A17384:318
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.
Divers things may be from hence noted.
Diuers things may be from hence noted.
First, that grace is wrought in Christians by degrees. Christ is revealed in us by four degrees. First, as a child, or little babe new formed and borne: Secondly, as a young man in more strength, and vigour, and comeliness, and activeness: Thirdly, as a father, or old man settled with long experience: these three are in this life, and mentioned 1. Joh. 2.14. Now the fourth is, when Christ shall appear in us as the Ancient of days, like God himself in a marvellous glorious resemblance ⟨p. 66⟩of the holiness, and properties of God: And this shall be in another world. The use should be both for thankfulness, if Christ be formed in us to any degree, and to incite our industry in all the means appointed of God, seeing we receive gifts by degrees, and not all at once.
First, that grace is wrought in Christians by degrees. Christ is reuealed in vs by foure degrees. First, as a child, or little babe new formed and borne: Secondly, as a yong man in more strength, and vigour, and comeliness, and actiueness: Thirdly, as a father, or old man settled with long experience: these three are in this life, and mentioned 1. Ioh. 2.14. Now the fourth is, when Christ shall appear in vs as the Antient of daies, like God himself in a maruelous glorious resemblance ⟨p. 66⟩of the holiness, and properties of God: And this shall bee in another world. The vse should bee both for thankfulnes, if Christ bee formed in vs to any degree, and to incite our industry in all the meanes appointed of God, seeing wee receiue gifts by degrees, and not all at once.
Secondly, that true grace may stand with many weaknesses. A child doth truly live, and yet it is very ignorant, & infirm, & wayward, & fit for little or no employment: such may Christians be for a time, such were the very disciples of Christ for a time: such were the Corinthians, 1. Cor. 3.1. and the Hebrews, Heb. 5.13. The use should be to restrain censuring of others, because of their infirmities, to have no grace at all: Whereas we should rather bear with them, and believe all things, Rom. 15.2. 1. Cor. 13.5. And besides, those that are distressed in mind should comfort them selves with this, they may be full of weaknesses, and very unprofitable, and yet have the true life of Christ in them.
Secondly, that true grace may stand with many weaknesses. A childe doth truly liue, and yet it is very ignorant, & infirm, & weyward, & fit for little or no imploiment: such may Christians be for a time, such were the very disciples of Christ for a time: such were the Corinthians, 1. Cor. 3.1. and the Hebrewes, Heb. 5.13. The vse should bee to restraine censuring of others, because of their infirmities, to haue no grace at all: Whereas we should rather bear with them, and beleeue all things, Rom. 15.2. 1. Cor. 13.5. And besides, those that are distressed in minde should comfort them selues with this, they may bee full of weaknesses, and very vnprofitable, and yet haue the true life of Christ in them.
Thirdly, that the most Christians are but new borne babes, infants in grace, not only such as are newly converted, but such as have spent a longer time in the profession of godliness: The Apostle here takes it for granted, that all they to whom he writes were little better, or stronger: and so it is usual in all times and places.
Thirdly, that the most Christians are but new borne babes, infants in grace, not only such as are newly conuerted, but such as haue spent a longer time in the profession of godliness: The Apostle heer takes it for granted, that all they to whom hee writes were little better, or stronger: and so it is vsuall in all times and places.
Question. How comes it to pass, that the most Christians live still but as weak ones and babes in Christ? especially why thrive they not ⟨p. 67⟩according to their time of their age in Christ?
Question. How comes it to passe, that the most Christians liue still but as weak ones and babes in Christ? especially why thriue they not ⟨p. 67⟩according to their time of their age in Christ?
Answer. In nature a child gets out of his childhood, as his years grow upon him, but in religion and grace it is not so: It is not time brings any of necessity out of the cradle of Religion. Now the cause why the most are but babes,1 and that after a long time, may be such or some of these.
Answer. In nature a child gets out of his childhood, as his yeares grow vpon him, but in religion and grace it is not so: It is not time brings any of necessity out of the cradle of Religion. Now the cause why the most are but babes,1 and that after a long time, may bee such or some of these.
First, some as soon as they are borne, are destitute of the breast, have no nurse, are taken away from the means, and deprived of the powerful preaching of the word, which did beget them unto God. This comes to pass sometimes by the violence of others, or by the afflicting hand of God upon their bodies, or sometimes by their own carelessness, that for worldly respects remove to places where they have not the means to build them up.
First, some as soone as they are borne, are destitute of the breast, haue no nurse, are taken away from the meanes, and depriued of the powerfull preaching of the word, which did beget them vnto God. This comes to passe somtimes by the violence of others, or by the afflicting hand of God vpon their bodies, or somtimes by their own carlesnes, that for worldly respects remoue to places where they haue not the meanes to build them vp.
Secondly, some are infected with some bitter root of passion, or envy, or malice, which was left behind in their repentance, not fully subdued, and this holds them so down, that they cannot thrive, but are stocked in godliness; that after many years, they show little bigger or better, then they were in knowledge or grace: 1. Cor. 3.1.2.3. 1. Pet. 2.1. 2. Eph. 4.15.16. 1. Pet. 3.7.
