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A17385:1494

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.

:1491p. 118¶3

3. That there are two pictures as it were presented to the soul, and for both there is gre•t pleading for entertainment and liking: The one is the picture of sin, even of sins repented of, which are n•w varnished, and with many plausible motives commended by b•th the world and the devil, not without the good liking of the flesh. The other is the picture as it were of the most holy God, portrayed out in the Gospel, especially in the glory o• hi• holiness. Now here we are taught what to avoid and what to follow, a•d the rather, because here we are put in mind of the experience we have of Gods goodness: for it is he that ha•• called us. Now of the former lusts, t•ere can be assigned no good that we •ave gotten by them: The devil may lyingly tell us of some good to come, but we know, that for the time past, we got no•hing but shame and sorrow by them.

3. That there are two pictur•s as it were presented to the soule, and for both there is gre•t pleading for entertainment and liking: The one is the picture of sinne, even of sinnes repented of, which are n•w varnished, and with many plausible motives commended by b•th the world and the devill, not without the good liking of the flesh. The other is the picture as it were of the most holy God, pourtraied out in the Gospell, especially in the glory o• hi• holinesse. Now here we are taught what to avoid and what to follow, a•d the rather, because here we are put in minde of the experience we have of Gods goodn•sse: for it is he that ha•• called us. Now of the former lusts, t•ere can be assigned no good that we •ave gotten by them: The devill may lyingly tell us of some good to come, but wee know, that for the time past, we got no•hing but shame and sorrow by them.

:1492p. 118

Thus of the general.

Thus of the generall.

:1493p. 118

As he that hath called you.

:1494p. 118

The first thing i• whom we must imitate, a•d that is here expressed by […], to be he, that hath called us, viz. God; and the Lord doth of purp••• […] o• descriptions of himself for divers reasons.

The first thing i• whom we must imitate, a•d that is here exprest by 〈…〉, to be he, that hath called us, viz. God; and the Lord doth of purp••• 〈…〉 o• descriptions of himselfe for divers rea•ons.

:1495p. 118–119¶1

1. […] our disability to conceive of God, as he is fully; and therefore he […] his knowledge into us by drops or sparkles as it were; so far is our nature swerved from the knowledge of God, that the doctrine o• God in the whole i• a doctrin• too transcendent for us. 2. This God d•th to excite affection in us toward him, as taking no delight in a dull contemplation of him, and therefore by such periphrases he doth with some […] consideration either gore us (if it be a phrase of terror or suddenly […] with some divine spa••les, that like lightning force our att••d••••. 3. The •ord doth use such descriptions out of choice of […] which is most pertinent to the question in hand: The Lord thr•ugh•ut the whole Scripture is every where respective of the names he giveth […]: ⟨p. 119⟩therein showing us, what care we should have in taking up the name or title of God. 4. It is a most forcible kind of speaking; for compendiously it importeth abundance of matter, usually more then the bare title it self would import: as here thi• phrase (He that called you) doth not only show, that it is God that is to be imitated, but it also gives an excellent reason why; taken from his free grace in calling us: and it expresseth also the manner of imitation, viz chiefly to follow God, as he is revealed in the Gospel in our calling, or when we come truly to see him in the state of grace. It is out of question, the Lord mentions our calling as one of the chiefest and excellentest benefits bestowed upon us, as that which should much stir us, & inflame, and hath great force to prevail upon us.

1. 〈…〉 our disability to c••ceive of God, as he is fully; and there••re he his knowledg into us by drops or sparles as it were; so far is our nature swarved from the knowledge of God, that the doctrine o God in the whole i a doctrin too transcendent for us. 2. This God dth to excite affection in us toward him, as taking no delight in a dull ctemplation of him, and therefore by such priphrases he doth with some consideration either gore us (if it be a phrase of terror or suddnly with some divine spales, that like lightning force our attd. 3. The ord doth use such descriptions out of choice of which is most pertinent to the question in hand: The Lord thrughut the whole Scripture is every where respective of the names he giveth :

:1496p. 119

In general from hence we may note,

In generall from hence we may note,

:1497p. 119¶1

1. That the consideration of our calling and election out of the world, should be put to this use, to fire us so much the more to holiness of life and conformity to God.

1. That the consideration of our calling and election out of the world, should be put to this use, to fire us so much the more to holinesse of life and conformity to God.

:1498p. 119¶2

2. That he that hath true grace, is as much stirred with the consideration of his calling, as any one thing whatsoever ordinarily: It cannot but affect us to thi•ke in how sinful a case God found us, and how freely he loved us; how great mercy he called us unto, and how unexpected it was either for matter or m•anes▪ and how ready he was to forgive, and how he passed by others worthier and likelier then we, &c.

2. That he that hath true grace, is as much stirred with the consideration of his calling, as any one thing whatsoever ordinarily: It cannot but affect us to thi•ke in how sinfull a case God found us, and how freely he loved us; how great m•rcy he called us unto, and how unexpected it was either for matter or m•anes▪ and how ready he was to forgive, and how he passed by others worthier and likelier then we, &c.

