A17384:3214
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.
1First, by the opposition it makes against the remainders of sin in the godly. It maintains a constant combating against the law of the members, having at command the law of the mind. It doth not only resist gross evils, but even the most secret corruptions in the heart of man. This, Paul discerned in himself, Rom. 7. of doing God service.
1First, by the opposition it makes against the remainders of sinne in the godly. It maintains a constant combating against the law of the members, hauing at command the law of the minde. It doth not onely resist grosse euils, but euen the most secret corruptions in the heart of man. This, Paul discerned in himself, Rom. 7. of doing God seruice.
Secondly, by the manner of exacting of obedience: for, a good Conscience,
First, doth incline a man to do good duties, not by compulsion; but, a man shall find, that he doth them by force of an internal principle in himself.
First, doth incline a man to doo good duties, not by compulsion; but, a man shall finde, that he doth them by force of an internall principle in himself.
Secondly, it cannot abide dead works: a good Conscience abhors all cold, and careless, or lukewarm, or counterfeit serving of God: it puts life into all good duties:1 it exacteth attendance upon God in doing them, Heb. 9.14.
Secondly, it cannot abide dead works: a good Conscience abhorres all cold, and careless, or lukewarm, or counterfet seruing of God: it puts life into all good duties:1 it exacteth attendance vpon God in doing them, Heb. 9.14.
Thirdly, it more respecteth GOD, than all the world, or the man himself; and therefore will compel a man to obey against profit, and pleasure, and liking of the world, 2. Cor. 1.12.
Thirdly, it more respecteth GOD, than all the world, or the man himself; and therefore wil compell a man to obey against profit, and pleasure, and liking of the world, 2. Cor. 1.12.
Fourthly, it requires an universal obedience: it would have all God's commandments respected▪ and therefore Paul saith, I desired in all things to live honestly, Heb. 13.18. The allowing of one sin, shows the depravation of the Conscience, if it be a known sin, and still tolerated. As one dead fly will spoil a box of precious ointment; I say, one dead fly: tho many living flies may light upon a box of ointment, and do it no great hurt: So a godly man may have many infirmities, and yet his Conscience be sound: but ⟨p. 777⟩if there be one corruption that lives and dies there, that is, such a corruption as is known and allowed, and doth by custom continue there, it will destroy the soundness of the best Conscience of the World, and doth usually argue a Conscience that is not good.
Fourthly, it requires an vniuersall obedience: it would haue all God's commandements respected▪ and therefore Paul saith, I desired in all things to liue honestly, Heb. 13.18. The allowing of one sinne, shewes the deprauation of the Conscience, if it be a knowne sinne, and still tolerated. As one dead flie will spoyle a boxe of pretious oyntment; I say, one dead flie: tho many liuing flies may light vpon a boxe of oyntment, and doe it no great hurt: So a godly man may haue many infirmities, and yet his Conscience bee sound: but ⟨p. 777⟩if ther be one corruption that liues and dies there, that is, such a corruption as is known and allowed, and doth by custome continue there, it will destroy the soundnesse of the best Conscience of the World, and doth vsually argue a Conscience that is not good.
Fifthly, a good Conscience doth require obedience always: Thus Paul pleads, I have served God till this day. It doth not command for God by fits, but constantly, Act. 23.1.
Fiftly, a good Conscience doth require obedience alwayes: Thus Paul pleades, I haue serued God till this day. It doth not command for God by fits, but constantly, Act. 23.1.
A third sign is, that a good Conscience is always toward God, it still desires to be before God, it seeks God's presence, it reckons that day to be lost, and that it did not live (as it were) when it found not the Lord, or had no fellowship or conversation with God. A good Conscience is like a good Angel, it is always looking into the face of God, Act. 23.1.
A third signe is, that a good Conscience is alwaies toward God, it still desires to bee before God, it seekes God's presence, it reckons that day to be lost, and that it did not liue (as it were) when it found not the Lord, or had no fellowship or conuersation with God. A good Conscience is like a good Angell, it is alwaies looking into the face of God, Act. 23.1.
Thus of the signs.
Thus of the signes.
The benefits of a good Conscience are many and great: for,
First,1 it is the best companion a man hath all the days of his life: It is ever with him, and speaks good unto him, and comforts him. A man that hath no company, needs not be alone; for, he may converse, with much delight, with his own Conscience, and it is the surest friend a man can have: For, it will neither hurt him by flattery, nor forsake him for any carnal respects, and being an internal agent, is out of the watch of all outward hindrances, and is always a messenger of good things to a man, and fits him, and fills him ⟨p. 778⟩with peace, that passeth all the understanding of all men that want a good Conscience.
