A17384:2691
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. 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