A17384:330
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.
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.
6. Parents provide portions & inheritances for their little children: so doth GOD acknowledge them for his heirs, yea heirs with Christ his eldest son, Rom. 8.17.
6. Parents prouide portions & inheritances for their little children: so doth GOD acknowledge them for his heires, yea heires with Christ his eldest son, Rom. 8.17.
A fifth point that may be noted from hence, is, that only converted Christians can desire the sincere milk of the word with true affection: wicked men can no more affectionately desire the word, than a dead child or no child can do the breast.
A fift point that may be noted from hence, is, that onely conuerted Christians can desire the sincere milk of the word with true affection: wicked men can no more affectionately desire the word, than a dead childe or no childe can do the breast.
Quest. But, have wicked men no desire after the word?
Quest. But, haue wicked men no desire after the word?
1Ans. They may have: but only it is for the most part in two cases. First, when they desire to hear the word only for mens wits or eloquence, or the like carnal ends: and so they desire not the sincere milk of the word. Secondly, in the case of a temporary faith; where the delight and desire after the word is not constant, like the appetite of a child to the breast: for, they will fall away in the time of temptation; and all their desires prove but as the morning dew.
1Ans. They may haue: but onely it is for the most part in two cases. First, when they desire to hear the word onely for mens wittes or eloquence, or the like carnall ends: and so they desire not the sincere milk of the word. Secondly, in the case of a temporary faith; where the delight and desire after the word is not constant, like the appetite of a childe to the breast: for, they wil fall away in the time of temptation; and all their desires proue but as the morning deaw.
Desire the sincere milk of the word.]
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.
