A17384:674
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.
Ans. I answer: First, faith and assurance makes a mans heart alive,1 we live by faith. Secondly, we must go still to Christ, who is the life, and by prayer still draw the water of life out of his wells of salvation. Thirdly, the word of God is lively, Heb. 4.12. Fourthly, godly society, and a profitable fellowship in the Gospel puts life into men, there is a great deal of provocation to good works in it. Fifthly, We should often meditate of the gain of godliness, and of the privileges of the promises belonging to the godly.
Ans. I answer: First, faith and assurance makes a mans heart aliue,1 wee liue by faith. Secondly, wee must goe still to Christ, who is the life, and by praier still draw the water of life out of his wells of saluation. Thirdly, the word of God is liuely, Heb. 4.12. Fourthly, godly society, and a profitable fellowship in the Gospel puts life into men, there is a great deale of prouocation to good works in it. Fiftly, We should often meditate of the gaine of godlines, and of the priuiledges of the promises belonging to the godly.
- 1What we must do to quicken our harts.What wee must doe to quicken our harts.
Use. This doctrine implies a great deal of reproof also: First, to Hypocrites, that have a name, that they live, but they are dead, Revel. 3.1. Secondly, to declining Christians, that suffer their first love to abate in them, and can be contented to lose sensibly the power of affections, which formerly they had. Thirdly, to many drooping Christians, which out of melancholy, and unbelief, affect a kind of wilful sadness, and heartlessness, hindering thereby their own assurance, and causing the easy yoke of Christ to be ill thought of, besides many other inconveniences.