A17384:2740
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.
And that this point may be more clear, I would consider of the signs of a spiritual mad-man, or fool: and that this point also may be cleared, you must remember, there are two sorts of men are said literally to be without minds: the one is natural fools, and their disease is called moria: the other is furious mad-men, and their disease is called mania: both suffer alienation of mind; they want their minds, or the right use of them: and so there are two sorts of men which spiritually want minds: some are resembled by fools, and some by mad-men.
And that this point may be more cleare, I would consider of the signes of a spirituall mad-man, or foole: and that this point also may bee cleared, you must remember, there are two sorts of men are said litterally to bee without mindes: the one is naturall fooles, and their disease is called moria: the other is furious mad-men, and their disease is called mania: both suffer alienation of minde; they want their mindes, or the right vse of them: and so there are two sorts of men which spiritually want mindes: some are resembled by fooles, and some by mad-men.
A spiritual fool may be known especially by two signs;1 First, by his mindlessness: he hath no thoughts nor words about the Kingdom of heaven; he is altogether careless and senseless, he sits still without any regard of it, as some children that are mopish and heed nothing; or some that are sick of a kind of a melancholy, that will neither speak nor eat; these lose time, and will not buy it, Eph. 5.16. Secondly, by his sottishness: this sort differs from the former; for these will talk and be doing, and many times very busy, but it is without any spiritual sense, or discerning; their ⟨p. 652⟩words and works are all idle, and sottish, and cross to the Word of God: and these are discovered by divers signs diversly; as,
A spirituall foole may bee known especially by two signes;1 First, by his mindlesnesse: hee hath no thoughts nor words about the Kingdome of heauen; hee is altogether carelesse and sencelesse, hee sits still without any regard of it, as some children that are mopish and heed nothing; or some that are sicke of a kinde of a melancholy, that will neither speake nor eate; these lose time, and will not buy it, Eph. 5.16. Secondly, by his sottishnesse: this sort differs from the former; for these will talk and bee doing, and many times very busie, but it is without any spirituall sense, or discerning; their ⟨p. 652⟩words and workes are all idle, and sottish, and crosse to the Word of God: and these are discouered by diuers signes diuersly; as,
First, the Wisdom of God seems foolishness to them: let heavenly things be spoken of with never so great wisdom and power of words, yet these sots have one senseless objection or other, in respect of which they reject all they hear; and being led by their sensuality, or their carnal reason, Pro. 23.9. 1. Cor. 1. & 2. go no further; but in these cases think they are in their own conceit wiser then any man that can give a better reason and proof.
First, the Wisdome of God seemes foolishnesse to them: let heauenly things bee spoken of with neuer so great wisdome and power of words, yet these sots haue one senslesse obiection or other, in respect of which they reiect all they heare; and being led by their sensuality, or their carnall reason, Pro. 23.9. 1. Cor. 1. & 2. goe no further; but in these cases thinke they are in their owne conceit wiser then any man that can giue a better rea•on and proofe.
Secondly, they discover it by senselessness and incorrigibleness, when they are pursued by the hand of God many times round about, Jer. 5.3, 4. Though God should seem to bring all to the first Chaos, yet they understand not: you cannot beat into their heads the hatred of their sins, or the cares of a better life, Jer. 22.20, 21, 22. Isaiah 42.27. This Apathy is only in mad-men and fools, Pro. 17.10. and 27.22.
Secondly, they discouer it by senslesnesse and incorrigiblenesse, when they are pursued by the hand of God many times round about, Ier. 5.3, 4. Though God should seeme to bring all to the first Chaos, yet they vnderstand not: you cannot beat into their heads the hatred of their sinnes, or the cares of a better life, Ier. 22.20, 21, 22. Isaiah 42.27. This Apathy is onely in mad-men and fooles, Pro. 17.10. and 27.22.
Thirdly, they discover it by their continual entertainment of the innumerable enormities of their thoughts, which arising from their heart in the dark, they play withal with as much earnestness and attendance, as if they were some needful and profitable things. This customary daily entertainment of vain thoughts, is a sign of a spiritual Sot, Rom. 1.21.
Thirdly, they discouer it by their continuall intertainment of the innumerable enormities of their thoughts, which arising from their heart in the darke, they play withall with as much earnestnesse and attendance, as if they were some needfull and profitable things. This customary daily intertainment of vaine thoughts, is a signe of a spirituall Sot, Rom. 1.21.
Fourthly, they discover it by their continual grasping at shadows, that is, their doting upon ⟨p. 653⟩earthly things with strange cares, and pains, and jollity, without any sound endeavour to provide for their souls, and eternal salvation, Psalm 49.10. Luke 12.16. to 21. Jer. 17.11.
Fourthly, they discouer it by their continuall grasping at shadowes, that is, their doting vpon ⟨p. 653⟩earthly things with strange cares, and paines, and iollity, without any sound endeauour to prouide for their soules, and eternall saluation, Psalm 49.10. Luke 12.16. to 21. Ier. 17.11.
Fifthly, some of them discover their sottishness, by following the service of idols, which they worship in stead of the living God: this is called brutishness, Deut. 32.6, 16, 17. Isaiah 44.19, 20. O what a number of these sots are there in the world, if the worshippers of idols, of Romish and Paganish idols, were summed up!
Fiftly, some of them discouer their sottishnesse, by following the seruice of idols, which they worship in stead of the liuing God: this is called brutishnes, Deut. 32.6, 16, 17. Esay 44.19, 20. O what a number of these sots are there in the world, if the worshippers of idols, of Romish and Paganish idols, were summed vp!
