A17384:387
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.
First, We must be diligent and conversant in searching the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, in the name of Jesus Christ, as the chief cornerstone, and then the promise is, that our harts shall be so sweetened, and seasoned with these divine knowledges, that God himself shall be with us, and dwell in our hearts as a holy temple, and we grow more and more in acquaintance with God, Eph. 2.20, 21.
First, We must be diligent and conuersant in searching the writings of the Prophets and Apostles, in the name of Iesus Christ, as the chief cornerstone, and then the promise is, that our harts shall be so sweetned, and seasoned with these diuine knowledges, that God himselfe shall be with vs, and dwell in our hearts as a holy temple, and we grow more and more in acquaintance with God, Eph. 2.20, 21.
Secondly, We must bring so much sincerity to the grace of Christ, and the use of the means, as to resolve to seek growth in all things, as well as one, setting our hearts wholly upon the kingdom of God; we must not go about godliness with a divided heart, we must grow up in all things, or else in none: we shall not prosper, if we be falsehearted in any part of Gods service, Eph. 2.15.
Secondly, We must bring so much sincerity to the grace of Christ, and the vse of the meanes, as to resolue to seek growth in all things, as well as one, setting our hearts wholy vpon the kingdom of God; we must not goe about godlines with a diuided heart, we must grow vp in all things, or else in none: we shall not prosper, if we be falseharted in any part of Gods seruice, Eph. 2.15.
Thirdly, We must in all things depend upon God, and seek to him by daily prayers for a blessing upon our desires, and the means, and our endeavours. For else Paul may plant, and Apollo may water, but it is God, that must give the increase, 1 Cor. 3.6.
Thirdly, We must in all things depend vpon God, and seeke to him by daily prayers for a blessing vpon our desires, and the meanes, and our endeuours. For else Paul may plant, and Apollo may water, but it is God, that must giue the increase, 1 Cor. 3.6.
Fourthly, We must be careful to employ the gifts we have, and to practise, as fast as we hear. For to him, that hath for use, shall be given: but from him, that hath gifts, & will not use them, shall be taken away that which he hath, Math. 13.11.
Fourthly, We must be carefull to imploy the gifts we haue, and to practise, as fast as we heare. For to him, that hath for vse, shall be giuen: but from him, that hath gifts, & wil not vse them, shall be taken away that which he hath, Math. 13.11.
Fifthly, We must get an humble heart, and preserve in us the sense of our own vileness, and a ⟨p. 85⟩lowly mind, and conceit of our selves, accusing our every-days evil ways before the Lord. For Gods promise is to give more grace to the humble, James. 4.7.
Fiftly, We must get an humble heart, and preserue in vs the sence of our owne vilenesse, and a ⟨p. 85⟩lowly minde, and conceit of our selues, accusing our euery-daies euill waies before the Lord. For Gods promise is to giue more grace to the humble, Iames. 4.7.
Sixthly, It is a great occasion of increase, when a man doth Gods work, with as much cheerfulness as he can. God loveth a cheerful giver, and will make all grace abound to them, that strive to live to be his servants, 2. Cor. 9.7.8.
Sixtly, It is a great occasion of increase, when a man doth Gods work, with as much cheerefulnes as he can. God loueth a cheerfull giuer, and will make all grace abound to them, that striue to liue to be his seruants, 2. Cor. 9.7.8.
Seventhly, You must pray, that your masters, or if you will, ministers may have their harts enlarged, and made fat, and that they may come unto you and convert you with abundance of the blessings of the Gospel. For if there be famine, or scarcity, and barrenness in Gods House, you will not thrive well at home, Rom, 15.29.
Seuenthly, You must pray, that your masters, or if you will, ministers may haue their harts enlarged, and made fat, and that they may come vnto you and conuert you with abundance of the blessings of the Gospel. For if there be famine, or scarcity, and barrenness in Gods House, you will not thriue well at home, Rom, 15.29.
Eighthly, We must take heed of all such things as hinder our growth, as namely: 1. Hypocrisy,1 When men advance a profession of Religion only for carnal ends, and seek more the praise of men then of God. These mens hearts will be fearfully blasted. 2. Errors in opinion of strange doctrines, 2. Pet. 3.17, 18. Hebrews, 13, &c. 3. Spiritual pride, 2. Cor. 12.6, 7. For God gives grace to the humble, Jam. 4.7. 4. Headstrong affections, as the passions of anger, or the like: these pull men back, and hinder the growth marvellously, 1 Cor. 3.2, 3. Eph. 4.30.31. 5. Living in places, where we have not powerful means for our souls, Eph. 4.13. For ⟨p. 86⟩where vision fails, they perish, must needs faint, and be starved in the famine of the word. 6. Discord with such as fear God. For if we grow, we must grow up in love, holding communion with the body of Christ, Eph. 4.15.16. 7. Domesticall unquietness, and disorder: For that will hinder not only prayer, 1 Pet. 3.7, but all other parts of piety. 8. Worldliness. This was the sin did undo Demas. 9. Sinister judgement of our own practices in godliness when we are either just overmuch, that is, think too highly of what we do; or wicked over-much, that is, think too vilely of the grace of God in us, or the good we do: both these hinder Christians extremely. 10. The love of any particular sin. For if once we dally with any corruption, grace is dulled, and the spirit of grace grieved and vexed in us.