First,1 it is the best companion a man hath all the dayes of his life: It is euer with him, and speakes good vnto him, and comforts him. A man that hath no company, needes not be alone; for, hee may conuerse, with much delight, with his owne Conscience, and it is the surest friend a man can haue: For, it will neither hurt him by flattery, nor forsake him for any carnall respects, and being an internall agent, is out of the watch of all outward hindrances, and is alwaies a messenger of good things to a man, and fits him, and fills him ⟨p. 778⟩with peace, that passeth all the vnderstanding of all men that want a good Conscience.
Secondly, it gives a man assurance of the best treasures; it makes a man certain of his salvation: For, a good Conscience will not be quiet, till it know the love of God, and the promises of grace in Christ; and the assurance that conscience gives, is a better assurance than any man can have for his lands, or any estate on Earth, because it is so highly honoured, that God's own Spirit doth not disdain at any time to witness with it, and to it, Rom. 8.15, 16.
Secondly, it giues a man assurance of the best treasures; it makes a man certaine of his saluation: For, a good Conscience will not bee quiet, till it know the loue of God, and the promises of grace in Christ; and the assurance that conscience giues, is a better assurance than any man can haue for his lands, or any estate on Earth, because it is so highly honoured, that God's owne Spirit doth not disdaine at any time to witnesse with it, and to it, Rom. 8.15, 16.
Thirdly, by reason of that new acquaintance and affinity it hath with the holy Ghost, it brings us into a familiar friendship with God, as being an immediate Agent with the holy Ghost in all things that concern us; for God's Spirit treats with the Conscience, and the Conscience treats with the Soul.
Thirdly, by reason of that new acquaintance and affinity it hath with the holy Ghost, it brings vs into a familiar friendship with God, as being an immediat Agent with the holy Ghost in all things that concerne vs; for God's Spirit treates with the Conscience, and the Conscience treates with the Soule.
Fourthly, it is a continual bulwark against the Devil, and all his fiery darts, whether he tempt us to sin, or to fear and doubting: For, so soon as the temptation is cast in; a good Conscience, by her reasoning, presently throws it out, reserving principles both of precept and promise, always in a readiness to that end: so as, by contrarious reasoning within us, it both hinders us from yielding to sin, and supports us against all doubts and fears, Prou. 28.1.
Fourthly, it is a continuall bulwarke against the Diuel, and all his fiery darts, whether he tempt vs to sinne, or to feare and doubting: For, so soone as the temptation is cast in; a good Conscience, by her reasoning, presently throwes it out, reseruing principles both of precept and promise, alwaies in a readinesse to that end: so as, by contrarious reasoning within vs, it both hinders vs from yeelding to sin, and supports vs against all doubts and feares, Prou. 28.1.
Fifthly, against all afflictions, and disgraces, and reproaches of the World, a good Conscience still comforts a man, and makes him rejoice by the ⟨p. 779⟩force of the testimony thereof, 2. Cor. 1.12. So as it is most true, that A good Conscience is a continual Feast: he never fares ill, that hath a good Conscience, Psalm 7.8. Pro. Acts 24.16. Rom. 9.10.
Fiftly, against all afflictions, and disgraces, and reproches of the World, a good Conscience still comforts a man, and makes him reioyce by the ⟨p. 779⟩force of the testimony thereof, 2. Cor. 1.12. So as it is most true, that A good Conscience is a continuall Feast: he neuer fares ill, that hath a good Conscience, Psalm 7.8. Pro. Acts 24.16. Rom. 9.10.
Sixthly, and the greater is the comfort of a good Conscience, because it will comfort us, and stand by us and for us, when all other comforts fail. It will never leave us in sickness, or in death; and so is better than a thousand friends, or wives, or children: yea, it will go with us to the Judgement-Seat of Christ, with this assurance, that as a good Conscience speaks to us now, so will Christ speak to us at that Day, Rom. 2.16.
Sixtly, and the greater is the comfort of a good Conscience, because it will comfort vs, and stand by vs and for vs, when all other comforts faile. It will neuer leaue vs in sicknes, or in death; and so is better than a thousand friends, or wiues, or children: yea, it will go with vs to the Iudgement-Seat of Christ, with this assurance, that as a good Conscience speaks to vs now, so will Christ speak to vs at that Day, Rom. 2.16.
