A17385:480
A17385:480
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.
Hath begotten us again, &c.]
Hath begotten us againe, &c.]
Hitherto of the mercy of God: now it follows, that I should entreat of the regeneration of man. As for the necessity, and honour of the work of the new birth, I have touched it before; I only here propound three things to be considered of: 1. The means: 2. The lets: and 3. the signs of the new birth.
Hitherto of the mercy of God: now it followes, that I should intreat of the regeneration of man. As for the necessity, and honor of the worke of the new birth, I have touched it before; I onely here propound three things to be considered of: 1. The meanes: 2. The lets: and 3. the signes of the new birth.
1For the first: the ordinary means, by which God doth beget us again, is the word preached, as these places do evidently show. Rom. 10. 14. 1 Pet. 1.23. 1 Cor. 1.21. Gal. 3.2. Isaiah 55.4.
1For the first: the ordinary meanes, by which God doth beget us againe, is the word preached, as these places doe evidently shew. Rom. 10. 14. 1 Pet. 1.23. 1 Cor. 1.21. Gal. 3.2. Esay 55.4.
1For the second: this great work is marvellously hindered, and that diversly: For first many men are seduced: seduced I say, either with hope of §1mercy howsoever, or with the colours of civill honesty and some good they do: or with pretence of after-repentance: or with the examples of wise, learned, and great men: or with prejudice conceited by reason of slanders cast upon such, as are converted: or with the common charity of the world, […], when they die: or with false opinions, as that men have all their regeneration by Baptism: or that reformation will prove an enemy to their credit, or profit, or contentment: or else, that they are as they should be, because they are better then they were, and have more liking of Sermons, or care of religion, or such like.
1For the second: this great worke is marvellously hindered, and that diversly: For first many men are seduced: seduced I say, either with hope of §1mercy howsoever, or with the colours of civill honesty and some good they doe: or with pretence of after-repentance: or with the examples of wise, learned, and great men: or with prejudice conceited by reason of slanders cast upon such, as are converted: or with the common charity of the world, 〈…〉, when they die: or with false opinions, as that men have all their regeneration by Baptisme: or that reformation will prove an enemy to their credit, or profit, or contentment: or else, that they are as they should be, because they are better then they were, and have more liking of Sermons, or care of religion, or such like.
Secondly, multitudes of men are senseless and ignorant, and through §2wretched inconsideration wear out their days without care or conscience: they never consider either the number, filth, or guilt of their sins: or the greatness and fierceness of Gods wrath and threatenings against their sins: or of the certainty and dreadfulness of the vengeance to come: or of the nearness of death, or terror of judgement: nor consider they, the very effects of sin, that are already upon them, they perceive not their death in sin, and the sleep of their conscience; and the inefficacy of all Gods ordinances, and the absence of Gods spirit, and the impotency of all the faculties of their souls unto that which is good.
Secondly, multitudes of men are senselesse and ignorant, and through §2wretched inconsideration weare out their dayes without care or conscience: they never consider either the number, filth, or guilt of their sinnes: or the greatnesse and fiercenesse of Gods wrath and threatnings against their sins: or of the certainty and dreadfulnesse of the vengeance to come: or of the nearenesse of death, or terror of judgement: nor consider they, the very effects of sin, that are already upon them, they perceive not their death in sin, and the sleep of their conscience; and the inefficacy of all Gods ordinances, and the absence of Gods spirit, and the impotency of all the faculties of their soules unto that which is good.
Thirdly, many are hindered through irresolution, and sluggish inconstancy: §3they have many pangs of remorse, and are near the birth, and give it over again. For either they forget it, or neglect it upon experience of difficulties, or objections against it; or else because they find more required, then stands with their ease, or credit, &c.
Thirdly, many are hindered through irresolution, and sluggish inconstancy: §3they have many pangs of remorse, and are neare the birth, and give it over againe. For either they forget it, or neglect it upon experience of difficulties, or objections against it; or else because they finde more required, then stands with their ease, or credit, &c.
Fourthly, worldliness is a monstrous let in many: I say not covetousness, §4which is an excessive desire of having super•luities: but a vain over-loading of the mind with continual cares about businesses in the world▪ The love of earthly things, and the cares of life choke all the sense, they get in ⟨p. 35⟩Gods house. For they suffer their business to eat up their thoughts and consideration, whence flows forgetfulness and hardness of heart.
Fourthly, worldlinesse is a monstrous let in many: I say not covetousnesse, §4which is an excessive desire of having super•luities: but a vaine over-loading of the minde with continuall cares about businesses in the world▪ The love of earthly things, and the cares of life choake all the sense, they get in ⟨p. 35⟩Gods house. For they suffer their businesse to eate up their thoughts and consideration, whence flowes forgetfulnesse and hardnesse of heart.
Fifthly, this work hath many and great adversaries, if we respect it in §5the truth and sincerity of it: It is opposed mightily by devils invisible, and by wicked men of all sorts visible; sometimes by learned men, sometimes by the profane multitude: Satan strives to overwhelm the beginnings of it in many with the floods of reproach, and disgraceful oppositions.
Fifthly, this worke hath many and great adversaries, if wee respect it in §5the truth and sincerity of it: It is opposed mightily by devills invisible, and by wicked men of all sorts visible; sometimes by learned men, sometimes by the prophane multitude: Satan strives to overwhelme the beginnings of it in many with the floods of reproach, and disgracefull oppositions.
Lastly, it is hindered in the most men by the perver•e love of some special §6sin, with which men are besotted, and unto which they are so engaged, as God must have them excused, till they find time to give it over.
Lastly, it is hindered in the most men by the perver•e love of some speciall §6sin, with which men are besotted, and unto which they are so ingaged, as God must have them excused, till they finde time to give it over.