Sixthly, others discover it, by making clean the outside of the cup and platter, but never regard the filthiness of the inside: such are they, that are only careful of the show of their actions before men, while their inside is full of ravening & wickedness. These our Saviour calls fools or sots, because he that made that which is without, made that which is within also, Luke 11.39, 40.
Sixtly, others discouer it, by making cleane the outside of the cup and platter, but neuer regard the filthinesse of the inside: such are they, that are onely carefull of the shew of their actions before men, while their inside is full of rauening & wickednes. These our Sauiour cals fools or sots, because hee that made that which is without, made that which is within also, Luke 11.39, 40.
Seventhly, some of them discover themselves, by suffering themselves to be buffeted and abused, and yet are content to be used so still: and such are they that will suffer themselves to be abused by false teachers, so they be of their own humour, though they devour them in their estates, and bring them into bondage in their minds, though they take of them, and exalt themselves insolently among them, 2. Cor. 11.19, 20.
Seuenthly, some of them discouer themselues, by suffering themselues to be buffetted and abused, and yet are content to be vsed so still: and such are they that will suffer themselues to bee abused by false teachers, so they bee of their owne humour, though they deuoure them in their estates, and bring them into bondage in their mindes, though they take of them, and exalt themselues insolently among them, 2. Cor. 11.19, 20.
Eighthly, they discover it, by building the hopes of the salvation of their souls upon most vain and insufficient grounds: they build on the sands: they trust upon an universal mercy of God, ⟨p. 654⟩and the example of the most, and upon the bare use of God's Ordinances, without any power of faith, or practice in their hearts or lives: and therefore in time of tribulations, their hope is as the giving up of the ghost: all is ruined, and their souls are desolate, Mat. 7.26. They will be at no pains to be assured of their salvation and Religion, but go on, without any particular regard of their own way to heaven, Pro. 14.8.
Eightthly, they discouer it, by building the hopes of the saluation of their soules vpon most vain and insufficient grounds: they build on the sands: they trust vpon an vniuersall mercy of God, ⟨p. 654⟩and the example of the most, and vpon the bare vse of God's Ordinances, without any power of faith, or practice in their hearts or liues: and therefore in time of tribulations, their hope is as the giuing vp of the ghost: all is ruined, and their soules are desolate, Mat. 7.26. They will be at no pains to be assured of their saluation and Religion, but goe on, without any particular regard of their owne way to heauen, Pro. 14.8.
A spiritual fool then is discovered, first, by his mindlessness; secondly, by his uncapablenesse and contempt of heavenly doctrine; thirdly, by his incorrigibleness; fourthly, by the vanity of his thoughts; fifthly, by his dotages about earthly things; sixthly, by his idolatry; seventhly, by his hypocritical tricks; eighthly, by suffering the injuries of false teachers; and lastly, by the vain grounds of his hope and faith.
A spirituall fool then is discouered, first, by his mindlesnesse; secondly, by his vncapablenesse and contempt of heauenly doctrine; thirdly, by his incorrigiblenesse; fourthly, by the vanity of his thoughts; fiftly, by his dotages about earthly things; sixtly, by his idolatry; seuenthly, by his hypocriticall tricks; eightthly, by suffering the iniuries of false teachers; and lastly, by the vaine grounds of his hope and faith.
The spiritual mad-man follows to be described: and so these sorts of men following, are convicted of madness in the Scripture;
The spirituall mad-man followes to bee described: and so these sorts of men following, are conuicted of madnes in the Scripture;
1First, the Atheist: he is a man void of reason, that denies principles: and such a one is he that saith in his heart, There is no God, as he that denies the providence of God, Psalm 14.1. and 94.8.
1First, the Atheist: hee is a man void of reason, that denies principles: and such a one is hee that saith in his heart, There is no God, as hee that denies the prouidence of God, Psalm 14.1. and 94.8.
Secondly, the swearer: the fools or mad-men blaspheme God's Name, Psalm 74.18. He were a mad-man, that would daily rail at the King to his face: and such are blasphemers.
Secondly, the swearer: the fools or madde-men blaspheme God's Name, Psalm 74.18. He were a mad-man, that would daily rail at the King to his face: and such are blasphemers.
Thirdly, the persecutor. The Apostle, speaking of men that resist the truth, as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, saith, that Their madness shall be ⟨p. 655⟩manifested to all men: so that he particularly calls resisting of the truth, madness, 2. Tim. 3.9.
Thirdly, the persecuter. The Apostle, speaking of men that resist the truth, as Iannes and Iambres resisted Moses, saith, that Their madnes shall bee ⟨p. 655⟩manifested to all men: so that he particularly calls resisting of the truth, madnes, 2. Tim. 3.9.
Fourthly, the idle person. He is a mad-man, that will eat his own flesh: but such a one is the slothful person, because he brings poverty upon himself like an armed man, or else destroys the health of his body by his laziness, or brings misery upon his wife and children, or because his soul is eaten up with rust, and the canker of his negligence, Eccles. 4.5.
Fourthly, the idle person. He is a mad-man, that will eat his owne flesh: but such a one is the slothfull person, because hee brings pouerty vpon himself like an armed man, or else destroies the health of his body by his lazinesse, or brings misery vpon his wife and children, or because his soule is eaten vp with rust, and the canker of his negligence, Eccles. 4.5.
