A17384:2868
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.
Use. The use should be for instruction diversly.
Vse. The vse should be for instruction diuersly.
First, seeing we are God's servants, we should ⟨p. 686⟩make Conscience of it to do his work: he hath by the Gospel hired us to that end, to employ our selves in the works of righteousness, mercy, and piety, Tit. 2.12.
First, seeing we are God's seruants, wee should ⟨p. 686⟩make Conscience of it to do his worke: he hath by the Gospell hired vs to that end, to imploy our selues in the workes of righteousnesse, mercy, and piety, Tit. 2.12.
1Secondly, since we belong to God, who is so great a Master, we should not only do his work, but do it in such a manner as becomes the servants of the King of all kings: God's servants should serve him, 1. Reverently, and with fear and trembling, we must humble our selves to walk with God, Psal. 2.11. Mic. 6.7. 2. Zealously: we should be zealous about this work, and so we should do it readily. It is a shame for us to be dull, and careless, and prone to shifts and excuses; the Centurions servants go, when he bids them, and come, when he calls for them, and do this when he requires it; and our zeal should be shown by our cheerfulness,2 and willingness: God's people should be a willing people, and our hearts should be full of desires, above all things, to approve our selves to God: we should make it appear, that we not only are his servants, but love to be his servants, Isaiah 56.7. and in matters of his worship, or the means, thereof; the zeal of his House should eat us up. 3. Wisely and discreetly. Kings get the wisest men they can light upon, to serve before them: and therefore the King of all kings will not be served with fools. Since we serve GOD, we should be circumspect, and be sure we understand what the will of God is, Eph. 5.15, 16. And therefore ⟨p. 687⟩we have need to pray with David, that God would give us true understanding hearts to search his Law, Psalm 119.124. 4. Sincerely, Josh. 24▪14. And this sincerity in God's work, we should show five ways. First, in seeking none but him, Deut. 6.13. We must not be the servants of men, 1. Cor. 7.23. to satisfy mens humours, or stand-upon their liking or disliking. We may not serve Mammon in our own lusts. No man can serve two Masters. God refuseth us for his servants, if we serve riches, Luke 16.13. Secondly, we should show our sincerity, in obeying him in all things: there is no work he requires, that we should think our selves too good to do it: we must not dare to neglect any thing he requires. They are none of God's servants, that will do only what they list in Religion. Thirdly, we should show it, in doing all things that may be best for his advantage, seeking his glory in all things, 1. Cor. 10.31. We must not seek our own praise or profit, but his whom we serve. Fourthly, by doing his will indeed, without dissimulation, 1. Chron. 28.9.
1Secondly, since we belong to God, who is so great a Master, we should not onely doe his worke, but do it in such a manner as becomes the seruants of the King of all kings: God's seruants should serue him, 1. Reuerently, and with feare and trembling, we must humble our selues to walke with God, Psal. 2.11. Mic. 6.7. 2. Zealously: we should be zealous about this worke, and so we should do it readily. It is a shame for vs to bee dull, and carelesse, and prone to shifts and excuses; the Centurions seruants goe, when hee bids them, and come, when he calls for them, and do this when he requires it; and our zeal should bee shewne by our cheerefulness,2 and willingness: God's people should be a willing people, and our hearts should be full of desires, aboue all things, to approue our selues to God: we should make it appeare, that we not onely are his seruants, but loue to be his seruants, Isaiah 56.7. and in matters of his worship, or the meanes, thereof; the zeale of his House should eate vs vp. 3. Wisely and discreetely. Kings get the wisest men they can light vpon, to serue before them: and therefore the King of all kings will not be serued with fooles. Since we serue GOD, we should be circumspect, and be sure we vnderstand what the will of God is, Eph. 5.15, 16. And therefore ⟨p. 687⟩wee haue need to pray with Dauid, that God would giue vs true vnderstanding hearts to search his Law, Psalm 119.124. 4. Sincerely, Iosh. 24▪14. And this sincerity in God's work, wee should shew fiue waies. First, in seeking none but him, Deut. 6.13. Wee must not be the seruants of men, 1. Cor. 7.23. to satisfie mens humours, or stand-vpon their liking or disliking. Wee may not serue Mammon in our owne lusts. No man can serue two Masters. God refuseth vs for his seruants, if we serue riches,
