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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.

:559p. 45§3

By faith, or, through faith.]

:560p. 45§3

The means in us to preserve us is our faith, and that this will keep us through the power of God, is apparent by the scriptures: ^gHe that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life: (he is as sure of it, as if he had it) and he shall not come into condemnation^h, but is passed from death to life: Christ is the bread of life (for nourishment) and he that cometh to him by faith shall ⁱnever hunger nor thirst: He that cometh to Christ shall in no wise be cast out: Christ will be so far from losing any one soul, that believeth in him, that not so much as his flesh, or any part thereof shall be lost, but the ^kwhole body, that is delivered to the grave, shall be raised at the last day: whosoever ^lbelieveth in Christ shall never die: For he that ^mconfesseth with his mouth, and believeth with his heart shall be saved: God will keep that which by faith is committed to him, and Christ ⁿwill be at the last day made marvellous in all that believe: but that this point may be more plainly understood, I propound three things. 1. First what faith doth for our preservation. 2. Secondly, how it doth it. 3. What kind of faith doth it, and then the uses.

The meanes in us to preserve us is our faith, and that this will keepe us through the power of God, is apparant by the scriptures: ^gHee that beleeveth on the sonne of God hath everlasting life: (he is as sure of it, as if he had it) and he shall not come into condemnation^h, but is passed from death to life: Christ is the bread of life (for nourishment) and he that commeth to him by faith shall ⁱnever hunger nor thirst: He that commeth to Christ shall in no wise be cast out: Christ will be so far from losing any one soule, that beleeveth in him, that not so much as his flesh, or any part thereof shall bee lost, but the ^kwhole body, that is delivered to the grave, shall be raised at the last day: whosoever ^lbeleeveth in Christ shall never die: For hee that ^mconfesseth with his mouth, and beleeveth with his heart shall be saved: God will keep that which by faith is committed to him, and Christ ⁿwill bee at the last day made marvellous in all that beleeve: but that this point may bee more plainly understood, I propound three things. 1. First what faith doth for our preservation. 2. Secondly, how it doth it. 3. What kinde of faith doth it, and then the uses.

:561p. 45§3

For the first, there are ten things, which faith worketh, by all which,¹ and every of which, we are greatly helped, and furthered in our preservation.

For the first, there are tenne things, which faith worketh, by all which,¹ and every of which, wee are greatly helped, and furthered in our preservation.

1Faith doth 10. things to further our preservation.

:562p. 46§1

First, it inflames in God a singular tenderness of care to remove out of the way, what might be an occasion of falling, and therefore our Saviour Christ shows, that God so loveth the weakest Christian, that is truly humble and believeth, that if any whosoever shall offend him, that is, cast any stumbling block in his way; in respect of the sore judgements of God upon those, by whom such offences come, it were better a millstone were hanged about their necks^o, and they cast into the bottom of the Sea. 2. Secondly, as §2it procureth the healing of the soul of temptations, even of all the wounds of the serpent, quenching his fiery darts by showing us Christ ^pthe true brazen Serpent of our recovery. 3. As it is the daily hand and mouth of the soul, §3by which we feed upon Christ the bread of life, and so are by the strength of that precious nourishment, kept to ^qlife everlasting. 4. As it lighteth us the way to heaven. For as there is a light apprehended by sense, and a light of §4reason: so there is a light of faith, by virtue of the promise of Christ, who said I am come a light into the world, ^rthat whosoever abideth in me, should not §5abide in darkness. 5. As it bringeth us within the compass of Christs intercession. For when he prayed the father to keep them from evil, he expounds his meaning to be, to extend that his intercession not only to his Apostles^s

:563p. 46§9

Lastly as it overcomes the world, ^ythat is, it fortifieth a Christian against all, pleasures, §10profits, carnal friends, hopes, fears, dangers, or whatsoever it is, that either by enticement, or enforcement, the world might draw them away by.

Lastly as it overcomes the world, ^ythat is, it fortifieth a Christian against all, pleasures, §10profits, carnall friends, hopes, feares, dangers, or whatsoever it is, that either by inticement, or inforcement, the world might draw them away by.

yJohn 5.4.

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¹Now for the second: If any ask, how faith doth all this: I answer, it doth it, first as in general it assures a Christian of Gods love, and that God is his father, and will love him to the end, and this assurance is wrought by the knowledge and application of Gods promises, and the observation of the signs of those promises in himself. Secondly as it renews upon every occasion a particular persuasion, that God in such and such a cross or temptation, &c. will for his promise and sons sake keep, and deliver him in particular: For God stands upon this particular faith: I will not instance only in these cases extraordinary, mentioned in these Scriptures, Mat. 8.13 . and 9.28. Mark. 5.36 . and 11.23. John 4.20. but it is true also in cases ordinary: A persuasion, that God will help, and keep us, will keep us indeed. ^zFor the just lives by his faith, and it shall be to us according to our faith: so as he that believeth, or is so persuaded, ^ashall not be ashamed.

