A17384:395
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.
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.
Eighthly, we may easily discern it by our constancy and frequency in good works, either of piety, or mercy, or righteousness, either at home or abroad. For, to such as have for use, it is certain more is given, Mat. 13.11.
Eightthly, wee may easily discern it by our constancy and frequency in good works, either of piety, or mercy, or righteousnes, either at home or abroad. For, to such as haue for vse, it is certain more is giuen, Mat. 13.11.
Ninthly, we may know it by the frequency of our communion with God. If the Lord daily dwell in us, or with us, and reveal himself to us by the signs of his presence, there is no doubt to be made of our growing. The heart of a christian is Gods Temple: and you may be sure, all prospers well in the Temple, when the cloud sits there, or often appears there, Eph. 2.20, 21.
Ninthly, wee may knowe it by the frequency of our communion with God. If the Lord daily dwell in vs, or with vs, and reueal himself to vs by the signes of his presence, there is no doubt to be made of our growing. The heart of a christian is Gods Temple: and you may bee sure, all prospers well in the Temple, when the cloud sits there, or often appears there, Eph. 2.20, 21.
Use. The use of this whole doctrine concerning growth, may serve, first, for humiliation: and so in many things.
Vse. The vse of this whole doctrine concerning growth, may serue, first, for humiliation: and so in many things.
First, our hearts should smite us for our ignorance. There are many things of excellent fruit and praise, which we have not at all laboured in; divers of the twelve things before.
First, our hearts should smite vs for our ignorance. There are many things of excellent fruit and praise, which we haue not at all laboured in; diuers of the twelue things before.
Secondly, for our deadness of heart,1 and unprofitableness of life, which is aggravated against us, 1. When God gives us much means. 2. When we are insensible, or at least incorrigible; know all is not well, and feel our selves to be lashed, and yet mend not. 3. When we are slothful and weary, will not stir up our selves, nor receive direction for the making up of what is lacking to our faith, or to any other gifts; especially when we are wayward, and will go about, rather than be at the trial of direction or asking the way, Jer. 31.21.
Secondly, for our deadnes of heart,1 and vnprofitablenesse of life, which is aggrauated against vs, 1. When God giues vs much means. 2. When wee are insensible, or at least incorrigible; knowe all is not well, and feel our selues to be lashed, and yet mend not. 3. When wee are slothfull and weary, wil not stirre vp our selues, nor receiue direction for the making vp of what is lacking to our faith, or to any other gifts; especially when wee are weyward, and will go about, rather than bee at the triall of direction or asking the way, Ier. 31.21.
3. Much more to such as are so far from growing, that they fall away, and decline; lose their first love, and what they have wrought, begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh. This much vexeth God, and is extremely dangerous to the parties, Isaiah 1.4. Jer. 7.24. and 15.6. 2. Pet. 2.20. But, that this may not either pierce too far, or fall too deadly or flat upon any that are guilty, we must know, there is a double declining or apostasy: The one,1 inward; the other, outward. First, the inward is, when a mans heart is fallen off from the care of godliness, and the means of it, and regards iniquity constantly, being possessed of the reign of habitual hypocrisy: and this may be in men that outwardly frequent the ⟨p. 90⟩means, and make a show of godliness. Secondly, the outward declining or Apostasy is, when men outwardly live in gross sins, or follow scandalous courses, and are at last relapsed to the violent courses of the world, so as the means of godliness is neglected. Again, declining is, first, either total: secondly, or in part. First, total, when we fall off from all godliness, and all the means of it: and so only they fall, that sin against the holy Ghost. Secondly, in part, is, when men fall into some sin or error, and not lose all conscience of well-doing, and such is their Apostasy also, that fall off from the care of some of the ordinances of God as, when men use the private, and neglect the public; or use the public, and neglect the private, &c.
3. Much more to such as are so farre from growing, that they fall away, and decline; lose their first loue, and what they haue wrought, begin in the Spirit, and end in the flesh. This much vexeth God, and is extremely dangerous to the parties, Esay 1.4. Ier. 7.24. and 15.6. 2. Pet. 2.20. But, that this may not either pearce too farre, or fall too deadly or flat vpon any that are guilty, we must knowe, there is a double declining or apostasie: The one,
Question. But what shall a man do to help himself, that finds he hath declined, &c?
Question. But what shall a man doe to help himselfe, that findes he hath declined, &c?
Answer. He must take unto himself words, and confess his sin to God, and return to the Lord heartily, he will heal even his back-sliding: Hose. 14.3.4.5.
Answer. He must take vnto himselfe words, and confesse his sin to God, and returne to the Lord hartily, he will heale euen his back-sliding: Hose. 14.3.4.5.
