A17384:2689
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.
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