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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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Thus of the first point, viz. whom we must imitate, viz. God that called us. The second is, in what we must imitate him, viz. in holiness.

Thus of the first point, viz. whom we must imitate, viz. God that called us. The second is, in what we must imitate him, viz. in holinesse.

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¹Is holy.] There are four sorts of holiness: Independent and unlimited, viz. the holiness of God. 2. Independent and limited, viz. the holiness of Christ: for the holiness of his divine nature is independent, and the holiness of his humane nature is limited, for it is finite. 3. Dependant and unlimited, and such is the holiness of the Scriptures: Dependant it is, for it is of God: Unlimited it is, for it entreats of all kinds of holiness whatsoever. 4. Dependant and limited, and such is the holiness in man and Angels: it is the first kind of holiness is here meant.

¹Is holy.] There are foure sorts of holinesse: Independant and unlimited, viz. the holinesse of God. 2. Independant and limited, viz. the holinesse of Christ: for the holinesse of his divine nature is independant, and the holinesse of his humane nature is limited, for it is finite. 3. Dependant and unlimited, and such is the holinesse of the Scriptures: Dependant it is, for it is of God: Vnlimited it is, for it intreats of all kinds of holinesse whatsoever. 4. Dependant and limited, and such is the holinesse in man and Angels: it is the first kind of holinesse is here meant.

1Four sorts of holiness.Foure sorts of holinesse.

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¹There is a threefold holiness in God, or he is holy three ways. 1. By nature, being void of all corruption or change. 2. By administration, and so his holiness is his justice, in distributing rewards to the good, and punishment to the evil. 3. By conception, for the Lord doth conceive the Idea, or the patterns of the holiness of all the reasonable creatures. The Carpenter conceives first the frame of his house in his head, and then buildeth it according to the pattern: So doth God conceive first the holiness that is fit for the creature, and then works it in them. This Idea or pattern of holiness, or virtues in God, is either internal in the mind of God from eternity, or external in the word of God.

¹There is a threefold holinesse in God, or hee is holy three waies. 1. By nature, being void of all corruption or change. 2. By administration, and so his holinesse is his justice, in distributing rewards to the good, and punishment to the evill. 3. By conception, for the Lord doth conceive the Idaea, or the patterns of the holinesse of all the reasonable creatures. The Carpenter conceives first the frame of his house in his head, and then buildeth it according to the patterne: So doth God conceive first the holinesse that is fit for the creature, and then works it in them. This Idaea or patterne of holinesse, or vertues in God, is either internall in the mind of God from eternity, or externall in the word of God.

1God holy three ways.God holy three waies.

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Now the holiness of God that we are to imitate, is both that holiness which God hath conceived in the pattern expressed in the word, and also that which is in the nature of God, as it is described in the word. There is also a holiness of works in God which we must imitate: I mean of particular works, as in carriage toward enemies, Mat. 5. in mercy, Luk. 6. in love, Eph. 5.1. and thus as children we should imitate the holy nature, as it were of our heavenly Father.

Now the holinesse of God that we are to imitate, is both that holinesse which God hath conceived in the patterne exprest in the word, and also that which is in the nature of God, as it is described in the word. There is also a holinesse of works in God which we must imitate: I mean of particular works, as in carriage toward enemies, Mat. 5. in mercy, Luk. 6. in love, Eph. 5.1. and thus as children we should imitate the holy nature, as it were of our heavenly Father.

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Now by the way we must know, that God is not holy by any legal holiness as men are: that is, his holiness stands: not in the observation of any law given by any other, but is himself the rule of all holiness: so as things are not first holy, and then God doth them; but God doth them, and therefore they are holy. Thus of the second thing. The third follows, viz. how we must imitate God in holiness, viz. in being holy in all manner of conversation.

Now by the way we must know, that God is not holy by any legall holinesse as men are: that is, his holinesse stands: not in the observation of any law given by any other, but is himselfe the rule of all holinesse: so as things are not first holy, and then God doth them; but God doth them, and therefore they are holy. Thus of the second thing. The third followes, viz. how we must imitate God in holinesse, viz. in being holy in all manner of conversation.

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So be you holy in all manner of conversation.

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¹There are eight doctrines may be noted in these words.

1Doct.

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1. That without holiness we cannot be accepted with God, we have no communion with him, nothing but holiness will serve the turn, Heb. 12.14. 1 Joh. 1.6.

1. That without holinesse we cannot be accepted with God, we have no communion with him, nothing but holinesse will serve the turn, Heb. 12.14. 1 Ioh. 1.6.

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2. It must be holiness indeed, not the picture of it will serve the turn, nor counterfeit holiness, nor temporary holiness, nor civill honesty.

2. It must be holinesse indeed, not the picture of it will serve the turn, nor counterfeit holinesse, nor temporary holinesse, nor civill honesty.

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3. If Christians want holiness, the fault is in themselves; for he saith, be ye holy, implying, if they be not so, it is because they are careless, and will not labour for it; and great reason the blame should lie upon us, if we will still neglect sanctification.

3. If Christians want holinesse, the fault is in themselves; for he saith, be ye holy, implying, if they be not so, it is because they are carelesse, and will not labour for it; and great reason the blame should lie upon us, if wee will still neglect sanctification.

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1. Having such a great recompense of reward set before us.

1. Having such a great recompence of reward set before us.

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2. Having so matchless and perfect a rule, and canon of holiness written in the word of God to direct us.

2. Having so matchlesse and perfect a rule, and canon of holinesse written in the word of God to direct us.

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3. Having our natures by regeneration in part healed, and freedom of will in part restored; so as no•, if we be not holy, it is because we will not be holy.

3. Having our natures by regeneration in part healed, and freedome of will in part restored; so as no•, if wee be not holy, it is because wee will not be holy.

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4. Having such mighty helps, as are ⟨p. 123⟩1. The assistance and supply of the spirit of grace within us.¹ 2. Prayer, with a promise of granting whatsoever we ask. 3. Guides and spiritual Pastors to oversee and direct us. 4. A cloud of witnesses, even the examples of the godly of all sorts. 5. Such acceptation with God, if we be willing, and love to be his servants, Act. 10.36. But of this in the next point.

4. Having such mighty helps, as are ⟨p. 123⟩1. The assistance and supply of the spirit of grace within us.¹ 2. Prayer, with a promise of granting whatsoever we aske. 3. Guides and spirituall Pastors to oversee and direct us. 4. A cloud of witnesses, even the examples of the godly of all sorts. 5. Such acceptation with God, if we be willing, and love to be his servants, Act. 10.36. But of this in the next point.

1Who helps to […].Who h•lps to 〈…〉.

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4. Here is implied, how infinitely kind God is in accepting our holy endeavours, if we desire to be holy in all our conversation, he will account it to be holy as he is holy; and yet alas it comes ten thousand degrees short of the holiness of God; yea far short of what it should be: yea, which is more, of what it might be in us.

4. Here is implyed, how infinitely kinde God is in accepting our holy endevours, if we desire to be holy in all our conversation, he will account it to be holy as he is holy; and yet alas it comes ten thousand degrees short of the holinesse of God; yea far short of what it should be: yea, which is more, of what it might be in us.

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5. The image of God is in conversation, as well as nature: we resemble God not only in the renovation of our nature, but in the renewed actions also: so then we bear Gods image, 1. In nature. 2. In action or obedience. Of this later here.

5. The image of God is in conversation, as well as nature: we resemble God not onely in the renovation of our nature, but in the renewed actions also: so then we beare Gods image, 1. In nature. 2. In action or obedience. Of this later here.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36