A17384:938
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.
And for the means of their preservation: Either first God will save them from the temptations that fell on the world, so as in the evil time they shall be provided for, and preserved from distress, as, Psal. 37.19. or else, secondly, God will not disappoint their trust, but come to their succour, and deliver them, as Psal. 22.6. and 25.3. and Rom. 5.3. or else, thirdly, if God do defer ⟨p. 210⟩for a time, he will in the mean time refresh their hearts, and lighten their faces with the comfort of his favour and presence, as Psal. 34.6. Or else fourthly, if the Lord let the affliction yet continue, he will give them strength to bear it, and patience and magnanimity, so as it shall be no great burden to them, as it is showed of Christ, Isaiah 50.6, 7. so of Paul, Philip. 1.20. 2. Tim. 1.12. Or else fifthly, though they may be many ways distressed, yet they shall never be forsaken, or perplexed, so as to have cause to despair: They shall not be destroyed, 2. Cor. 4.9. In all these senses, they shall not be confounded in respect of their outward estate.
And for the meanes of their preseruation: Either first God will saue them from the temptations that fell on the world, so as in the euill time they shall be prouided for, and preserued from distresse, as, Psal. 37.19. or else, secondly, God will not disappoint their trust, but come to their succour, and deliuer them, as Psal. 22.6. and 25.3. and Rom. 5.3. or else, thirdly, if God doe deferre ⟨p. 210⟩for a time, hee will in the meane time refresh their hearts, and lighten their faces with the comfort of his fauor and presence, as Psal. 34.6. Or else fourthly, if the Lord let the affliction yet continue, hee will giue them strength to beare it, and patience and magnanimity, so as it shall bee no great burthen to them, as it is shewd of Christ, Isaiah 50.6, 7. so of Paul, Philip. 1.20. 2. Tim. 1.12. Or else fiftly, though they may be many waies distressed, yet they shall neuer bee forsaken, or perplexed, so as to haue cause to despaire: They shall not bee destroied, 2. Cor. 4.9. In all these sences, they shall not bee confounded in respect of their outward estate.
1And for their spiritual estate they shall not be confounded, and this may be showed in divers things: First, in respect of illumination, they shall not abide in darkness, Joh. 12.46. Secondly, in respect of justification, their sins are not imputed to them, and the Lord so surely forgives the believer, that the conscience shall be satisfied with that propitiation is made in the blood of Christ: for, it is not ashamed of the former evil ways, because it believeth, that they enjoy Gods pardon, as if they had never been,2 Zeph. 3.11. Thirdly, in respect of Adoption, because by believing they are made the sons of God, and so need not be ashamed at any time of their condition, Joh. 1.12. Fourthly, in respect of access unto the presence of God. For by faith he is privileged, he may go with boldness and confidence into the presence of the King of Kings; and therefore ⟨p. 211⟩what should confound them? Eph. 3.12. Fifthly, in respect of the promises of God. For by faith, he obtaineth many rich and precious promises, each of them like a Well of joy, and a very spring of contentment, 2. Pet. 1.4. Heb. 11.13, 33, 34 Sixthly, in respect of the hope of glory. For by faith we have access to this grace, whence we stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory to come, Rom. 4.2.
1And for their spirituall estate they shall not be confounded, and this may bee shewed in diuers things: First, in respect of illumination, they shall not abide in darknes,
And for the Day of Judgement, it is certain, they shall not be confounded in two respects: First, they shall have boldness at that Day and hour, and praise before all the world: They that are not a shamed of Christ in this world, he will not then be ashamed of them: And secondly they shall be delivered from eternal confusion, and damnation: They shall enjoy everlasting salvation, and shall not be confounded world without end, Isaiah 45.17.
And for the Day of Iudgement, it is certaine, they shall not bee confounded in two respects: First, they shall haue boldnes at that Day and hower, and praise before all the world: They that are not a shamed of Christ in this world, hee will not then be ashamed of them: And secondly they shall bee deliuered from eternall confusion, and damnation: They shall enioy euerlasting saluation, and shall not bee confounded world without end, Isaiah 45.17.
Quest. So that by this which hath bin said, we may in part know, how to answer that objection which may be made: For some one may say, The Scripture in divers places seems to grant, that Gods servants have bin ashamed, & confounded.
Quest. So that by this which hath bin sayd, we may in part know, how to answer that obiection which may be made: For some one may say, The Scripture in diuers places seemes to graunt, that Gods seruants haue bin ashamed, & confounded.
Ans. Now for answer hereunto, divers things must be distinctly considered of.
Ans. Now for answer heereunto, diuers things must be distinctly considered of.
First,1 the godly shall not be ashamed, or shamed with everlasting shame, or they shall not be ashamed at the day of Judgement: though it were granted, they might be ashamed in this life, Isaiah 45.17. in that World, which is without end, they shall not be ashamed.
First,1 the godly shall not bee ashamed, or shamed with euerlasting shame, or they shall not be asham'd at the day of Iudgement: though it were graunted, they might bee ashamed in this life, Esay 45.17. in that World, which is without end, they shall not bee ashamed.
