A17384:369
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.
Fourthly, the signs of growth.
Fourthly, the signes of growth.
Fifthly, the uses of the whole.
Fiftly, the vses of the whole.
First, for the first: Christians are bound not only to get grace, but they must labour to increase in the gifts they have received: It is not enough to begin the work of God, but we must labour to abound in it, and increase in well doing, we must go on, and finish the measure of the work required of us. These places evidently prove, that God looks for growth at our hands. 2. Pet. 3.18. 1. Cor. 15.58. 1. Thes. 4.1. Prou. 4.18. 1. Cor. 14.12.
First, for the first: Christians are bound not onely to get grace, but they must labour to encrease in the gifts they haue receiued: It is not enough to begin the work of God, but wee must labour to abound in it, and increase in well doing, we must goe on, and finish the measure of the work required of vs. These places euidently proue, that God lookes for growth at our hands. 2. Pet. 3.18. 1. Cor. 15.58. 1. Thes. 4.1. Prou. 4.18. 1. Cor. 14.12.
1Secondly, for the second: before I number particulars, I might tell you of divers kinds of growth, or increase in the kingdom of Christ. Christ himself is said to increase, Job. 3.20. The word is said to grow, Act. 6. and in other places: and Christians are said to grow: & so either first jointly in the mystical body, Eph. 4.16. Col. 2.19. or secondly, severally every one by himself. ⟨p. 79⟩Christ was said to increase not only in stature, and the declaration of his gifts: Luke 2.40. but also in the glory of his kingdom, and the advancing of his dominion amongst men. The word grew, when the number of faithful labourers was increased, and when the light of the truth was more glorified, and received by the people. Christians are said to grow chiefly in two respects. First, in the number of believers, when there are daily added to the church: Secondly, in the power and practice of their gifts, and this last is here intended. The word rendered Thereby, might be read either in him: or in it: or, as it is, thereby. In him, that is in Christ. In it, that is in the word: or thereby, that is by the word: This last is intended here in all probability: Now then to the point. There are certain things wherein a Christian should strive to grow: It is true we should grow in every good gift and work, but if we mark the scriptures, these things in particular are especially to be laboured after as being things that do wonderfully honour God, and credit the Gospel, and bring a singular increase of happiness to a Christian mans life, and it is wonderful profitable to keep a Catalogue of these particulars still before us, that we may every day be put in mind of what we should especially labour after.
These are the things then we should distinctly labour to grow in.1
First, we should labour to grow in wisdom: Gods people should appear to be a wise people above ⟨p. 80⟩all the people of the earth. Christ grew in wisdom: Luke 2.40. Now wisdom hath two things in it. First, knowledge: and secondly, discretion. In both these we should grow: For knowledge, the word of God should dwell plenteously in us, Col. 3.16. and we should increase in the knowledge of God, Col. 1.10. and for discretion, we should abound in knowledge; yea and saith the Apostle in all judgement too: Phili. 1.10.
First, wee should labour to grow in wisdom: Gods people should appear to bee a wise people aboue ⟨p. 80⟩all the people of the earth. Christ grew in wisdome: Luke 2.40. Now wisdome hath two things in it. First, knowledge: and secondly, discretion. In both these we should grow: For knowledge, the word of God should dwell plentiously in vs, Col. 3.16. and wee should encrease in the knowledge of God, Col. 1.10. and for discretion, wee should abound in knowledge; yea and saith the Apostle in all iudgement too: Phili. 1.10.
Secondly, we should grow in faith. That, which is lacking to our faith, must be made up: 1. Thess. 3.10. and we should still be praying with the Apostles, Lord increase our faith, Luke 17.5. 2. Thes. 1.11. Now there be two things distinctly, which we should grow-in about faith: viz. First, assurance; and secondly, the exercise of it. For assurance, we should hereunto give all diligence, that we might get the full assurance of faith and hope to the end: we should never be quiet till it be established, and rooted, and soundly grounded in our particular assurance of Gods favour in Jesus Christ, and our own eternal salvation: Heb. 6.11. Col. 2.6.7. And for the exercise of faith: we should strive to learn every day to live by faith in all the occasions of our life; spending the remainder of our lives in the faith of the Son of God, holding fast our confidence, and not withdrawing our selves Heb. 10. Gal. 2.20. Yea we should strive to be examples one to another in our faith in GOD, 1. Tim. 4.12.
