A17385:1312
A17385:1312
A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St. Peter Wherein are most judiciously and profitably handled such points of doctrine as naturally flow from the text. Together with a very useful application thereof: and many good rules for a godly life. By Nicholas Byfield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. To which is now newly added an alphabetical table, not formerly published.A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St. Peter VVherin are most judiciously and profitably handled such points of doctrine as naturally flow from the text. Together with a very usefull application thereof: and many good rules for a godly life. By Nicholas Byfield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. To which is now newly added an alphabeticall table, not formerly published.
London: printed by Miles Flesher and Robert Young, 1637
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.
1. Sobriety in opinions, of which the Apostle saith, be wise to sobriety, Rom. 12.3. This hath in it,1 1. A fear to conceive of God or godliness, after any senseless or unwarranted course. 2. A repressing of that itching desire after the knowledge of Gods secrets, or hidden things, Deut. 29. ult. 3. Modesty in venting our opinions, or delivering our judgement. 4. A suspending in doubtful things. 5. A yielding upon implied dangers in things indifferent, as in reformation of such abuses as we see good men condemn, though we have not express Scripture: A singular waywardness in many, they will not leave their faults till direct Scripture be brought against it, as in vanity of apparel, &c.
1. Sobriety in opinions, of which the Apostle saith, be wise to sobriety, Rom. 12.3. This hath in it,1 1. A feare to conceive of God or godlinesse, after any senselesse or unwarranted course. 2. A repressing of that itching desire after the knowledge of Gods secrets, or hidden things, Deut. 29. ult. 3. Modesty in venting our opinions, or delivering our judgement. 4. A suspending in doubtfull things. 5. A yeelding upon implyed dangers in things indifferent, as in reformation of such abuses as we see good men condemne, though wee have not expresse Scripture: A singular waiwardnesse in many, they will not leave their faults till direct Scripture be brought against it, as in vanity of apparell, &c.
2. Sobriety in prayer, 1 Pet. 4.7. and to be sober in prayer is, 1. to be advised and deliberate; desirous to pray according to Gods will. 2. It is not to be intemperate or peevish, as Jonah was. 3. It is to be stayed, and settled, and stablished in persuasion, not wavering, & unconstant, or tossed with doubts and causeless fears. 4. It is to pray with due respect of Gods Majesty, without trifling or vain babbling: it is to let our words be few, Eccles. 5.5. 5. It is to keep Gods counsel, not to be proud, or boast of success, or speak of the secret sweetness of Gods love without calling: it is to conceal the familiarity of God in secret.
2. Sobriety in prayer, 1 Pet. 4.7. and to be sober in prayer is, 1. to be advised and deliberate; desirous to pray according to Gods will. 2. It is not to be intemperate or peevish, as Ionah was. 3. It is to be stayed, and setled, and stablished in perswasion, not wavering, & unconstant, or tossed with doubts and causelesse feares. 4. It is to pray with due respect of Gods Majesty, without trifling or vaine babling: it is to let our words be few, Eccles. 5.5. 5. It is to keep Gods counsell, not to be proud, or boast of successe, or speak of the secret sweetnesse of Gods love without calling: it is to conceale the familiarity of God in secret.
3. Sobriety in the practice of godliness: in general this the Apostle calls holiness with sobriety, 1 Tim. 3.15. which stands, 1. in lowliness of mind, and sense of our own vileness: it is to be holy without vain-glorious boasting. 2. In keeping the bounds of the Word both for sins and duties: it is to take heed of fancies, or vain stretching out of our practice to avoid such things as any way the word condemns: so in duties. 3. In not meddling with the business of others: it is not to be a busy body, to spend our selves in prying, or censuring, or inquiring after others: It is a vile thing to s•ffer as a busy body, 1 Pet. 4. 4. In avoiding rash zeal and indiscretion in the circumstances of well-doing. The word is sometimes rendered discreet, as Tit. 2.5. and vigilant, ver. 2. 5. In not judging, Gal. 6.1, 2.