Now for the fourth point: we may know whether we grow or no, by diverse signs.
Now for the fourth point: we may know whether we grow or no, by diuerse signes.
1First, if we be planted near the rivers of water, if the Lord make us happy in living in such places where the means of grace abounds, and the ordinances of God flourish in their life and power, Psal 1.3. Eph. 4.13: Else if a good tree be planted in a dry heath far from water or rain, no marvel if it grow not. And when the Lord doth make the means plentiful, he doth usually make his grace plentiful in so many as are ordained to life.
1First, if we be planted neere the riuers of water, if the Lord make vs happy in liuing in such places where the means of grace aboundes, and the ordinances of God florish in their life and power, Psal 1.3. Eph. 4.13: Else if a good tree be planted in a dry heath far from water or raine, no maruell if it grow not. And when the Lord doth make the meanes plentifull, hee doth vsually make his grace plentifull in so many as are ordaind to life.
Secondly, and especially if we be conscionable in the use of the means: if we measure to God in sincerity, in hearing, praying, reading, and receiving the Sacraments, &c. there may be no doubt, but God will measure to us in the plenty of his blessings: if we suck the milk of the word with desire, we shall grow. We need no more doubt whether our souls grow in grace if we can bring constant affections to the means, than we would whether the bodies of our children would grow, if they have good nurses, and do suck the breasts well.
Secondly, and especially if we be conscionable in the vse of the means: if wee measure to God in sincerity, in hearing, praying, reading, and receiuing the Sacraments, &c. there may be no doubt, but God wil measure to vs in the plenty of his blessings: if wee suck the milk of the word with desire, we shall growe. Wee need no more doubt whether our soules growe in grace if we can bring constant affections to the means, than wee would whether the bodies of our children would growe, if they haue good nurses, and doo suck the breasts well.
Thirdly, grace grows in us, as humility doth grow: God will give more grace to the humble, Jam 4.8. And look how we thrive and continue in true humility, so we thrive in grace: and contrariwise, as pride and conceitedness grows in us, so doth true grace wither. And the like may be said of meekness, which is a grace that orders the affections, as humility doth the mind.
Thirdly, grace growes in vs, as humility doth grow: God wil giue more grace to the humble, Iam 4.8. And look how we thriue and continue in true humility, so we thriue in grace: and contrariwise, as pride and conceitednes growes in vs, so doth true grace wither. And the like may be said of meeknes, which is a grace that orders the affections, as humility doth the minde.
Fourthly, we may try our growth by our love to the godly, the members of the mystical body: for, the body of Christ increaseth in the edification of it self through love. As the love of Gods children groweth or decays in us: so doth grace grow or decay, Eph. 4.15.16. This love is the bond of perfectness, Col. 3.13.
Fourthly, we may try our growth by our loue to the godly, the members of the mysticall body: for, the body of Christ increaseth in the edification of it self through loue. As the loue of Gods children groweth or decaies in vs: so doth grace growe or decay, Eph. 4.15.16. This loue is the bond of perfectnes, Col. 3.13.
Fifthly, we must try our confidence in God, and the assurance of our faith. For, as grace grows: so do we grow more established and settled in God, and the hope of his kingdom. This is to abide in Christ: and thus to trust in the LORD, ⟨p. 88⟩hath a promise of such a blessing, as that man shall not wither, Jer. 17.7, 8.
Fiftly, we must try our confidence in God, and the assurance of our faith. For, as grace growes: so doo we growe more established and settled in God, and the hope of his kingdome. This is to abide in Christ: and thus to trust in the LORD, ⟨p. 88⟩hath a promise of such a blessing, as that man shal not wither, Ier. 17.7, 8.
Sixthly, we may discern our growth by the decay of taste in sin and the world. As the violence of temptation, and the admiration of the pleasures and profits of this life, go out of us: by the same degrees doth the holy Ghost get the victory, and the Spirit settles the possession of grace in us, &c.
Sixtly, we may discern our growth by the decay of taste in sinne and the world. As the violence of temptation, and the admiration of the pleasures and profits of this life, go out of vs: by the same degrees doth the holy Ghost get the victory, and the Spirit settles the possession of grace in vs, &c.
Seventhly, we may discern it by our teachableness, and honouring of prophesying, when our Teachers according to their lines may be enlarged, and live without suspicion or censure: when we can believe them, and rest in their testimony above the whole world, 2. Cor. 10.15. 2. Thes. 1.10.
Seuenthly, wee may discern it by our teachablenesse, and honouring of prophecying, when our Teachers according to their lines may bee inlarged, and liue without suspicion or censure: when we can beleeue them, and rest in their testimony aboue the whole world, 2. Cor. 10.15. 2. Thes. 1.10.
