have too much care; care, I say, that is, distrustful and carking care. Psal. 119.36.
1First, Sometimes it is their worldliness, their too much minding and plodding about the things of this life, or their excessiue burthening of their heads about their calling. They haue too much to doe, or they haue too much care; care, I say, that is, distrustfull and carking care. Psal. 119.36.
Secondly, Sometimes it is want of comfortable fellowship in the Gospel. Affection, that is alone, is seldom constant in the same degree. There is much quickening and comfort and incitation ⟨p. 59⟩in a constant, and tender, and profitable society with such as love the word, Psalm 119. verse 63.
Secondly, Sometimes it is want of comfortable felowshippe in the Gospell. Affection, that is alone, is seldome constant in the same degree. There is much quickning and comfort and incitation ⟨p. 59⟩in a constant, and tender, and profitable society with such as loue the word, Psalm 119. verse 63.
