A17384:2877
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.
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,
1First, all sorts of men are Gods servants. All his subjects are his servants, Psal. 135.14. yea all his sons are servants: yea Christ himself, Isaiah. 42. all his elect are servants, yea his friends are his servants▪ so Abraham, that had the honour to be the friend of God, accounted it no disparagement to be Gods servant: the Kings of the earth accounted it to be the best part of their title, to be Gods servants, Psal. 36.1. All which proves, that it is a ⟨p. 691⟩most free and honourable estate to be servant unto God: else those eminent persons would never have sought them out such a service: and this is the more evident, because God accepteth not of persons, but the poorest Christian may be as well entertained of God, as any of those States, Gal. 3.28. Col. 3.11.
1First, all sorts of men are Gods seruants. All his subiects are his seruants, Psal. 135.14. yea all his sonnes are seruants: yea Christ himselfe, Esay. 42. all his elect are seruants, yea his friends are his seruants▪ so Abraham, that had the honour to bee the friend of God, accounted it no desparagement to bee Gods seruant: the Kings of the earth accounted it to bee the best part of their title, to bee Gods seruants, Psal. 36.1. All which proues, that it is a ⟨p. 691⟩most free and honourable estate to be seruant vnto God: else those eminent persons would neuer haue sought them out such a seruice: and this is the more euident, because God accepteth not of persons, but the poorest Christian may bee as well intertained of God, as any of those States,
Secondly, Gods service may become any freeman in the world, if we consider, what kind of entertainment God gives his servants. For,
Secondly, Gods seruice may become any freeman in the world, if we consider, what kinde of intertainment God giues his seruants. For,
First, all his work is fair work. It is no disgrace for any man to do it, and he requires no more of the meanest servant he hath, then he doth of the greatest Prince on earth, after he hath retained him to be his servant.
First, all his worke is faire work. It is no disgrace for any man to doe it, and hee requires no more of the meanest seruant hee hath, then hee doth of the greatest Prince on earth, after he hath retained him to be his seruant.
Secondly, if it fall out, that they endure any hardship, or be put to bear any inconvenience; it is no more then what the Master himself doth, or hath endured, Math. 10.25.
Secondly, if it fall out, that they endure any hardship, or be put to beare any inconuenience; it is no more then what the Master himselfe doth, or hath endured, Math. 10.25.
Thirdly, and that the difficulty of this work may not dismay thee, he pours out his own spirit upon his servants, Joel. 2.29. and guides them so, that in effect he doth all their work for them, Isaiah 26. Psal. 90.
Thirdly, and that the difficulty of this worke may not dismay thee, he powres out his owne spirit vpon his seruants, Ioel. 2.29. and guides them so, that in effect hee doth all their worke for them, Esaiah 26. Psal. 90.
Fourthly, when they endeavour themselves to do his work in sincerity, he accepts their service marvellous graciously, he is so well pleased with them, that his countenance doth shine upon them, Psal. 31.16. yea he boasts of their service, Job 1.8. and 2.3.
Fourthly, when they endeuour themselues to doe his worke in sincerity, he accepts their seruice maruelous graciously, hee is so well pleased with them, that his countenance doth shine vpon them, Psal. 31.16. yea he boasts of their seruice, Iob 1.8. and 2.3.
Fifthly, if through ignorance or infirmity they miss it sometimes, and so mar his work; if they ⟨p. 692⟩but come to him, and confess it, he is ready and easy to forgive, and plenteous in mercy, Psalm 86.4, 5. Isaiah 44.20, 21. Mal. 3.17.
Fiftly, if through ignorance or infirmity they misse it sometimes, and so marre his work; if they ⟨p. 692⟩but come to him, and confesse it, hee is ready and easie to forgiue, and plentious in mercy, Psalm 86.4, 5. Esay 44.20, 21. Mal. 3.17.
Sixthly, no men are kept and entertained more comfortably than they are: he doth not only find them food, but gives them gladness of heart; where a thousand of other men, that have means enough, have so many sorrows among, that they bear their names as a very curse, Isaiah 65.13, 14.
Sixtly, no men are kept and entertained more comfortably than they are: hee doth not onely finde them food, but giues them gladnes of heart; where a thousand of other men, that haue meanes enough, haue so many sorrows among, that they bear their names as a very curse, Esay 65.13, 14.
Seventhly, if by wilful ignorance or carelessness they offend him, yet he will correct in measure, Jer. 30.10, 11. and will quickly repent himself of his Judgement concerning them, Psalm 135.14. He never puts away any servants, Isaiah 41.8, 9. If they should at any time run away, and be lost, he will never cease seeking them, till he find them, and bring them home again, Psalm 119. ult.
Seuenthly, if by wilfull ignorance or carelesnes they offend him, yet hee will correct in measure, Ier. 30.10, 11. and will quickly repent himself of his Iudgement concerning them, Psalm 135.14. Hee neuer puts away any seruants, Esay 41.8, 9. If they should at any time runne away, and be lost, he will neuer cease seeking them, till hee finde them, and bring them home again, Psalm 119. vlt.