:1499p. 119¶3

3. That of all the benefits bestowed upon us by God, the works of grace are the best. It is more that God hath called us, then that he hath given us treasures, or honour, or pleasure, or whatsoever of outward things; yea and every true Christian doth in his affections so account it.

3. That of all the benefits bestowed upon us by God, the works of grace are the best. It is more that God hath called us, then that he hath given us treasures, or honor, or pleasure, or whatsoever of outward things; yea and every true Christian doth in his affections so account it.

:1500p. 119¶4

4. That the works of grace in God do excel the works of nature. The Lord thinks himself that he hath done more for us, in that he called us, then that he made us of nothing.

4. That the works of grace in God doe excell the works of nature. The Lord thinks himselfe that he hath done more for us, in that he called us, then that he made us of nothing.

:1501p. 119¶5

5. That […] of God it is sufficient (through Gods acceptation) to […], a• he reveals himself to our understanding in our calling, according […] the revelation of his grace in our conversion, so as we are wil•i•• […] knowledge for so to conceive of God, as he that called […] to acceptation. Thus of the general.

5. That 〈…〉 of God it is sufficient (through Gods acceptation) to 〈…〉, a• he reveales himselfe to our understanding in our calling, acco•ding 〈…〉 the revelation of his grace in our conversion, so as wee are wil•i•• 〈…〉 knowledge for so to conceive of God, as he that called 〈…〉 to acceptation. Thus of the generall.

:1502p. 119

[…] the Lord singles out this work of our calling to quicke• […], it will not be much amiss to consider of it particularly, es•••••• as it […] •ere propounded.

〈…〉 the Lord singles out this work of our calling to quicke• 〈…〉, it will not be much amisle to consider of it particularly, es•••••• as it 〈…〉 •ere propounded.

:1503p. 119

Four thing• m•y be here noted: What, Who, Whom, and When. What, or the work it self, He called us. Who was the author of this calling, viz. He, a• God. Whom, or the persons called, you. When, or the time, hath.

Foure thing• m•y be here noted: What, Who, Whom, and When. What, or the w•rk it selfe, He called us. Who was the author of this calling, viz. He, a• God. Whom, or the persons called, you. When, or the time, hath.

:1504p. 119

[…] may understand more distinctly what our ca•••ng fr•m God […], it will not be amiss to consider, 1. […] God calls us. 2. What our effectual calling is. 3. Why our conversion is termed by the name of calling. 4. How […] can know, that God calls me in particular, seeing he doth not name me. 5. Why did G•d call us. 6. To what he calls us. 7. The […].

〈…〉 may understand more distinctly what our ca•••ng fr•m God 〈…〉, it will not be amisse to consider, 1. 〈…〉 God calls us. 2. What our effe•tuall calling is. 3. Why our conv•rsion is termed by the name of calling. 4. How 〈…〉 can know, that God calls me in particular, seeing he doth not name me. 5. Why did G•d call us. 6. To what he calls us. 7. The 〈…〉.

:1505p. 119–120

For the first: the ••lling of God is either particular or general. The particular is to se•ve G•d in some set function of outward life,¹ and so is the […]. The general calling is to the service of […] with promise of eternal reward through the […] Christ. This general calling is likewise of three sorts. 1. External. ⟨p. 120⟩2. Internal: or both 3. external and internal. 1. The external alone is called common and ineffectual: the 2. and 3. is called singular and effectual. 1. The outward calling is the work of Gods grace in his word, offering Christ, and calling upon all sorts of men to reform their ways, and receive Christ, and yield obedience to Gods holy will to their salvation, if they will obey. 2. The inward calling is the work of Gods Spirit, effectually stirring up and persuading the Elect to hear, and obey, and receive Christ unto salvation. 3. The calling that is both inward and outward is the action of God both by his Word and Spirit,² calling out his Elect by name particularly, and persuading them to separate from the world, and receive the covenant of Gods grace in Christ, and to devote themselves to holiness of life; and this §2last is the calling here meant: and by this definition of it, the second thing is answered, viz. what our effectual calling is.

For the first: the ••lling of God is either particular or generall. The particular is to se•ve G•d in some set function of outward life,¹ and so is the 〈…〉. The generall calling is to the service of 〈…〉 with promise of eternall reward through the 〈…〉 Christ. This generall calling is likewise of three sorts. 1. Externall.

:1506p. 120§3

Now for the third point: This marvellous thing wrought by Gods wonderful mercy by his Word and Spirit,¹ is termed by the name of a calling, and that fitly for divers reasons.

Now for the third point: This marvellous thing wrought by Gods wonderfull mercy by his Word and Spirit,¹ is tearmed by the name of a calling, and that fitly for divers reasons.

1Why our conversion is termed our calling.Why our •onversion is t•rmed our call•ng.

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