A17384:2695
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.
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.
Doct. 7. That in some cases God would have us take notice of his will in more especial manner: he hath certain special wills: there are some things, that he doth as it were more stand upon, then other things, and these special wills of God we must heedfully take notice of: as for instance, 1. Thes. 4. about avoiding fornication, this is the will of God, he meaneth his special chief will: so about thanksgiving, 1. Thes. 5.18. Where the Apostle urgeth the will of God as a thing that God would above many other things have don. Above all things give thanks: For this is the will of God, ⟨p. 638⟩&c. So our Saviour Christ notes, in his own occasions, an especial will of God, John 6.39, 41. So here God doth in a special manner will us to obey Magistrates, and to silence wicked men by well-doing.
Doct. 7. That in some cases God would haue vs take notice of his will in more especiall manner: hee hath certaine speciall wils: there are some things, that hee doth as it were more stand vpon, then other things, and these speciall wills of God we must heedefully take notice of: as for instance, 1. Thes. 4. about auoiding fornication, this is the will of God, hee meaneth his speciall chiefe will: so about thanksgiuing, 1. Thes. 5.18. Where the Apostle vrgeth the wil of God as a thing that God would aboue many other things haue don. Aboue all things giue thanks: For this is the will of God, ⟨p. 638⟩&c. So our Sauiour Christ notes, in his owne occasions, an especiall wil of God, Iohn 6.39, 41. So heer God doth in a special manner will vs to obey Magistrates, and to silence wicked men by well-doing.
Use. The use should be, to teach us to mark what things God doth specially require of us, and to apply our selves to his will, that the Lord may take pleasure in us, and say of each of us, as he did of Cyrus, He is the man of my will: which is here explained, He is the man that executeth my counsel, Isaiah 46.11. It was Davids singular glory, that he would do all Gods will: whatsoever special service God had to do, David was ready to execute it, Acts 13. For herein lieth the trial of a sound Christian, he doth the will of his heavenly Father, and rests not in talking of Religion only, and professing it, Mat. 7.21. Rom. 2.11. 1. John 2.17. And in particular, in this text we see there be two things, that God would fain have us do to silence wicked men, and stop their mouths: First, he would have us so to behave our selves, that we keep out of their danger in respect of the Laws of Magistrates. Secondly, and then to live such a discreet and profitable life, that they may see, that we differ from all other sorts of men in the goodness of our conversation. If we would do, what might be specially pleasing to God, we must be careful of these two things.
Vse. The vse should bee, to teach vs to marke what things God doth specially require of vs, and to apply our selues to his will, that the Lord may take pleasure in vs, and say of each of vs, as he did of Cyrus, He is the man of my will: which is heer explained, He is the man that executeth my counsell, Esay 46.11. It was Dauids singular glory, that hee would doe all Gods will: whatsoeuer speciall seruice God had to do, Dauid was ready to execute it, Acts 13. For heerein lieth the triall of a sound Christian, he doth the will of his heauenly Father, and rests not in talking of Religion onely, and professing it, Mat. 7.21. Rom. 2.11. 1. Iohn 2.17. And in particular, in this text wee see there bee two things, that God would faine haue vs do to silence wicked men, and stop their mouthes: First, hee would haue vs so to behaue our selues, that wee keepe out of their danger in respect of the Lawes of Magistrates. Secondly, and then to liue such a discreet and profitable life, that they may see, that wee differ from all other sorts of men in the goodnes of our conuersation. If wee would doe, what might bee specially pleasing to God, we must bee carefull of these two things.
Doct. 8. Lastly, we may here note, that the will of God may be known effectually, though it be not known distinctly. The Apostle is sure, ⟨p. 639⟩this is the will of God; and yet there is no Book, Chapter, nor Verse quoted, nor can any particular place be alleged, that these precise words do express God's will: but, inasmuch as the meaning is to be found in the scope of many places of Scripture, therefore it may be well so called, The will of God.
Doct. 8. Lastly, wee may heere note, that the will of God may bee knowne effectually, though it bee not knowne distinctly. The Apostle is sure, ⟨p. 639⟩this is the will of God; and yet there is no Book, Chapter, nor Verse quoted, nor can any particular place be alleaged, that these precise words doo expresse God's will: but, inasmuch as the meaning is to bee found in the scope of many places of Scripture, therefore it may bee well so called, The will of God.
Thus of the authority of this rule. The matter of it follows, which is, well-doing.
Thus of the authority of this rule. The matter of it follows, which is, well-dooing.
With well-doing. [Greek or Hebrew].]
With well-dooing. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.]
The word is not the same with that in the former verse: for, here it is a Participle of the present time, and notes the continual custom of well-doing, and gives us to understand, that if ever we would effectually silence wicked men, we must be continually exercised in well-doing. Our good works (though of great excellency) yet work but a sudden blaze: the effect of them will be quickly ended, or soon put out, and then will wicked men return to their old course of reproaching, if they be not daily confuted by the still fresh and new fruits of a Christian: we must be full of new and good fruits, James 3.17. and never weary of well-doing.
The word is not the same with that in the former verse: for, heer it is a Participle of the present time, and notes the continuall custome of well-dooing, and giues vs to vnderstand, that if euer we would effectually silence wicked men, we must be continually exercised in well-dooing. Our good works (though of great excellency) yet work but a sudden blaze: the effect of them will be quickly ended, or soon put out, and then will wicked men return to their old course of reproaching, if they bee not daily confuted by the still fresh and new fruits of a Christian: wee must bee full of new and good fruits, Iames 3.17. and neuer weary of well-dooing.
The sense of the word then is this, as if it were rendered thus: This is the will of God, that they that are daily exercised in doing good, should put to silence foolish men: for, the original word doth note the person, as well as the good done; which affords another doctrine.
The sense of the word then is this, as if it were rendred thus: This is the will of God, that they that are daily exercised in doing good, should put to silence foolish men: for, the originall word doth note the person, as well as the good done; which affoords another doctrine.