Secondly, some are infected with some bitter root of passion, or enuy, or malice, which was left behind in their repentance, not fully subdued, and this holdes them so down, that they cannot thriue, but are stocked in godliness; that after many yeeres, they shew little bigger or better, then they were in knowledge or grace: 1. Cor. 3.1.2.3. 1. Pet. 2.1. 2. Eph. 4.15.16. 1. Pet. 3.7.
Thirdly, others at their first setting out are entangled with doubtful disputations, and carried about with odd opinions, or strange doctrines, and so ensnared with controversies about words, or things of less value; that misplacing their zeal, and mis-led in their knowledge, they ⟨p. 68⟩thrive little or nothing in the main substance of godliness, but need be taught the very principles, Ro. 14. 1. Heb. 13.7. 2. Pet. 3.17. especially when they be apt to receive Scandal, and admit offence: such were the believing Jews the most of them.
Thirdly, others at their first setting out are intangled with doubtfull disputations, and caried about with odde opinions, or strange doctrines, and so insnared with controuersies about words, or things of lesse value; that misplacing their zeale, and mis-led in their knowledge, they ⟨p. 68⟩thriue little or nothing in the maine substance of godliness, but need bee taught the very principles, Ro. 14. 1. Heb. 13.7. 2. Pet. 3.17. especially when they be apt to receiue Scandal, and admit offence: such were the beleeuing Iewes the most of them.
Fourthly, some are merely held back by their worldliness: they relapse to such excessive cares of life, and so devour up their time about earthly things, that they cannot profit nor prosper in better things.
Fourthly, some are meerely held back by their worldliness: they relapse to such excessiue cares of life, and so deuoure vp their time about earthly things, that they cannot profit nor prosper in better things.
Fifthly, many thrive not, or not sensibly, being hindered by the ill company, which either voluntarily or necessarily they are plunged into, and chiefly for want of fellowship in the Gospel with such as might be patterns to them in knowledge, and the practice of faith, and piety.
Fiftly, many thriue not, or not sensibly, being hindred by the ill company, which either voluntarily or necessarily they are plunged into, and cheefely for want of fellowship in the Gospel with such as might be patterns to them in knowledge, and the practice of faith, and piety.
Sixthly, spiritual laziness and idleness is the cause why many grow not. They will take no pains: but after they have repented, and believed in some measure, Heb. 5.13. and be gotten a little whole of the wounds they were diseased withal in their conversion, they fall into a kind of security, and rest in the outward and formal use of the means, and neglect many precious things, which from day to day they are moved and counselled to by the word, and spirit of God: And this disease is the worse, when it is joined with spiritual pride, and that vile conceitedness, which is seen to come daily in many.
Sixtly, spirituall laziness and idleness is the cause why many grow not. They will take no paines: but after they haue repented, and beleeued in some measure, Heb. 5.13. and be gotten a little whole of the woundes they were diseased withall in their conuersion, they fall into a kinde of security, and rest in the outward and formall vse of the meanes, and neglect many precious things, which from day to day they are moued and counselled to by the word, and spirit of God: And this disease is the worse, when it is ioyned with spirituall pride, and that vile conceitednes, which is seen to come daily in many.
Seventhly, some Christians after calling are ensnared, and deceived by the methods of Satan, and so live in some secret sin against their own ⟨p. 69⟩knowledge. In favour of which they forbear the hearty regard, and use of Gods ordinances, and so dangerously expose themselves to the reign of hypocrisy. These are wonderfully stocked, and grow worse and not better.
Seuenthly, some Christians after calling are ins•ared, and deceiued by the methodes of Sathan, and so liue in some secret sin against their own ⟨p. 69⟩knowledge. In fauour of which they forbeare the harty regard, and vse of Gods ordinances, and so dangerously expose themselues to the raigne of hypocrisie. These are wonderfully stocked, and grow worse and not better.
These are the reasons, why Christians thrive not: and who almost is it whose case some one of these seven is not? Let us every one examine our selves: for a thousand to one we are kept back by some one of these.1 It were singular wisdom to note which it is, and to strive to amend, that we may not be such starvelings in godliness still.
These are the reasons, why Christians thriue not: and who almost is it whose case some one of these seuen is not? Let vs euery one examine our selues: for a thousand to one we are kept back by some one of these.1 It were singular wisdome to note which it is, and to striue to amend, that we may not be such staruelings in godliness stil.
The point then is clear, that most Christians are but as new borne babes. Now what use should we make of it.
The point then is cleer, that most Christians are but as new borne babes. Now what vse should wee make of it.
First, It may serve to humble many of us, that have had time enough, and abundance of means and helps to have been like teachers, and yet have even now need to be taught the principles again. To us belongs justly that reproof in the fifth to the Hebrews, 13.
First, It may serue to humble many of vs, that haue had time enough, and abundance of meanes and helpes to haue beene like teachers, and yet haue euen now neede to be taught the principles againe. To vs belongs iustly that reproof in the fift to the Hebrews, 13.