Fifthly, in newness of spirit, bringing new hearts to his work, not trusting the old man to do any work for God, Rom. 7.6. 5. We must do his work constantly. A servant is not he, that doth a days work and so is gone; but he that works all the year: nor hath God any servants that he hires not by life. He hath none from year to year, Psalm 119.17. We must finish his work, and never give-over, till we fulfil the task appointed us, Luke •.74. Reu. 7.17. ⟨p. 688⟩6. We must serve him with our spirits: God is a Spirit, and will be served in spirit and truth. If he may not have the service of our hearts, he rejects the service of our bodies: we must serve him with all our hearts, and all our souls, Deut. 10.12. Philip. 3.3. 7. Confidently. Servants to ill or poor masters, are fain to trust them for diet and wages: how much more should we rely upon God, and commit our selves wholly to him, taking no care but only to do his work, leaving all the rest to him? Isaiah 43.11. 8. With one shoulder, or with one consent: they must agree one with another, Zephany 3.9. 9. With all modesty, Acts 20.19. without pride, or self-conceits, or conceitedness; acknowledging, that, when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants, Luke 17.10. and with sorrow for our failings, Acts 20. Luke 15.29
Use 3. Thirdly, since God's people are God's servants, they should learn, in all places to stand for the honour and glory of their Master, and not suffer God to be dishonoured by the servants of a strange god.
Vse 3. Thirdly, since God's people are God's seruants, they should learn, in all places to stand for the honour and glory of their Master, and not suffer God to bee dishonoured by the seruants of a strange god.
Lastly, since all God's people are his servants, and do his work; it serves for the discovery of the miserable condition of multitudes in the visible Church, who are hereby proved not to be God's people, because they are not God's servants. And so these sorts of men following, are rejected as ⟨p. 689⟩none of Gods people, because they are none of his servants.
Lastly, since all God's people are his seruants, and do his work; it serues for the discouery of the miserable condition of multitudes in the visible Church, who are heerby proued not to bee God's people, because they are not God's seruants. And so these sorts of men following, are reiected as ⟨p. 689⟩none of Gods people, because they are none of his seruants.
First,1 all profane persons, that ask what profit it is to serve God, Job 21.15. Malac. 3.15. and serve their own lusts, Math. 24.49.
First,1 all prophane persons, that aske what profit it is to serue God, Iob 21.15. Malac. 3.15. and serue their owne lusts, Math. 24.49.
Secondly, all worldlings, that work about nothing more then he things of this life, Luke 16.13.
Secondly, all worldlings, that worke about nothing more then he things of this life, Luke 16.13.
Thirdly, all unprofitable Christians, that live and do no good, will do no work, but spend their days in spiritual idleness, and unfruitfulness, making no conscience of the means, or opportunities of well-doing, Math. 25.26, 28.
Thirdly, all vnprofitable Christians, that liue and doe no good, will doe no work, but spend their daies in spirituall idlenes, and vnfruitfulnes, making no conscience of the meanes, or opportunities of wel-doing, Math. 25.26, 28.
Fourthly, all backward and dull Christians, to whom it seems evil to serve the Lord, that account all religious duties to be tedious & irksome, and never from their hearts consent to obey:1 but do what they do, upon compulsion from the laws of men, or fear of shame, &c. They are Gods servants no otherwise then the devil is. For the devil is forced to do God some work sometimes, but it is always against his will, that God hath any glory by it.
Fourthly, all backward and dull Christians, to whom it seemes euill to serue the Lord, that account all religious duties to be tedious & irksome, and neuer from their hearts consent to obey:1 but doe what they doe, vpon compulsion from the lawes of men, or feare of shame, &c. They are Gods seruants no otherwise then the diuell is. For the diuell is forced to doe God some worke sometimes, but it is alwaies against his will, that God hath any glory by it.
