A17385:210
A17385:210
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. Against the conceit of their own parts, and praises, Job. 11.11. If God should set in order before thee, what he knows by thee, thou wouldst appear more ugly then any Leper.
1. Against the conceit of their owne parts, and praises, Iob. 11.11. If God should set in order before thee, what he knowes by thee, thou wouldst appeare more ugly then any Leper.
2. Against their persuasion of secrecy in their sins, as these places tell them: Psal. 90.8. & 139.1.11. to 16. Jer. 17.9, 10, 11. yea this doctrine tells them, that God hath had time enough to know them, he hath observed them from eternity.
2. Against their perswasion of secrecy in their sinnes, as these places tell them: Psal. 90.8. & 139.1.11. to 16. Ier. 17.9, 10, 11. yea this doctrine tells them, that God hath had time enough to know them, he hath observed them from eternity.
3. Against their persuasion of impunity, they think, they shall escape punishment for their sins, but they are deceived. as is at large showed. Psal. 94.1. to 11. & 139.8, 9. Revel. 2.23.
3. Against their perswasion of impunity, they thinke, they shall escape punishment for their sins, but they are deceived. as is at large shewed. Psal. 94.1. to 11. & 139.8, 9. Revel. 2.23.
4. Lastly, woe to the man, whom the Lord doth not acknowledge by his word, spirit, and children in this world: This imports, that he shall not be known in the day of Christ: oh how woeful will that sentence be, when he shall say, away from me ye workers of iniquity, I know you not: Mat. 7.27.
4. Lastly, woe to the man, whom the Lord doth not acknowledge by his word, spirit, and children in this world: This imports, that he shall not be known in the day of Christ: oh how wofull will that sentence be, when he shall say, away from me ye workers of iniquity, I know you not: Mat. 7.27.
Hitherto of the foundation: The founder follows, who is described, by what he is himself, viz. God: and what he is to us, viz: a Father.
Hitherto of the foundation: The founder followes, who is described, by what he is himselfe, viz. God: and what he is to us, viz: a Father.
Of God]
To be elect and known before others is a great benefit: but to be chosen of that dreadful and immortal being, and that when nothing was, must needs add to this prerogative. If God choose them, it matters not, who refuse them: If God know them, it matters not who is ignorant of them: If God honour them, it matters not who disgrace them.
To be elect and knowne before others is a great benefit: but to be chosen of that dreadfull and immortall being, and that when nothing was, must needs adde to this prerogative. If God choose them, it matters not, who refuse them: If God know them, it matters not who is ignorant of them: If God honor them, it matters not who disgrace them.
He that founded our election in his own eternal praesc•e••e, is •ee, that founded this earth, and spread over it this great heaven: Jehovah Elohim is his name; and spiritual, incomprehensible, immortal, infinite, almighty is his nature: The immense fountain of all love, mercy, holiness, justness, goodness, wisdom, and bounty: It is he that before guided the ways of eternity, as he now doth of times.
He that fo•nded our election in his owne eternall praesc•e••e, is •ee, that founded this earth, and spread over it this great heaven: Iehovah Elo•im is his name; and spirituall, incomprehensible, immortall, infinite, almighty is his nature: The immense fountaine of all love, mercy, holinesse, justnesse, goodnesse, wisdome, and bounty: It is he that before guided the wayes of eternity, as he now doth of times.
What God hath done in time, is done, that we might know, and praise him: but what he did before time, is without our measure, and as it cometh nearer to Gods nature; so it goeth farther from our apprehension; at least, till we be glorified in heaven.
What God hath done in time, is done, that we might know, and praise him: but what he did before time, is without our measure, and as it commeth neerer to Gods nature; so it goeth farther from our apprehension; at least, till we be glorified in heaven.
But this is a sea, over which no ship hath failed: a Mine, in which no spade hath delved: an Abyssus, into which no bucket hath •unke. our sight is too tender to behold this sun; our understanding too finite to comprehend this glorious and infinite being, and therefore I pass from what he is in himself, to consider, what he is to us.