Thus much of the lets.
3. Now for the signs of new birth: amongst many, I instance in four.1 The first is the washing of mortification, by which I mean a serious, secret, and unfeigned voluntary godly sorrow for all sin, striving in particular to bewail those sins, unto which they have been most prone, or in which they have most corrupted themselves. This is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghostp: This is the washing of the new birthq.
3. Now for the signes of new birth: amongst many, I instance in foure.1 The first is the washing of mortification, by which I meane a serious, secret, and unfeigned voluntary godly sorow for all sin, striving in particular to bewaile those sinnes, unto which they have been most prone, or in which they have most corrupted themselves. This is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghostp: This is the washing of the new birthq.
The second is the imitation of Christ, by which we rfollow him in the regeneration. Now this imitation of Christ must have in it three things. First a willingness to deny our ease, profit, credit, will, or what else can be, taking up any cross, that swe may show our desires to be like him in sufferings: secondly, humility and tlowliness, which will show it self, not only in a continued base opinion of our selves, by reason of our corruptions; but also in the meekness and quietness of our affections, and in readiness to do the meanest office in the service of Christ, or his members: thirdly, innocency of life, or a constant care to be holy as he is holy, hungering after righteousness, and loving purity, and seeking the contentment of all well-doing.
The second is the imitation of Christ, by which we rfollow him in the regeneration. Now this imitation of Christ must have in it three things. First a willingnesse to deny our ease, profit, credit, will, or what else can be, taking up any crosse, that swe may shew our desires to be like him in sufferings: secondly, humility and tlowlinesse, which will shew it selfe, not onely in a continued base opinion of our selves, by reason of our corruptions; but also in the meeknesse and quietnesse of our affections, and in readinesse to doe the meanest office in the service of Christ, or his members: thirdly, innocency of life, or a constant care to be holy as he is holy, hungring after righteousnesse, and loving purity, and seeking the contentment of all wel-doing.
The third sign is the love of all such▪ as are ubegotten again of God: For whosoever is borne of God, loves all those, that are borne of God: but this love of Gods children is such a love, as shows it self: first by a desire to love God and keep […] *godly do: secondly, by a willing and ready Apology for such as fear God: thirdly, by fellowship with them xin the Gospel: fourthly, by sympathy or compassion in ytheir joys, or sorrows: and fifthly, by an estimation of them, as zthe only excellent ones.
The third signe is the love of all such▪ as are ubegotten againe of God: For whosoever is borne of God, loves all those, that are borne of God: but this love of Gods children is such a love, as shewes it selfe: first by a desire to love God and keep 〈…〉 *godly doe: secondly, by a willing and ready Apology for such as feare God: thirdly, by fellowship with them xin the Gospell: fourthly, by sympathy or compassion in ytheir joyes, or sorowes: and fifthly, by an estimation of them, as zthe onely excellent ones.
The fourth sign is the inbred native desire after the sincere milk of the worda. By the desire to suck you may discern a living child from an abortive birth: but then it is to be observed, what kind of desire it is. For the comparison showeth, it must be a constant desire, such as is renewed every day, as we see it to be in the infant; and besides, it must be such a desire, as is joined with a secret and sound contentment in the word: The child doth almost nothing else, but suck and sleep, in the strength of that it hath sucked; and further, if it be a true desire, it is after the word, as it is milk and sincere, it affecteth plainness, and acknowledgeth no wisdom like Gods, nor effectualness of speech more powerful, then the words of sacred scripture; and lastly it is such a desire, as intends growth in knowledge, wisdom, utterance, prayer, grace, and holy duties.
The fourth signe is the inbred native desire after the sincere milke of the worda. By the desire to suck you may discerne a living childe from an abortive birth: but then it is to be observed, what kinde of desire it is. For the comparison sheweth, it must be a constant desire, such as is renewed every day, as we see it to be in the infant; and besides, it must be such a desire, as is joyned with a secret and sound contentment in the word: The childe doth almost nothing else, but suck and sleep, in the strength of that it hath sucked; and further, if it be a true desire, it is after the word, as it is milke and sincere, it affecteth plainenesse, and acknowledgeth no wisdome like Gods, nor effectualnesse of speech more powerfull, then the words of sacred scripture; and lastly it is such a desire, as intends growth in knowledge, wisdome, utterance, prayer, grace, and holy duties.
Thus much of the signs.
Thus much of the signes.
The consideration of the glory and necessity of the work of our new1 birth, may exceedingly reprove the wretched, and wilful neglect of it in thousands of people, especially of such, as be continual hearers, and cannot be ignorant of the doctrine of it; how many are the souls, that like the blackamoors will not be made white? the spots of whose sins are like the spots of the Leopard, which will not be gotten out. These have had promises to ⟨p. 36⟩allure them, and precepts to divert them, and threatenings to humble them, and yet are never a whit the better: woe unto them, they have not sought their peace in the day of peace: yea are there not many, who hear their own lets opened, and yet go away unreformed? Oh the depth of the deceitfulness and wickedness of mans heart!
The consideration of the glory and necessity of the worke of our new1 birth, may exceedingly reprove the wretched, and wilfull neglect of it in thousands of people, especially of such, as be continuall hearers, and cannot be ignorant of the doctrine of it; how many are the souls, that like the blackamoores will not be made white? the spots of whose sinnes are like the spots of the Leopard, which will not be gotten out. These have had promises to ⟨p. 36⟩allure them, and precepts to divert them, and threatnings to humble them, and yet are never a whit the better: woe unto them, they have not sought their peace in the day of peace: yea are there not many, who heare their own lets opened, and yet goe away unreformed? Oh the depth of the deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of mans heart!