A17384:2743
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.
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.
Fifthly, the wilful offender: He is a mad-man, that when he hears of some eminent danger, yet will not avoid it; such a one is every gross offender, that hearing of the judgements God will bring upon him for such sins, or perceiving that the wrath of God is broken out upon others for the like offences, yet will madly go on without fear. The prudent man feareth, and departeth from evil; but he is a fool or mad-man, that rageth and is confident, Prou. 14.16. Jerem. 5.21, 22.
Fiftly, the wilfull offender: Hee is a mad-man, that when hee heares of some eminent danger, yet will not auoide it; such a one is euery grosse offender, that hearing of the iudgements God wil bring vpon him for such sinnes, or perceiuing that the wrath of God is broken out vpon others for the like offences, yet will madly goe on without feare. The prudent man feareth, and departeth from euil; but hee is a foole or mad-man, that rageth and is confident, Prou. 14.16. Ierem. 5.21, 22.
Sixthly, the senseless prater: We discern him to be a mad-man, that talking continually, falters in his words, and utters sentences that are unperfect, without sense or coherence: such persons in religion are those prating fools Solomon speaks of, that are full of words, and void of sound judgement: as the legs of the lame are not equal, so is a parable in a fools mouth. As you discern a lame man by this, that his legs are one longer then another; so you may discover a spiritual mad-man by his discourse about the high points of religion; for his words agree not together, his sentences are ⟨p. 656⟩senseless and unequal. A fool hath no delight to get sound understanding in these things, and yet is wonderful forward to utter his mind, though he discover nothing but his ignorance and folly, Pro. 18.2. & 26.7.
Sixtly, the senslesse prater: Wee discerne him to bee a mad-man, that talking continually, phalters in his words, and vtters sentences that are vnperfect, without sense or coherence: such persons in religion are those prating fooles Salomon speakes of, that are full of words, and void of sound iudgement: as the legs of the lame are not equall, so is a parable in a fools mouth. As you discern a lame man by this, that his legs are one longer then another; so you may discouer a spirituall mad-man by his discourse about the high points of religion; for his words agree not together, his sentences are ⟨p. 656⟩senslesse and vnequall. A foole hath no delight to get sound vnderstanding in these things, and yet is wonderfull forward to vtter his minde, though he discouer nothing but his ignorance and folly, Pro. 18.2. & 26.7.
Seventhly, the Epicure, or voluptuous person: he is a mad-man, that is, never merry but when he hath done some mischief: and such are all they that make a sport of sin, Prou. 10.23. & 14.9. & 15.22.
Seuenthly, the Epicure, or voluptuous person: he is a mad-man, that is, neuer merry but when hee hath done some mischief: and such are all they that make a sport of sinne, Prou. 10.23. & 14.9. & 15.22.