Fifthly, all ignorant Christians, that are so far from doing good works, that they understand not Gods will, nor are careful to redeem the time, that they might get knowledge.
Fiftly, all ignorant Christians, that are so farre from doing good workes, that they vnderstand not Gods will, nor are carefull to redeeme the time, that they might get knowledge.
Sixthly, all hypocrites, that have the form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, promise to do much work, but do it not. These (especially, so many of them as know their Masters will, and do it not) shall one day feel the weight of Gods hand.
Sixtly, all hypocrites, that haue the forme of godlines, but deny the power thereof, promise to doe much worke, but do it not. These (especially, so many of them as know their Masters will, and doe it not) shall one day feele the weight of Gods hand.
Seventhly, all quarrelsome & contentious Christians, that make division, and cause offences contrary to the doctrine of Gods Word. These, the Apostle saith, serve not the Lord Jesus, but their own belly, and by smooth pretences deceive the simple▪ Rom. 16.18.
Seuenthly, all quarelsome & contentious Christians, that make diuision, and cause offences contrary to the doctrine of Gods Word. These, the Apostle saith, serue not the Lord Iesus, but their own belly, and by smooth pretences deceiue the simple▪ Rom. 16.18.
Use. 4. Lastly, since Gods people are Gods servants, they are to be much reproved, that take liberty to judge and censure other men for infirmities, or things doubtful or indifferent: for what have they to do to judge another's servant? They are Gods servants, and must make their reckoning to him, and therefore stand or fall to their own Master.
Vse. 4. Lastly, since Gods people are Gods seruants, they are to bee much reproued, that take liberty to iudge and censure other men for infirmities, or things doubtfull or indifferent: for what haue they to doe to iudge anothers seruant? They are Gods seruants, and must make their reckoning to him, and therefore stand or fall to their owne Master.
Thus of the first doctrine.
Doct. 2. Secondly, we may hence learn, that it is an excellent freedom to be Gods servant. They are all freemen that serve God, as the coherence shows. No freemen can enjoy better privileges then Gods servants do, and never were there any servants that enjoyed such prerogatives as Gods servants do; and this may appear many ways: for,
Doct. 2. Secondly, we may hence learne, that it is an excellent freedome to be Gods seruant. They are all freemen that serue God, as the coherence shewes. No freemen can enioy better priuiledges then Gods seruants doe, and neuer were there any seruants that enioyed such prerogatiues as Gods seruants doe; and this may appeare many waies: for,
Fiftly, in newnes of spirit, bringing new hearts to his work, not trusting the old man to do any worke for God, Rom. 7.6. 5. We must doo his work constantly. A seruant is not he, that doth a daies work and so is gon; but hee that works all the yeer: nor hath God any seruants that hee hires not by life. Hee hath none from yeer to yeer, Psalm 119.17. Wee must finish his work, and neuer giue-ouer, till wee fulfill the task appointed vs, Luke •.74. Reu. 7.17. ⟨p. 688⟩6. We must serue him with our spirits: God is a Spirit, and will be serued in spirit and truth. If he may not haue the seruice of our hearts, hee reiects the seruice of our bodies: we must serue him with all our hearts, and all our soules, Deut. 10.12. Philip. 3.3. 7. Confidently. Seruants to ill or poor masters, are fain to trust them for diet and wages: how much more should wee relie vpon God, and commit our selues wholly to him, taking no care but onely to doo his work, leauing all the rest to him? Esay 43.11. 8. With one shoulder, or with one consent: they must agree one with another, Zephany 3.9. 9. With all modesty, Acts 20.19. without pride, or self-conceits, or conceitednes; acknowledging, that, when we haue done all, wee are vnprofitable seruants, Luke 17.10. and with sorrow for our failings, Acts 20. Luke 15.29. and the rather, because God can finde faults in his best seruants, Iob 4.18.
