A17384:2688
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.
Doct. 1. First, we may take notice of the two only Springs of all things to be known in Religion, in these words, viz. God, and his will; GOD, and the Word of God. God is principium essendi, the Author of their Being: and the Will or Word of God, is principium cognoscendi, the Fountain of the knowledge of them.
Doct. 1. First, wee may take notice of the two onely Springs of all things to be knowne in Religion, in these words, viz. God, and his will; GOD, and the Word of God. God is principium essendi, the Author of their Being: and the Will or Word of God, is principium cognoscendi, the Fountaine of the knowledge of them.
Doct. 2. God doth will all that which is to be done by his servants in any part of their obedience, ⟨p. 633⟩or in any case of their lives: as here, the course they are to take either toward the Magistrate, or toward their enemies, God wills it; that is, he doth in himself approve, or determine, or appoint, and by his Word he doth warrant and require it. And the same is true of all the well-doings of godly men, God wills them: which I observe for these uses.
Doct. 2. God doth will all that which is to bee done by his seruants in any part of their obedience, ⟨p. 633⟩or in any case of their liues: as heere, the course they are to take either toward the Magistrate, or toward their enemies, God wils it; that is, hee doth in himself approoue, or determine, or appoint, and by his Word he doth warrant and require it. And the same is true of all the well-dooings of godly men, God wils them: which I obserue for these vses.
Uses. First, it may be a great comfort to a Christian, when he knows he hath done what GOD would have him to do: for, then he may be sure, God will not forget his labour, and work of love and obedience, Heb. 6.8. The Hebrew that signifieth will, signifies pleasure and delight: and when it is given to God, it notes, that what he wills, he takes pleasure in, as in Isaiah 62.4. Hophzibah, My will is in her, or, My delight is in him: God takes great delight, when we do his will. Every careful Christian is his Hophzibah. And besides, if God do will, we should do so. God will defend and protect us in our ways: That may support us against all the crosses or oppositions that may be like to befall us. And that made the Apostles place in every Epistle, that They were Apostles by the will of God. And so, such godly Christians as obey the humane ordinances of men in these times of quarrel and contention, must comfort themselves with this, that Thus was the will of God, that they should so obey: and that must support them against the contrary wills of men otherwise minded, how well soever reputed of; and make them bring their own hearts into obedience to ⟨p. 634⟩that which God would have them to do, &c.
Vses. First, it may be a great comfort to a Christian, when he knowes he hath done what GOD would haue him to doo: for, then he may be sure, God will not forget his labour, and work of loue and obedience, Heb. 6.8. The Hebrew that signifieth will, signifies pleasure and delight: and when it is giuen to God, it notes, that what hee wils, hee takes pleasure in, as in Esay 62.4. Hophzibah, My will is in her, or, My delight is in him: God takes great delight, when wee doo his will. Euery carefull Christian is his Hophzibah. And besides, if God doo will, we should doo so. God will defend and protect vs in our waies: That may support vs against all the crosses or oppositions that may bee like to befall vs. And that made the Apostles place in euery Epistle, that They were Apostles by the will of God. And so, such godly Christians as obey the humane ordinances of men in these times of quarrell and contention, must comfort themselues with this, that Thus was the will of God, that they should so obey: and that must support them against the contrary wils of men otherwise minded, how well soeuer reputed of; and make them bring their owne hearts into obedience to ⟨p. 634⟩that which God would haue them to doo, &c.
Doct. 3. The Word of God, is the willing of God, and so called here: and God's Word may be said to be his will, in two respects; either because of the form, or in respect of the matter. In respect of the form, it may be called his will, because it is digested in form of a Testament; and Christ the Wisdom of God, hath set it in such form, as if it were his last Will and Testament, as in some respects it is: Or else chiefly, because what God doth express or require in the Scriptures, is agreeable to the very Nature and will of God; he doth in himself will it, as well as in his Word promise or require it; which shows a great difference between the laws of Princes and the Laws of God: For, many times the laws of Princes agree not with the natures and hearts of Princes; whereas God's Word is always agreeable to God's Will: and withal, this should the more quicken to obedience; because, by conforming our selves to God's Word, we conform our selves to God's Nature. And further, it may comfort us in the hope of strength, to be enabled to do God's Will, and what he requires, because he wills what we should do: For, God's Will causeth an impression upon the creature, it gives assistance, it will see it done, he will work our works for us; God's Word is a Word of power, it works what it wills, which mens laws cannot do: When we know God wills such a thing in his Word to be done, we should conceive, that he doth not only show us by that place, what is to be done, but also what assistance ⟨p. 635⟩we shall have to do it.
