A17384:290
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.
Quest. What must such do as find either want of appetite, or decay of it?
Quest. What must such doo as finde either want of appetite, or decay of it?
Ans. Such as would get sound affections to the word, must do six things.
Ans. Such as would get sound affections to the word, must doo six things.
First,1 they must refrain their feet from every evil way. It is impossible to get sound affections, without sound reformation of life, Psalm 119.
First,1 they must refrain their feet from euery euill way. It is impossible to get sound affections, without sound reformation of life, Psalm 119.
Secondly, they must pray for it: they must beseech the Lord to quicken them, Psal. 119.37, and to enlarge their hearts, verse 32. especially to give them understanding, verse 34. and to open their eyes to see the wonderful things of his law, verse 18.
Secondly, they must pray for it: they must beseech the Lord to quicken them, Psal. 119.37, and to inlarge their hearts, verse 32. especially to giue them vnderstanding, verse 34. and to open their eies to see the wonderfull things of his law, verse 18.
Thirdly, they must choose an effectual Ministry to live under it, such as is executed with power and demonstration to the conscience, 2. Cor. 4.2.
Thirdly, they must chuse an effectuall Ministery to liue vnder it, such as is executed with power and demonstration to the conscience, 2. Cor. 4.2.
Fourthly, they must remember the Sabbath day; and that they do, when they empty their heads and hearts of all cares of life which might choke the word; diligently doing their own works on the six days, and finishing them, that ⟨p. 62⟩they may be free for the Lords work on the seventh day. The cares of life choke the word, Matthew 13.
Fourthly, they must remember the Sabbath day; and that they doo, when they empty their heads and hearts of all cares of life which might choak the word; diligently dooing their owne works on the six daies, and finishing them, that ⟨p. 62⟩they may bee free for the Lords work on the seuenth day. The cares of life choke the word, Matthew 13.
Fifthly, they must converse much, if it be possible, with affectionate Christians. For, as iron sharpneth iron: so doth the exemplary affection of the tender-hearted whet-on the dull spirits of others.
Fiftly, they must conuerse much, if it be possible, with affectionate Christians. For, as iron sharpneth iron: so doth the exemplary affection of the tender-hearted whet-on the dull spirits of others.
Sixthly, they must purge often. They must be frequent in the duties of humiliation, by solemn fasting, and prayer, and sound confession; striving, when they feel fullness to grow upon them, to disburden their hearts, and to quicken their spirits more forcibly to the love of Gods name and word.
Sixtly, they must purge often. They must bee frequent in the duties of humiliation, by solemn fasting, and praier, and sound confession; striuing, when they feel fulnesse to growe vpon them, to disburden their hearts, and to quicken their spirits more forcibly to the loue of Gods name and word.
Quest. But what must such do as have gotten some affections to the word, that they neither lose them, nor be unprofitable in them?
Quest. But what must such doo as haue gotten some affections to the word, that they neyther lose them, nor be vnprofitable in them?
Ans. They must look to diverse things.
Ans. They must look to diuerse things.
1First, they must hate vain thoughts, take heed of those secret vanities of imagination, and that delightful contemplation of evil in the mind, Psalm 119.113.
1First, they must hate vain thoughts, take heed of those secret vanities of imagination, and that delightfull contemplation of euill in the minde, Psalm 119.113.
Secondly, they must try all things, and keep that which is good. They must hear with judgement, and make special account of such parcels of doctrine as do most fit their particular needs; labouring by all means, that such truths run not out, 1. Thes. 5.21.
Secondly, they must try all things, and keep that which is good. They must hear with judgement, and make speciall account of such parcels of doctrine as do most fit their particular needs; labouring by all means, that such truths run not out, 1. Thes. 5.21.
Thirdly, they must take heed of itching ears. For, where mens desires are still carried after new men, they are in great danger of fullness, or ⟨p. 63⟩of declining; and, which is worse, of being carried about with diverse doctrines, and at length to be a prey to deceitful mockers.
Thirdly, they must take heed of itching eares. For, where mens desires are still carried after new men, they are in great danger of fulnesse, or ⟨p. 63⟩of declining; and, which is worse, of being carried about with diuerse doctrines, and at length to be a prey to deceitfull mockers.
Fourthly, they must preserve by all means the fear and trembling at Gods presence, and humiliation of mind. For, so long as we can dread the presence of God in his ordinances, we are in no danger of losing our love to the word, Psalm 119.120.
Fourthly, they must preserue by all means the fear and trembling at Gods presence, and humiliation of minde. For, so long as wee can dread the presence of God in his ordinances, we are in no danger of losing our loue to the word, Psalm 119.120.
Lastly, in Isaiah 55.1.2.3. we may note diverse things that GOD requires in such as have the same thirst.
Lastly, in Esay 55.1.2.3. wee may note diuerse things that GOD requires in such as haue the same thirst.
1. They must come to means. 2. They must buy and bargain with God by prayer and vows. 3. They must eat, that is, they must apply it to themselves. 4. They must be instructed against merit in themselves, and bring faith to believe success, though they deserve it not: they must buy without money. 5. They must hearken diligently. 6. They must eat that which is good: that is, they must apply effectually that doctrine they feel to have life in it. 7. Their souls must delight in fatness: that is, they must be specially thankful and cheerful, when God doth enlive his promises, and sweeten his words to their tastes. 8. They must, after all this, incline their ear, and come to God. They must make conscience to strive against dullness and distractions, and ⟨p. 64⟩seek God in his word still, or else their affections may decay: and then if they do this▪ they shall live and enjoy the sure mercies of David by a perpetual covenant.
1. They must come to means. 2. They must buy and bargain with God by praier and vows. 3. They must eat, that is, they must apply it to themselues. 4. They must bee instructed against merit in themselues, and bring faith to beleeue success, though they deserue it not: they must buy without money. 5. They must harken diligently. 6. They must eat that which is good: that is, they must apply effectually that doctrine they feel to haue life in it. 7. Their soules must delight in fatnes: that is, they must be specially thankfull and cheerfull, when God doth enliue his promises, and sweeten his words to their tastes. 8. They must, after all this, incline their ear, and come to God. They must make conscience to striue against dulnes and distractions, and ⟨p. 64⟩seek God in his word still, or els their affections may decay: and then if they doe this▪ they shall liue and enioy the sure mercies of Dauid by a perpetuall couenant.