3. Sobriety in the practice of godlinesse: in generall this the Apostle calls holinesse with sobriety, 1 Tim. 3.15. which stands, 1. in lowlinesse of minde, and sense of our owne vilenesse: it is to be holy without vain-glorious boasting. 2. In keeping the bounds of the Word both for sins and duties: it is to take heed of fansies, or vaine stretching out of our practice to avoid such things as any way the word condemnes: so in duties. 3. In not medling with the businesse of others: it is not to be a busie body, to spend our selves in prying, or censuring, or inquiring after others: It is a vile thing to s•ffer as a busie body, 1 Pet. 4. 4. In avoiding rash zeale and indiscretion in the circumstances of well-doing. The word is sometimes rendred discreet, as Tit. 2.5. and vigilant, ver. 2. 5. In not judging, Gal. 6.1, 2.
4. Sobriety in respect of the pleasures and delights of this life: and to be sober in them is,11. To let the Word of God be our rule for the matter of them, not to delight in unlawful pleasures, as chambering and wantonness, or unlawful sports and games that are of ill fame. 2. To restrain our affections in the use of them: to use them as though we used them not, not suffering our hearts to be stolen away by them. 3. To restrain the excessive use of them, not to make a vocation of them, a special sin in the Gentry of this ⟨p. 105⟩land, and their followers. 4. To be well advised for the circumstances, the place, time, company, and such like; that we neither ensnare our selves, nor give occasion of offence. 5. To restrain the passions that use to break out about them, that they be not occasions of discord or contempt, as Envy, or any evil affection. 6. Not to make merchandise of them, as to use their sports as means of gaining from others. 7. To use our delights with consideration of our callings, as Ministers, children, women, servants, &c. that which may be comely in others, may not be so many times, and in many things, in these.
4. Sobriety in respect of the pleasures and delights of this life: and to be sober in them is,11. To let the Word of God be our rule for the matter of them, not to delight in unlawfull pleasures, as chambering and wantonnesse, or unlawfull sports and games that are of ill fame. 2. To restraine our affections in the use of them: to use them as though we used them not, not suffering our hearts to be stollen away by them. 3. To restraine the excessive use of them, not to make a vocation of them, a speciall sinne in the Gen•ry of this ⟨p. 105⟩
5. There is sobriety in apparel, 1 Tim. 2.9, 10.1 This sobriety hath in it four things: 1. Comeliness, which takes order for both extremes, that our apparel be neither rude to dishonour our body, nor strange for the unwontedness or unseemliness of it. 2. Shame fastness and modesty, which takes order 1. that our apparel be not the apparel of another sex, Deut. 22.5. 2. or of known dissolute persons: modest women may not go as whores go. 3. that it tend no way to provoke inordinate desires in our selves or others, as painting, perfuming, naked breasts, &c. The third thing is frugality, which hath respect, 1. to our degree, that we go not above it: 2. to our ability in that degree, as if we be in debt, or of less means then others of that degree. 3. to the rate of our expenses: for to spend as much as the foremost in our rank is no sobriety, though we observe the two former rules. It is sobriety not to be so costly or brave as others, as we by our degree might be. The fourth thing is piety: a Christian should in his very apparel proclaim his religion, not only by the moderation of it, but by a free willingness to do good to any, and by professing to know a greater comeliness, even the decking of the hid man of the heart, and the ornament of good works.
5. There is sobriety in apparell, 1 Tim. 2.9, 10.1 This sobriety hath in it foure things: 1. Comelinesse, which takes order for both extreames, that our apparell be neither rude to dishonour our body, nor strange for the unwontednesse or unseemelinesse of it. 2. Shame fastnesse and modestie, which takes order 1. that our apparell be not the apparell of another sex, Deut. 22.5. 2. or of knowne dissolute persons: modest women may not goe as whores goe. 3. that it tend no way to provoke inordinate desires in our selves or others, as painting, perfuming, naked breasts, &c. The third thing is frugality, which hath respect, 1. to our degree, that we goe not above it: 2. to our ability in that degree, as if we be in debt, or of lesse meanes then others of that degree. 3. to the rate of our expences: for to spend as much as the formost in our rank is no sobriety, though we observe the two former rules. It is sobriety not to be so costly or brave as others, as wee by our degree might be. The fourth thing is piety: a Christian should in his very apparell proclaime his religion, not onely by the moderation of it, but by a free willingnesse to doe good to any, and by professing to know a greater comelinesse, even the decking of the hid man of the heart, and the ornament of good works.