Secondly, we may answer with the Prophet Daniel, that shame and confusion belongs unto the godly, if we respect their deserts, but they are freed from it by the covenant of grace in Christ, Dan. 9.7.
Secondly, wee may answer with the Prophet Daniel, that shame and confusion belongs vnto the godly, if wee respect their deserts, but they are freed from it by the couenant of grace in Christ, Dan. 9.7.
Thirdly, if we consider of the state of the Church in the public condition of it, as both good and bad are mingled together: so God may pour out terrible shame and confusion upon visible Churches for their great provocations, as, Jerem. 9.19. and 17.13.
Thirdly, if wee consider of the state of the Church in the publike condition of it, as both good and bad are mingled together: so God may powre out terrible shame and confusion vpon visible Churches for their great prouocations, as, Ierem. 9.19. and 17.13.
Fourthly, this promise shows, what God will make good to the believer, if the fault be not in himself: he shall be set in such a condition, as he shall have no reason to be ashamed, but in all distresses two things shall be certain: first, that God will come quickly to his succour, Heb. 10.35, 36. Secondly, that till his deliverance he shall have a fair assurance and evidence for his hope in God, by his promises: so as if he do not withdraw himself through unbelief, in rest and quietness he shall be fortified, Isaiah 30.19.
Fourthly, this promise shewes, what God will make good to the beleeuer, if the fault bee not in himselfe: he shall bee set in such a condition, as he shall haue no reason to bee ashamed, but in all distresses two things shall bee certaine: first, that God will come quickly to his succor, Heb. 10.35, 36. Secondly, that till his deliuerance hee shall haue a faire assurance and euidence for his hope in God, by his promises: so as if hee doe not withdraw himselfe through vnbelief, in rest and quietnes hee shall be fortified, Esay 30.19.
Fifthly, if we restrain the sense to the coherence and particular drift of this place, we may answer three things. First, that he shall not be so confounded, as to be driven to run headlong upon the use of any unlawful means. Secondly, that he shall not fall down from the foundation, which is Christ, though he should endure many a sore storm. And thirdly, he shall not be ashamed in the point of Justification: he shall never repent, that he relied upon ⟨p. 213⟩Christ, and his merits and righteousness.
Fiftly, if wee restraine the sence to the coherence and particular drift of this place, wee may answer three things. First, that he shall not be so confounded, as to bee driuen to run headlong vpon the vse of any vnlawfull meanes. Secondly, that hee shall not fall downe from the foundation, which is Christ, though he should endure many a sore storme. And thirdly, he shall not bee ashamed in the point of Iustification: hee shall neuer repent, that hee relied vpon ⟨p. 213⟩Christ, and his merits and righteousnesse.
Sixthly, It is true, that in some temporal crosses they may be foiled in the judgement of the world, and in their own sense, as the Prophet confesseth, Psal. 48.9. and so far as this promise reacheth to temporal things, it must be understood with that common limitation, Isaiah 54.4. viz. so far, as it is good for them, they shall be kept from shame, as for poverty, or sickness, or the like, that is, if it be good for them. But yet if this temporal shame do fall upon them for their sins, repentance will remove it, as is promised, Joel 2.13.26.
Sixtly, It is true, that in some temporall crosses they may bee foiled in the iudgement of the world, and in their owne sence, as the Prophet confesseth, Psal. 48.9. and so farre as this promise reacheth to temporall things, it must bee vnderstood with that common limitation, Esay 54.4. viz. so farre, as it is good for them, they shall be kept from shame, as for pouerty, or sicknesse, or the like, that is, if it bee good for them. But yet if this temporall shame doe fall vpon them for their sinnes, repentance will remoue it, as is promised, Ioel 2.13.26.
Lastly, the Lord will give his people double for all their confusion, Isaiah 61.7. and therefore it is not to be reckoned as a cross, for which they have so much recompense made them.
Lastly, the Lord will giue his people double for all their confusion, Esay 61.7. and therefore it is not to be reckned as a crosse, for which they haue so much recompence made them.
Uses. The use of all this remains then to be considered of, which concerns first, the godly; secondly, the wicked.
Vses. The vse of all this remaines then to bee considered of, which concernes first, the godly; secondly, the wicked.
The Godly should here learn,
The Godly should heere learne,
First, to take notice of their privileges above other men in this respect, &c.
First, to take notice of their priuiledges aboue other men in this respect, &c.
Secondly, To sue out this promise upon all occasions. For since they have a grant of freedom in this kind, they should seek unto God for the obtaining of it, as they shall find need: when either their crosses press them, or their hearts fail them: so did David in many places of the Psalms, as Psal. 31.1, 17. and 119.116. and in divers other places.
Secondly, To sue out this promise vpon all occasions. For since they haue a graunt of freedome in this kind, they should seek vnto God for the obtaining of it, as they shall find need: when either their crosses presse them, or their hearts faile them: so did Dauid in many places of the Psalmes, as Psal. 31.1, 17. and 119.116. and in diuers other places.