Doct. 3. The Word of God, is the willing of God, and so called here: and God's Word may be said to be his will, in two respects; eyther because of the form, or in respect of the matter. In respect of the form, it may be cald his will, because it is digested in forme of a Testament; and Christ the Wisdome of God, hath set it in such forme, as if it were his last Will and Testament, as in some respects it is: Or else chiefely, because what God doth expresse or require in the Scriptures, is agreeable to the very Nature and will of God; hee doth in himselfe will it, as well as in his Word promise or require it; which shewes a great difference between the lawes of Princes and the Lawes of God: For, many times the lawes of Princes agree not with the natures and hearts of Princes; whereas God's Word is alwaies agreeable to God's Will: and withall, this should the more quicken to obedience; because, by conforming our selues to God's Word, we conforme our selues to God's Nature. And further, it may comfort vs in the hope of strength, to bee enabled to doe God's Will, and what he requires, because he wils what we should doe: For, God's Will causeth an impression vpon the creature, it giues assistance, it will see it done, he will worke our works for vs; God's Word is a Word of power, it workes what it wills, which mens lawes cannot doe: When wee know God wills such a thing in his Word to bee done, we should conceiue, that he doth not onely shewe vs by that place, what is to be done, but also what assistance
Doct. 4. The Will of God, is the rule of our actions; what he wills, we must do, and so it is urged here by the Apostle; and therefore it should teach us to labour to understand what his will is, since all is lost that is not conformed to this rule, Ephes. 5.10. We must get us to the Law and to the testimonies. For, whatsoever is not directed from thence, hath no light in it, Isaiah 8.20. Secondly, we must go to God, and pray him to teach us to do his Will, since he hath enrolled it in his Word, Ps. 143.10. Thirdly, if this doctrine were throughly digested, unruly, froward, and wilful Christians would make more conscience of their passionate and incorrigible courses. Let them look to it in time: they must give account to him that so hath prescribed rules by his will, that he will not admit of courses carried only by their wills. Fourthly, Inferiors must look to the warrant of their actions: it is not the will of man, but the will of God can justify them to do well, 1. Pet. 4.2. Lastly, if his will rule us, then we must take heed of that fault of making the laws of our wills, the causes of his will; as they do, that think God must will to do nothing with wicked men, unless his will be confined to certain rules, which they conceive in their wills.
Doct. 4. The Will of God, is the rule of our actions; what he wills, we must doe, and so it is vrged here by the Apostle; and therefore it should teach vs to labour to vnderstand what his will is, since all is lost that is not conformed to this rule, Ephes. 5.10. We must get vs to the Law and to the testimonies. For, whatsoeuer is not directed from thence, hath no light in it, Esay 8.20. Secondly, we must go to God, and pray him to teach vs to doe his Will, since he hath enrolled it in his Word, Ps. 143.10. Thirdly, if this doctrine were throughly digested, vnruly, froward, and wilfull Christians would make more conscience of their passionate and incorrigible courses. Let them look to it in time: they must giue account to him that so hath prescribed rules by his will, that he will not admit of courses carried onely by their wils. Fourthly, Inferiours must look to the warrant of their actions: it is not the will of man, but the will of God can iustifie them to doo well,
Doct. 5. That the bare signification of Gods will should be argument enough to persuade a godly Christian to do any thing, though it be to deny himself, or to go a course which is cross to his own desires. The knowledge of God's will alone ⟨p. 636⟩doth compel a godly mind to obey. It is not the Majesty, or the rewards of God, but God's will wch alone sufficeth to guide him: which may try the obedience of man by the motives. For only the sound Christian will obey simply for the commandment sake, and must teach us to stick to it, the bare will of God must rule us, though there were never so many men contrary-minded.