For the clear understanding of this doctrine concerning apparel 4. rules are to be observed.
For the cleare understanding of this doctrine concerning apparell 4. rules are to be observed.
1. That whereas the Word of God doth not precisely tell what apparel we should wear: the judgment and example of the wisest and godliest men in the country where we live is to be followed.
1. That whereas the Word of God doth not precisely tell what apparell we should weare: the judgment and example of the wisest and godliest men in the country where we live is to be followed.
2. That the sin reacheth as well to men as to women. For whereas the Scripture for the most part reproveth or directeth women for their apparel, it was because men in those times did less exceed; but now that men are grown so effeminate, the censure lights upon them as well as women.
2. That the sinne reacheth as well to men as to women. For whereas the Scripture for the most part reproveth or directeth women for their apparell, it was because men in those times did lesse exceed; but now that men are growne so effeminate, the censure lights upon them as well as women.
3. That sin may be committed in the fashion, or putting on, as well as in the matter or cost, 1 Pet. 3.3. Rom. 12.2.
3. That sinne may be committed in the fashion, or putting on, as well as in the matter or cost, 1 Pet. 3.3. Rom. 12.2.
4. That the vanity of often changing into fashions is to be condemned also.
1. Here it is a part of our sobriety. 2. Nothing is required of us more then what is required of all that fear God, and is observed by many that might stand upon it as well as we. 3. We are forbidden to fashion our selves according to this world, Rom. 12.2. 4. Vanity here is an occasion of contempt: it doth not make us the better thought on, but the worse: how shall I believe that he hath not vanity in his heart, that is clothed with it on his back? 5. God will scourge us even for our clothes, Zeph. 1. Isaiah 3. 6. Our apparel is the fruit of our sin; and shall the thief be proud of his halter? 7. Vain apparel begets in us pride, vain thoughts, lust, and many inconveniences, especially if we persist in it against our conscience. 8. Sobriety in apparel is a singular praise, an alluring virtue.
1. Here it is a part of our sobriety. 2. Nothing is required of us more then what is required of all that feare God, and is observed by many that might stand upon it as well as we. 3. Wee are forbidden to fashion our selves according to this world, Rom. 12.2. 4. Vanity here is an occasion of contempt: it doth not make us the better thought on, but the worse: how shall I beleeve that he hath not vanity in his heart, that is clothed with it on his back? 5. God will scourge us even for our clothes, Zeph. 1. Esay 3. 6. Our apparell is the fruit of our sinne; and shall the theefe be proud of his halter? 7. Vaine apparell begets in us pride, vaine thoughts, lust, and many inconveniences, especially if we persist in it against our conscience. 8. Sobriety in apparell is a singular praise, an alluring vertue.
The sixth thing is sobriety in meats and drinks, and so restraineth both gluttony and drunkenness, but especially the later, Luke 21.24. Rom. 13.13.
The sixt thing is sobriety in meats and drinks, and so restraineth both gluttony and drunkennesse, but especially the later, Luke 21.24. Rom. 13.13.
1. From the nature of it: It is a paganish sin, a lust of the Gentiles, 1 Pet. 4.3. yea it is a brutish sin, it transforms a man into a beast: a work of the flesh, yea one of the worst, and therefore set in the last place, Gal. 5.21. a work of darkness, yea it is dishonesty, Rom. 13.13.
1. From the nature of it: It is a paganish sin, a lust of the Gentiles, 1 Pet. 4.3. yea it is a brutish sin, it transformes a man into a beast: a work of the flesh, yea one of the worst, and therefore set in the last place, Gal. 5.21. a work of darknesse, yea it is dishonesty, Rom. 13.13.
2. From the time, 1. Of committing it, they were wont to be drunk in the night, 1 Thes. 5.7. as they commit whoredom, so were they ashamed of it. 2. Of forsaking it: the night is past, the day is at hand, Rom. 13.11, 12.
2. Frō the time, 1. Of committing it, they were wont to be drunk in the night, 1 Thes. 5.7. as they commit whoredome, so were they ashamed of it. 2. Of forsaking it: the night is past, the day is at hand, Rom. 13.11, 12.