Secondly, wee should grow in faith. That, which is lacking to our faith, must be made vp: 1. Thess. 3.10. and we should still bee praying with the Apostles, Lord increase our faith, Luke 17.5. 2. Thes. 1.11. Now there be two things distinctly, which wee should grow-in about faith: viz. First, assurance; and secondly, the exercise of it. For assurance, wee should hereunto giue all diligence, that wee might get the full assurance of faith and hope to the end: wee should neuer bee quiet till it bee established, and rooted, and soundly grounded in our particular assurance of Gods fauour in Iesus Christ, and our owne eternall saluation:
Thirdly, we should abound in love one to ⟨p. 81⟩another, and towards all men: This the Apostle prays earnestly for, and this we should show by all diligence,1 in preserving peace and unity amongst ourselves: so as there should be but one heart & mind amongst us.2 To this end bearing, and forbearing, & supporting one another, we should grow also in the tenderness and heartiness of our affections one after another,3 longing one for another, and delighting one in another, yea our love should grow even in seeking to enlarge our acquaintance with such, as fear God, but especially in the labour of our love to do good to such as fear God should we grow, &c.
Thirdly, wee should abound in loue one to ⟨p. 81⟩another, and towards all men: This the Apostle praies earnestly for, and this we should shew by all diligence,1 in preseruing peace and vnitie amongst ourselues: so as there should be but one heart & minde amongst vs.2 To this end bearing, and forbearing, & supporting one another, we should grow also in the tendernes and hartines of our affections one after another,3 longing one for another, and delighting one in another, yea our loue sholud grow euen in seeking to enlarge our acquaintance with such, as feare God, but especially in the labour of our loue to doe good to such as feare God should we grow, &c.
Fourthly, we should grow in mercy, and that both in the bowels of pity, and in the abundance of the fruits of mercy, Col. 3.12. 2. Cor. 8.2, 7. and 9.11. James 3.18.
Fourthly, we should grow in mercy, and that both in the bowels of pity, and in the abundance of the fruits of mercy, Col. 3.12. 2. Cor. 8.2, 7. and 9.11. Iames 3.18.
Fifthly, we should grow in patience, and meekness, and lowliness of mind. Patience should have his perfect work, and it wonderfully would become us, if we could increase in the image of Jesus Christ for meekness and lowliness. To be free from passions and pride, oh, how it would adorn us! It is that one grace Christ so much urgeth upon us, and was most eminent in himself, Math. 11.29. James 1.4.
Fiftly, we should grow in patience, and meeknes, and lowlines of minde. Patience should haue his perfect work, and it wonderfully would become vs, if we could increase in the image of Iesus Christ for meeknes and lowlines. To be free from passions and pride, oh, how it would adorne vs! It is that one grace Christ so much vrgeth vpon vs, and was most eminent in himselfe, Math. 11.29. Iames 1.4.
Sixthly, We should grow in prayer, and the gifts that concern our communion with God, we should labour to be mighty and powerful in prayer, able to wrestle with God himself▪ and overcome him, as Jacob did: and to this end we should pray always, and learn to pray all manner ⟨p. 82⟩of prayers in all things, making our requests known to God with supplication, especially we should strive to abound in thanksgiving to God, in all things giving thanks. This is the greatest honour we can do to God, 1. Thes. 5.18, 19. Philip. 4.7. Psal. 50.23. Col. 1.11. Ephes. 6.18. 2 Cor. 4.15.
