A17384:325
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.
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.
Secondly, many duties must be urged upon us, if we grant ourselves to be but as new borne babes. For, 1. We must therefore be teachable & tractable, obeying them that have the oversight of us, bearing their words of admonition, and loving them with a singular love. 2. We must therefore be the more willing to bear the chastisements of God,1 that father of our spirits. For if we have had the fathers of our flesh, which in our young years have corrected ⟨p. 70⟩and that often for our profit, to subdue the faults in us, which that age did breed, and sometimes, when they corrected for their own pleasures, more than for our profit: How much more should we subject our selves to the corrections of God, that find in us, being but babes so much perverseness, so much negligence, such head-strong passions, such frequent disobedience: •nd the rather because he never corrects us for his pleasure only, but for our profit, that he might make us more holy and more fruitful, and more meek, as the Apostle shows. Hebrews 12. 3. We must therefore stick more affectionately, and constantly to the word, and suffer our souls to be daily fed with this sincere milk of the word; without which it is no more possible for us to grow in grace, then a weak child can do in nature without milk and food. 4. Yea the consideration of our estate, that we are but children, should beget in us a desire to express those praises spiritually, which that infant estate in nature doth resemble. For, 21. Children in nature are without malice, they may fall out one with another▪ but they carry no malice, they are quickly friends again: so should we much more. 1 Cor. 14, 20. 2. Children live without care, they are never troubled for what they shall eat, or what they shall put on for the time to come: so should we do, as our saviour Christ shows. Math. 6. 3. Children are not lifted up with pride for the great things they are borne unto; nor doth the ⟨p. 71⟩
They are borne again by the same immortal seed that we are, which our Saviour Christ is peremptory in, Math. 18.3. Thus much of the third point. 4. A fourth thing may be here noted, and that concerns the privilege of weak Christians, viz that they are esteemed of God, and not deprived of his favour or care for them because they are weak.
They are borne againe by the same immortall seed that wee are, which our Sauiour Christ is peremptory in, Math. 18.3. Thus much of the third point. 4. A fourth thing may bee here noted, and that concerns the priuiledge of weak Christians, viz that they are esteemed of God, and not depriued of his fauour or care for them because they are weak.
2. Parents provide means to bring up their little children, so doth God: They shall have sincere milk to make them grow.
2. Parents prouide meanes to bring vp their little children, so doth God: They shall haue sincere milk to make them growe.
3. Parents provide such as shall tend their children, and little ones: so doth God, he hath committed them to the charge of Christ, so as the least grace in them shall be preserved, though it were but like a bruised reed, or the smoking week of a candle. Math. 11.
3. Parents prouide such as shall tend their children, and little ones: so doth God, hee hath committed them to the charge of Christ, so as the least grace in them shall be preserued, though it were but like a bruised reed, or the smoking week of a candle. Math. 11.
4. Parents bear with the natural weakness of their children, without lessening their fondness to them: so doth God with infinite indulgence. Psalm. 103.
4. Parents beare with the naturall weaknes of their children, without lessning their fondnes to them: so doth God with infinite indulgence. Psalm. 103.
5. Parents will not endure it to let them be ⟨p. 72⟩wronged, or hurt, and much more woe shall be unto them, that offend one of Gods little ones, Math. 18.
5. Parents will not endure it to let them be ⟨p. 72⟩wronged, or hurt, and much more wo shall be vnto them, that offend one of Gods little ones, Math. 18.
Secondly, many duties must bee vrged vpon vs, if we graunt ourselues to be but as new borne babes. For, 1. We must therfore be teachable & tractable, obeying them that haue the ouersight of vs, bearing their words of admonition, and louing them with a singular loue. 2. We must therefore be the more willing to beare the chastizements of God,1 that father of our spirits. For if we haue had the fathers of our flesh, which in our young yeeres haue corrected ⟨p. 70⟩and that often for our profit, to subdue the faults in vs, which that age did breed, and sometimes, when they corrected for their owne pleasures, more than for our profit: How much more shold we subiect our selues to the corrections of God, that finde in vs, being but babes so much peruersnes, so much negligence, such head-strong passions, such frequent disobedience: •nd the rather because he neuer corrects vs for his pleasure onely, but for our profit, that he might make vs more holy and more fruitfull, and more meek, as the Apostle shewes. Hebrews 12. 3. We must therfore stick more affectionately, and constantly to the word, and suffer our soules to be daily fedde with this sincere milk of the word; without which it is no more possible for vs to grow in grace, then a weake child can doe in nature without milk and food. 4. Yea the consideration of our estate, that we are but children, should beget in vs a desire to expresse those praises spiritually, which that infant estate in nature doth resemble. For, 21. Children in nature are without malice, they may fal out one with another▪ but they cary no malice, they are quickly friends againe: so should we much more. 1 Cor. 14, 20. 2. Children liue without care, they are neuer troubled for what they shall eate, or what they shall put on for the time to come: so should we doe, as our sauiour Christ shewes. Math. 6. 3. Children are not lifted vp with pride for the great things they are borne vnto; nor doth the ⟨p. 71⟩childe of a Prince scorne the fellowship of the childe of a begger, but can play with him, and make himself equal to him: so shold it be with vs, we should be void of great thoughts of heart, and not be lifted vp in our selues, or despise others; but make our selues equall to them of the lower sort, especially seeing there is no difference in our birth.
