A17384:459
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, whether this taste may not be in wicked men.
Secondly, whether this taste may not bee in wicked men.
Ans. For the first. A true taste of the sweetness of the Word, and Gods graciousness in it, may be known both by the cause, and by the effects.1 The cause of this taste is faith: for, by faith only doth the soul taste. Or that thing that raiseth so sweet a relish in our hearts, is, A persuasion in particular of the graciousness of God to us, even of that graciousness which the Word doth discover. The effects of this taste are three. For, first, it revives the heart, and raiseth it from the dead, and frames it to be a new creature; working an unfeigned change in the heart of man from the world and sin, to the care of Gods glory, and salvation of their own souls: and thus it is called A savour of life unto life, 2. Cor. 2.15. Secondly, it settleth in the heart an estimation of the Word and spiritual things, and the assurance of Gods favour of all earthly things in the world, Phil. 3.9. Psalm 84.10. Thirdly, this taste works a heavenly kind of contentment in the heart: so as the Godly, when they have found this, are abundantly satisfied, they have enough, Psalm 36.10. and 95.4.
Ans. For the first. A true taste of the sweetnes of the Word, and Gods graciousnes in it, may bee knowne both by the cause, and by the effects.1 The cause of this taste is faith: for, by faith onely doth the soule taste. Or that thing that raiseth so sweet a rellish in our hearts, is, A perswasion in particular of the graciousnes of God to vs, euen of that graciousnes which the Word doth discouer. The effects of this taste are three. For, first, it reuiues the heart, and raiseth it from the dead, and frames it to bee a new creature; working an vnfained change in the heart of man from the world and sin, to the care of Gods glory, and saluation of their own soules: and thus it is called A sauour of life vnto life,