Sixtly, We should grow in praier, and the gifts that concerne our communion with God, wee should labour to be mighty and powerfull in prayer, able to wrastle with God himselfe▪ and ouercome him, as Iacob did: and to this end wee should pray alwaies, and learne to pray all manner ⟨p. 82⟩of praiers in all things, making our requests knowne to God with supplication, especially we should striue to abound in thanksgiuing to God, in all things giuing thanks. This is the greatest honor we can doe to God, 1. Thes. 5.18, 19. Philip. 4.7. Psal. 50.23. Col. 1.11.
Seventhly, We should grow in the contempt of the world, and the lesser estimation of the things of this life, we should strive more & more to express a mortified conversation, using the world, as if we used it not, setting our affections on the things that are above, and having our conversation in heaven, confessing our selves to be strangers and pilgrims, and with all eagerness embracing the praises of a better life, Hebrews 11.13. Philip. 3.20. in nothing being careful, Philip. 4.6. hastening to the coming of Jesus Christ, 2. Pet. 3.11.
Seuenthly, We should grow in the contempt of the world, and the lesser estimation of the things of this life, we should striue more & more to expresse a mortified conuersation, vsing the world, as if we vsed it not, setting our affections on the things that are aboue, and hauing our conuersation in heauen, confessing our selues to bee strangers and pilgrims, and with all eagernesse embracing the praises of a better life, Hebrewes 11.13. Philip. 3.20. in nothing being carefull, Philip. 4.6. hastning to the comming of Iesus Christ, 2. Pet. 3.11.
Eighthly, We should exceedingly strive to grow in the holy, & reverent use of gods ordinances, striving to come with more fear, and sense of the glorious presence of God. This is a wonderful hard lesson, and little heeded of the most. Oh that we could get it, to serve the Lord with fear, and to rejoice, but yet with trembling! Oh blessed is the man, that can fear always, and work out his salvation with fear and trembling.
Eightthly, We should exceedingly striue to grow in the holy, & reuerēt vse of gods ordinances, striuing to come with more feare, and sence of the glorious presence of God. This is a wonderfull hard lesson, and little heeded of the most. Oh that we could get it, to serue the Lord with feare, and to reioyce, but yet with trembling! Oh blessed is the man, that can feare alwaies, and work out his saluation with feare and trembling.
Ninthly, There is another gift we should grow in, and it is marvellously necessary, and comely, and yet extremely neglected, and that is utterance, of which the Apostle makes mention in his short Catalogue, 2. Cor. 8.7. utterance (I say) to be ⟨p. 83⟩able to speak one to another with profit and power in the things of the kingdom of God. This is an admirable grace: and such as attain it and grow in it, how precious are they amongst the Saints!
Ninthly, There is another gift we should grow in, and it is maruelously necessary, and comely, and yet extremely neglected, and that is vtterance, of which the Apostle makes mention in his short Catalogue, 2. Cor. 8.7. vtterance (I say) to be ⟨p. 83⟩able to speake one to another with profit and power in the things of the kingdom of God. This is an admirable grace: and such as attaine it and grow in it, how precious are they amongst the Saints!
Tenthly, In that, 2. Cor. 8.7. you may see two other things we should increase in. The one is, in all diligence: we should more and more every day cast about, how we might take more pains to do good, and be more profitable to others: and for our own souls, we should increase our pains.
Tenthly, In that, 2. Cor. 8.7. you may see two other things we should increase in. The one is, in all diligence: we should more and more euery day cast about, how we might take more paines to doe good, and be more profitable to others: and for our owne soules, we should increase our paines.
Eleventhly, The other grace we should grow in, there mentioned, is the love to our teachers: as God abounds towards us in the profit of their pains, so we should grow in affection to them, till we get that singular love of them, which the Apostle speaketh of, 1. Thes. 5.
Eleuenthly, The other grace we should grow in, there mentioned, is the loue to our teachers: as God abounds towards vs in the profit of their paines, so we should grow in affection to them, till we get that singular loue of them, which the Apostle speaketh of, 1. Thes. 5.