Doct. 5. That the bare signification of Gods will should be argument enough to perswade a godly Christian to doo any thing, though it bee to deny himself, or to go a course which is crosse to his owne desires. The knowledge of God's will alone ⟨p. 636⟩doth compell a godly minde to obey. It is not the Maiesty, or the rewards of God, but God's wil wch alone sufficeth to guide him: which may try the obedience of man by the motiues. For onely the sound Christian wil obey simply for the commandement sake, and must teach vs to stick to it, the bare will of God must rule vs, though there were neuer so many men contrary-minded.
Use. The use is for trial of hypocrites: the true Christian lays down all his own courses, as soon as ever he hears the sound of Gods will.
Vse. The vse is for triall of hypocrites: the true Christian laies down all his owne courses, as soon as euer hee heares the sound of Gods will.
Doctr. 6. The practice of a Christian must be confirmed just according to the pattern: so is the will of God, it must be just so, as the will of God is: so from the manner as well as from the matter, which should teach us three things.
Doctr. 6. The practice of a Christian must bee confirmed iust according to the pattern: so is the will of God, it must bee iust so, as the will of God is: so from the manner as well as from the matter, which should teach vs three things.
First, to walk circumspectly, seeing we must look so precisely to the manner, as well as to the matter of Gods will, Ephes. 5.15.
First, to walk circumspectly, seeing wee must look so precisely to the manner, as well as to the matter of Gods will, Ephes. 5.15.
Secondly, we must therefore increase in the knowledge of his will, Col. 1.10. for the more things are to be done, or the more exactly God wills us to do, the more care we must have to increase our knowledge, and study his will; since all must be just so, as he wills to have it.
Secondly, wee must therefore increase in the knowledge of his wil, Col. 1.10. for the more things are to be done, or the more exactly God wills vs to doe, the more care wee must haue to increase our knowledge, and study his will; since all must be iust so, as hee wils to haue it.
Thirdly, we should be stirred up to pray for our selves, and one for another, seeing it is such a hard thing to live a Christian life, and to please God. Mark with what force of words the Apostle prayed about this point, Heb. 13.20, 21.
Thirdly, wee should bee stirred vp to pray for our selues, and one for another, seeing it is such a hard thing to liue a Christian life, and to please God. Mark with what force of words the Apostle praied about this point, Heb. 13.20, 21.
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, ⟨p. 637⟩through the blood of the everlasting Covenant,
Now the God of peace, that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus, that great shepheard of the sheepe, ⟨p. 637⟩through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant,
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
Make you perfect in euery good work to doe his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Iesus Christ, to whom bee glory for euer and euer, Amen.
Quest. But can a Christian be so exact, as to answer the pattern, to do just so as God wills him?
Quest. But can a Christian bee so exact, as to answer the pattern, to doe iust so as God wils him?
Ans. 1. He may, for the substance of the obedience, though not for all the degrees, or circumstances.
Ans. 1. Hee may, for the substance of the obedience, though not for all the degrees, or circumstances.
2. He may do it in desire: he must set his pattern before him, as that he desires to follow, and strives as well as he can, and is vexed because he cannot do it: and with God, if we have always done as much as well as we did desire to do, he accepts the desire for the deed: but it is certain of the most of us in the most things, that we have neither done the things right, nor brought the desiring to do them: and therefore it is just with God, if we lose what we have wrought.
2. He may do it in desire: hee must set his patterne before him, as that hee desires to follow, and striues as well as hee can, and is vexed because hee cannot do it: and with God, if wee haue alwaies done as much as well as we did desire to do, hee accepts the desire for the deed: but it is certaine of the most of vs in the most things, that we haue neither done the things right, nor brought the desiring to do them: and therfore it is iust with God, if wee lose what wee haue wrought.
