A17384:782
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.
Wherein three things may be noted.
First, that howsoever piety, and mercy, and welldoing find little acceptation in the world, yet it shall never want honour and great esteem with God. Pious and merciful Christians shall never fail of the love and favour of God: Their works are accepted. It is true, that God may change his mind concerning the Ceremonial Sacrifices: but the acceptation of Christian Sacrifices is a thing established with God, Heb. 10.9. These offerings shall be pleasant unto the Lord, Malach. 3.4. They are well-pleasing in his sight, Heb. 13.16. They are a sweet savour unto the Lord, Phil. 4.18. God hath a book of remembrance, Mal. 3.17. and our fruit shall certainly remain, Joh. 15.16. And thus Cornelius his prayers and alms came up before the Lord, Acts 10.
First, that howsoeuer piety, and mercy, and weldoing find little acceptation in the world, yet it shall neuer want honour and great esteeme with God. Pious and mercifull Christians shall neuer faile of the loue and fauour of God: Their workes are accepted. It is true, that God may change his minde concerning the Ceremoniall Sacrifices: but the acceptation of Christian Sacrifices is a thing established with God, Heb. 10.9. These offerings shall be pleasant vnto the Lord, Malach. 3.4. They are well-pleasing in his sight, Heb. 13.16. They are a sweet sauour vnto the Lord, Phil. 4.18. God hath a booke of remembrance, Mal. 3.17. and our fruit shall certainly remaine, Ioh. 15.16. And thus Cornelius his prayers and almes came vp before the Lord, Acts 10.
Secondly, that it is not enough to do good duties, but we must strive so to do them, that God may accept them, Heb. 12.28. Isaiah 1.11, 12, 13▪ 14.
Secondly, that it is not enough to doo good duties, but wee must striue so to doo them, that God may accept them, Heb. 12.28. Esay 1.11, 12, 13▪ 14.
Thirdly, that now our best works are made acceptable ⟨p. 171⟩to God only by Jesus Christ, Reu. 8.3, 4. It is from the presenting of Christ, that we are found holy and without blame in Gods sight, Col. 1.22. Therefore we must do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, Col. 3.17.
Thirdly, that now our best works are made acceptable ⟨p. 171⟩to God onely by Iesus Christ, Reu. 8.3, 4. It is from the presenting of Christ, that wee are found holy and without blame in Gods sight, Col. 1.22. Therefore we must doo all in the name of the Lord Iesus, Col. 3.17.
Use. The use of all should be to teach us, with all care to devote our selves unto godliness, that thereby we may prove, what this good and acceptable will of God is. Let us try Gods acceptation; and we shall certainly find, it shall go well with the just, Rom. 12.1, 2. Yea, we should from hence gather much encouragement to employ our selves in piety and mercy. It is enough if God accept of us.
Vse. The vse of all should be to teach vs, with all care to deuote our selues vnto godlinesse, that thereby we may proue, what this good and acceptable will of God is. Let vs try Gods acceptation; and wee shall certainly finde, it shall go well with the iust, Rom. 12.1, 2. Yea, wee should from hence gather much encouragement to imploy our selues in piety and mercy. It is enough if God accept of vs.
Quest. But what should we do, that we may be sure our sacrifices be accepted of God? How shall we know, when God doth accept our service in any holy duty?
Quest. But what should we doo, that we may be sure our sacrifices be accepted of God? How shall we knowe, when God doth accept our seruice in any holy duty?
Ans. That a mans conscience may be soundly established in this point of God's acceptation, we must look to three things.
First,1 that the person be sanctified. None but Priests must approach to offer sacrifice to God. They that are in the flesh, cannot please GOD, Rom. 8.8. The sons of Levi must be purified and refined, as the silver is refined, before their offering will be pleasing, Mal. 3.3▪ 4. When the Lord rejected, with so much disdain, the sacrifices of the Jews, he shows what they should have done to please him: they should have washed themselves by true repentance, and put away the evil of their works, Isaiah 1.11, 16. Only ⟨p. 172⟩the works of the penitent cannot be accepted: if the person be not in favour, the works are hated. For, they are sanctified by the holy Ghost, Rom. 15.16.
