A17384:299
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.
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.
Question. But what shall such godly persons as are afflicted with melancholy do in this case of affections?
Answer. They must attend these things:
Secondly, they must remember times that are past, and judge of their estate by what it was before.
Secondly, they must remember times that are past, and iudge of their estate by what it was before.
Thirdly, they may be infallibly assured, that they are in a right way, because they desire to live uprightly, and to forsake the corruptions that are in the world.
Thirdly, they may be infallibly assured, that they are in a right way, because they desire to liue vprightly, and to forsake the corruptions that are in the world.
Fourthly, they must know, that it is a greater glory in faith to believe now, when they feel not, then to believe when the hart abounded with joy.
Fourthly, they must know, that it is a greater glory in faith to beleeue now, when they feele not, then to beleeue when the hart abounded with ioy.
Fifthly, They may judge of their affection to the word by their preparation before they come, and by their only liking of such as love the word, and by their constant frequenting of it, and by their sorrow for their dullness, and unprofitableness.
Fiftly, They may iudge of their affection to the word by their preparation before they com, and by their only liking of such as loue the word, and by their constant frequenting of it, and by their sorrow for their dulnes, and vnprofitablenes.
Hitherto of the duty, to which he exhorteth: The motives follow, and they are four: 1First, ye are new borne babes: Secondly, the word is sincere milk: ⟨p. 65⟩Thirdly, ye may thereby grow. Fourthly, ye have tasted the sweetness of the bounty of God in his word already.
Hitherto of the duty, to which hee exhorteth: The motiues follow, and they are fowre: 1First, ye are new borne babes: Secondly, the word is sincere milk: ⟨p. 65⟩Thirdly, ye may thereby growe. Fourthly, ye haue tasted the sweetnes of the bounty of God in his word already.
The first reason tells what they are: The second, what the word is: The third, what they shall be: The fourth, what the word hath been.
The first reason tels what they are: The second, what the word is: The third, what they shall be: The fourth, what the word hath been.
