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A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

Name: A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…
Author: Nicholas Byfield

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.

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¹But have unregenerate men no knowledge, that he thus directly chargeth the unregenerate estate of the very Elect with ignorance?

1Quest.

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¹Yes, they have some knowledge: For they are wise to do evil, and they may have great knowledge and learning in Arts and Sciences; and they may have excellent civill knowledge to manage civill affairs, and may abound in skill to get money and advance their estates: and they have in matters of religion the light of nature, and the general grounds of knowledge of the principles in Scripture: yea they may raste of the good word of God, and the powers of the life to come: But yet they are justly taxed with ignorance, because they know no• God as a Father by the light of faith, nor whom he hath sent Christ Jesus: and besides, they have no desire nor delight to know their own iniquities, or the way how to reform their own lives; they have no knowledge to do good.

¹Yes, they have some knowledge: For they are wise to doe evill, and they may have great knowledge and learning in Arts and Sciences; and they may have excellent civill knowledge to manage civill affaires, and may abound in skill to get money and advance their estates: and they have in matters of religion the light of nature, and the generall grounds of knowledge of the principles in Scripture: yea they may raste of the good word of God, and the powers of the life to come: But yet they are justly taxed with ignorance, because they know no• God as a Father by the light of faith, nor whom hee hath sent Christ Iesus: and besides, they have no desire nor delight to know their owne iniquities, or the way how to reforme their owne lives; they have no knowledge to doe good.

1Answ.

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These things being thus resolved, there are divers observations to be noted from hence.

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1. That a true Convert must make conscience of inward sins, as well as outward: of defects as well as evil desires or lusts: as here of ignorance, as well as of wicked thoughts. The same God that saith, How long shall thy evil thoughts abide in thee? complains also of ignorance, as Isaiah 1.3.

1. That a true Convert must make conscience of inward sins, as well as outward: of defects as well as evill desires or lusts: as here of ignorance, as well as of wicked thoughts. The same God that saith, How long shall thy evill thoughts abide in thee? complaines also of ignorance, as Esay 1.3.

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2. That ignorance is no small sin: it is exceeding hateful to God: contrary to the doctrine of the Papists, that say, it is the mother of devotion.

2. That ignorance is no small sin: it is exceeding hatefull to God: contrary to the doctrine of the Papists, that say, it is the mother of devotion.

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3. That without reformation of ignorance, we cannot be truly turned to God; without knowledge the mind is not good: therefore to tear the veil is one part of Gods work in our conversion, Prov. 19.3. Isaiah 25.8.

3. That without reformation of ignorance, we cannot be truely turned to God; without knowledge the mind is not good: therefore to teare the vaile is one part of Gods work in our conversion, Prov. 19.3. Esay 25.8.

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4. That ignorance is wanton, and full of lust, Eph. 4.18.

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5. That the way to be rid of lusts is to be rid of ignorance. For saving knowledge keeps us from sin, Jam. 3.17. A godly man sinneth not, because his seed abideth in him; knowledge is the sword of the Spirit, and here we may see the principal use we should put our knowledge to, viz. to cleanse our hearts of base thoughts and desires.

5. That the way to be rid of lusts is to be rid of ignorance. For saving knowledge keeps us from sin, Iam. 3.17. A godly man sinneth not, because his seed abideth in him; knowledge is the sword of the Spirit, and here we may see the principall use wee should put our knowledge to, viz. to clense our hearts of base thoughts and desires.

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6. That we may live in places of great means for knowledge, and yet be grossly ignorant. For he writeth here to the Jews, who had the law, and the Prophets, and the Oracles of God, and the Priests, &c.

6. That we may live in places of great meanes for knowledge, and yet be grossely ignorant. For he writeth here to the Jewes, who had the law, and the Prophets, and the Oracles of God, and the Priests, &c.

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7. That all knowledge or learning without the knowledge of Gods favour in Christ, and the way how to reform our own lives, is but gross darkness, and foolish ignorance, as was before explained.

7. That all knowledge or learning without the knowledge of Gods favour in Christ, and the way how to reforme our owne lives, is but grosse darknesse, and foolish ignorance, as was before explained.

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8. That habitual lusts are a sure sign of ignorance, whatsoever knowledge men pretend.

8. That habituall lusts are a sure signe of ignorance, whatsoever knowledg men pretend.

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Lastly, it may be profitably here asked, Seeing there is ignorance even in the children of God after calling,¹ what are the signs of unregenerate ignorance?

Lastly, it may be profitably here asked, Seeing there is ignorance even in the children of God after calling,¹ what are the signes of unregenerate ignorance?

1Quest.

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Unregenerate ignorance may be discerned by divers signs.¹

Unregenerate ignorance may be discerned by divers signes.¹

1Answ. […]Answ. 〈…〉

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1. It hardens the heart, and works a continued evil disposition to sin with greediness, Eph. 4.11, 18. Now the ignorance in the godly may be where the heart is softened, and the overflowings of corruption stopped.

1. It hardens the heart, and works a continued evill disposition to sinne with greedinesse, Eph. 4.11, 18. Now the ignorance in the godly may be where the heart is softned, and the overflowings of corruption stopped.

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2. It hood winketh the soul in the main things needful to salvation: as the knowledge of a mans own iniquities, God in Christ, the forgiveness of a mans own sins, and generally all the things of God, 1 Cor. 2.14. For either wicked men perceive them not, or not spiritually, out of desire and care for them, without corrupt ends. A wicked man may discern spiritual things carnally, but not spiritually.

2. It hood winketh the soule in the maine things needfull to salvation: as the knowledge of a mans owne iniquities, God in Christ, the forgivenesse of a mans owne sins, and generally all the things of God, 1 Cor. 2.14. For either wicked men perceive them not, or not spiritually, out of desire and care for them, without corrupt ends. A wicked man may discern spirituall things carnally, but not spiritually.

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3. It hath never been in the furnace, I mean of mortification; it hath never been truly repented of: whereas the ignorance of the godly hath often been in the fire: it hath been often confessed, rended, mourned for, &c.

3. It hath never beene in the furnace, I meane of mortification; it hath never been truly repented of: whereas the ignorance of the godly hath often been in the fire: it hath been often confessed, rended, mourned for, &c.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36