A17384:397
A commentary
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, 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.