First,1 that the person be sanctified. None but Priests must approach to offer sacrifice to God. They that are in the flesh, cannot please GOD, Rom. 8.8. The sonnes of Leui must bee purified and refined, as the siluer is refined, before their offring will bee pleasing, Mal. 3.3▪ 4. When the Lord reiected, with so much disdain, the sacrifices of the Iewes, hee shewes what they should haue done to please him: they should haue washed themselues by true repentance, and put away the euill of their works, Esay 1.11, 16. Onely ⟨p. 172⟩the works of the penitent cannot bee accepted: if the person be not in fauour, the works are hated. For, they are sanctified by the holy Ghost, Rom. 15.16.
Secondly, that the manner of performing our service be right: there are divers things in the manner are hateful; and divers things pleasing. The things specially hateful, are, first, beloved sins: secondly, hypocrisy: thirdly, malice: and fourthly, luke-warmness. The sacrifice is loathsome, if it be blind, or lame, or blemished: that is, if men bring to Gods service the love of any foul sin, the service is loathsome, Malach. 1. So, if mens hearts be carried away with continual distractions, that service is lost: this is, To come near to God with our lips, when our harts are far from him. Hypocrisy is leaven, as beloved sin is honey; both forbidden. Again, when a man comes to God's work, and hath not forgiven his brother, he keeps the Feast with some leaven: his Passover is defiled; nor can his own sins be forgiven, because he forgives not, Mat. 6. 1. Cor. 5.8. Finally, luke-warmness is like a vomit to God, when we are neither hot nor cold. They are loathed like the Laodiceans, Revel. 3.
Secondly, that the manner of performing our seruice bee right: there are diuers things in the manner are hatefull; and diuers things pleasing. The things specially hatefull, are, first, beloued sinnes: secondly, hypocrisie: thirdly, malice: and fourthly, luke-warmnesse. The sacrifice is lothsome, if it be blinde, or lame, or blemished: that is, if men bring to Gods seruice the loue of any foule sinne, the seruice is lothsome, Malach. 1. So, if mens hearts be carried away with continuall distractions, that seruice is lost: this is, To come neer to God with our lips, when our harts are farre from him. Hypocrisie is leauen, as beloued sin is hony; both forbidden. Again, when a man comes to God's work, and hath not forgiuen his brother, hee keeps the Feast with some leauen: his Passeouer is defiled; nor can his own sinnes be forgiuen, because he forgiues not, Mat. 6. 1. Cor. 5.8. Finally, luke-warmnesse is like a vomit to God, when wee are neither hot nor cold. They are lothed like the Laodiceans,
There are other things wonderful pleasing to God: as,
There are other things wonderfull pleasing to God: as,
First, when a man doth whatsoever he doth, in the Name of Christ: this is the Altar that sanctifieth the gift, and the sacrifices are here acceptable through Jesus Christ, Heb. 13.15. Col. 3.17.
First, when a man doth whatsoeuer he doth, in the Name of Christ: this is the Altar that sanctifieth the gift, and the sacrifices are heer acceptable through Iesus Christ, Heb. 13.15. Col. 3.17.
Secondly, when our works are soundly powdered, with salt, that is, when we soundly confess our own unworthiness, and give all glory to God in Jesus Christ.
Secondly, when our works are soundly powdered, with salt, that is, when we soundly confess our owne vnworthinesse, and giue all glory to God in Iesus Christ.
Thirdly, when we love mercy and piety, accounting it our delight to do God's will, and thinking our selves greatly honoured, to be admitted to do this service, Mic. 6.8. 2. Cor. 8.5.
Thirdly, when wee loue mercy and piety, accounting it our delight to doo God's will, and thinking our selues greatly honoured, to bee admitted to doo this seruice, Mic. 6.8. 2. Cor. 8.5.
Fourthly, when we can bring faith, that is, a heart well persuaded of God, so as we can believe all good of him and his mercy. Without faith no man can please God, Heb. 11.6. and God takes no delight in him that withdraweth himself through unbelief, Heb. 10.36, 37.
Fourthly, when we can bring faith, that is, a heart well perswaded of God, so as wee can beleeue all good of him and his mercy. Without faith no man can please God, Heb. 11.6. and God takes no delight in him that withdraweth himself through vnbelief, Heb. 10.36, 37.
Fifthly, when it is our every-days work. Sacrifice will please God, if it be continual, Hebrews 13.15.
Fiftly, when it is our euery-daies work. Sacrifice will please God, if it be continuall, Hebrewes 13.15.
Thus of the second thing.