But this is a sea, over which no ship hath failed: a Mine, in which no spade hath delved: an Abyssus, into which no buck•t hath •unke. our sight is too tender to behold this sunne; our understanding too finite to comprehend this glorious and infinite being, and therefore I passe from what hee is in himselfe, to consider, what he is to us.
The Father]
God is Father to Christ, to Angels, to Men: To Christ he is Father by nature, as he is God, and by personal union as he is man: To Angels he is father by creation, and to faithful men by adoption: As he is father to Christ, I consider of it ver. 3. here only, as he is father to the faithful.
God is Father to Christ, to Angels, to Men: To Christ he is Father by nature, as he is God, and by personall union as he is man: To Angels hee is father by creation, and to faithfull men by adoption: As hee is father to Christ, I consider of it ver. 3. here onely, as he is father to the faithfull.
1. For consolation to the godly:1 God useth them and ever will use them like a Father, both for the affections of a father, and for the provisions of a ⟨p. 12⟩father: he both loves them, and provides for them, as a father for his children. Gods affection to the godly is a fatherly affection: for it is 1. free, and 2. tender, and 3. constant. 1. A fatherly love is a free love, there needs no argument to a father, but that, this is my child; so it is with God. 2. A fatherly love is a tender love, it hath much compassion and care in it▪ such is Gods love to the godly: Look how Parents pity their children so doth God pity them, that fear him, Psal. 103.13. yea God is troubled in their troubles, and his bowels are turned in him in their discouragements and griefs Isaiah 63.8. Jer. 31.18, 19. 3. A father still loves his child, so doth God, and much more, then all fathers, or any of them. For he loves with an everlasting love, Isaiah 49.14. and is called an everlasting father, Isaiah 9.6. Add unto these, that a father will love his child, though no body else do: so can God love us, though he love alone. Though natural fathers, and kindred forsake us, Psal. 27.5.10. and spiritual fathers forget us, Isaiah 63.16, 17. yet God will never cease to love us, he will never leave us nor forsake us. Only we must ever remember, that Gods love is a pure love: For it hath not in it hurtful indulgence, he will not mar his children with too much fondness: He can hide his face, and though he will never take his mercies from them, yet if they sin, he will scourge them with the rod of men, he will afflict them, though it be but for a short time. Psal. 89. Isaiah 67.7, 8, 9.
1. For consolation to the godly:1 God useth them and ever will use them like a Father, both for the affections of a father, and for the provisions of a
As is the affection of God, so is his provision for the godly, a fatherly provision, he provides for them like a father, yea like a heavenly father in their 1. attendance. 2. diet. 3. preservation in trouble. and 4. portion. 1. For their attendance: he provides for them better, then the great men of the earth can do for their children: He hath given his Angels to be ministering spirits to all these heirs of salvation, and these pitch their tents round abo•t them, Psal. 34. Heb. 1.14.2. And for diet, they are fed with the food that perisheth not, yea such food, as he that eateth thereof shall live for ever. John 6.27. 3. And for preservation in trouble, the power of God doth so keep them, that a hair of their heads cannot fall to the ground without the providence of their heavenly father, Mat. ••. and •o that […] all the hairs of their head are numbered, and the spirit of God is given them to teach them, to comfort them, and uphold them. 4. And for portion: he hath blessed them with all spiritual blessings ìn heavenly things, and since the earth was forfeited into Gods hands again, he hath restored the inheritance of the earth to none (as is the opinion of many learned) but to them: Other men hold without any title from God, Ephes. 1.3. Isaiah 45.11, 17, 18, 19. and in the world to come, they shall shine as the stars of heaven, and as the sun in the firmament, Mat. 13.43.
As is the affection of God, so is his provision for the godly, a fatherly provision, he provides for them like a father, yea like a heavenly father in their 1. attendance. 2. dyet. 3. preservation in trouble. and 4. portion. 1. For their attendance: he provides for them better, then the great men of the earth can doe for their children: He hath given his Angels to bee ministring spirits to all these heires of salvation, and these pitch their tents round abo•t them,