¹Now for the second: If any aske, how faith doth all this: I answer, it doth it, first as in generall it assures a Christian of Gods love, and that God is his father, and will love him to the end, and this assurance is wrought by the knowledge and application of Gods promises, and the observation of the signes of those promises in himselfe. Secondly as it renewes upon every occasion a particular perswasion, that God in such and such a crosse or temptation, &c. will for his promise and sons sake keepe, and deliver him in particular: For God stands upon this particular faith: I will not instance only in these cases extraordinary, mentioned in these Scriptures, Mat. 8.13

:565p. 46–47§10

All ^bthings are possible to him that believeth, and the true reason, why many things are not obtained, is because we are not persuaded, they shall be obtained: as for extraordinary things the same God that hath determined, that miracles shall cease, hath caused that kind of persuasion to cease too. Thirdly it doth it, as it sets meditation and prayer awork, meditation I say, as it looks upon Christ, and the former promises of God in him, and prayer, as it begs performance in all humility warranting hope upon that general ⟨p. 47⟩promise ^cwhatsoever you ask the Father in my name believing it, you shall have it.

All ^bthings are possible to him that beleeveth, and the true reason, why many things are not obtained, is because we are not perswaded, they shall be obtained: as for extraordinary things the same God that hath determined, that miracles shall cease, hath caused that kinde of perswasion to cease too. Thirdly it doth it, as it sets meditation and prayer aworke, meditation I say, as it lookes upon Christ, and the former promises of God in him, and prayer, as it begs performance in all humility warranting hope upon that generall ⟨p. 47⟩promise ^cwhatsoever you aske the Father in my name beleeving it, you shall have it.

bMark 9.23.Marke 9.23.
cMat 21.22.

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Now for the third, it must greatly be pondered, what kind of faith,¹ or persuasion can effect all this? This I unfold negatively, and affirmatively: negatively, it is not a verbal faith, will do it: By a verbal faith I mean a bare affirming, that a man hath faith without all reason or discerning, that inwardly there is any such thing in his soul; and this abounds every where amongst the ignorant sort, that take believing to be nothing else, but to say they do believe: but this will avail nothing: Nor is it a forced faith, that will work this: by a forced faith I mean such, as the faith of devils, when a man is compelled to believe some truth, not for love, or desire after the truth, but out of a servile disposition, because he cannot tell, how to deny it, or object against it: ^dThe devils believe and tremble, and so do many wicked men. Nor is it a partial faith; I am driven to use these terms, that by them I might express the several humours of men: by partial faith I mean this, when a man will believe some truths, but not all, as some men will believe Moses^c, but not Christ: the Law, but not the Gospel: the truth of directions for life, but not the assurance in particular by the promises in Jesus Christ: and contrariwise some will believe Christ, but not Moses, they think the promises are true, but they will never believe, that such and such threatenings can be so: God will be more merciful. Again some men will believe in prosperity, while they see means^f, but not in adversity, when they want what they desire, or when their confidence may bring them into disgrace, or trouble: Nor is it a limiting faith, that will appoint, how it shall be before it be believed. The Jews will ^gbelieve, but then Christ must work wonders at their appointment: The Pharisees will believe in the Messiah, but then he must be such a one, as they will describe: many could believe, if God will do it by such means, or at such times, or in such measure, as they could name^h. Thomas will believe, but then he must first see Christ: but it

:567p. 47§10

Lastly, the wavering faith, hath but little force, I mean a faith, that is tossed with so many fancies, and so many doubts, that hath a kind of habit of inconstancy, which may be found in many Christians, that perhaps in the general have a true faith: my meaning is this that when we give liberty to the power of every fancy, or temptation, or doubts, or impediments, or affliction: so as if any thing fall in our way, that in the least measure might seem to cross our desires, we are presently out of all heart, or persuasion, and usually are never settled, but when nothing opposeth us; this kind of wavering and weakness is wonderfully scourged with want of sense and experience of Gods mighty working, or at best it gives but dishonourable entertainment to the greatest means of God. For though perhaps great mercies are greatly affected for the present, yet the sense of them is instantly gone, and every trifling cross turns the heart out of contentment, and so out of persuasion too for all, that is not yet had: ^mThese are unstable in all their ways.

Lastly, the wavering faith, hath but little force, I meane a faith, that is tossed with so many fancies, and so many doubts, that hath a kinde of habit of inconstancy, which may be found in many Christians, that perhaps in the generall have a true faith: my meaning is this that when we give liberty to the power of every fancy, or temptation, or doubts, or impediments, or affliction: so as if any thing fall in our way, that in the least measure might seeme to crosse our desires, we are presently out of all heart, or perswasion, and usually are never setled, but when nothing opposeth us; this kinde of wavering and weaknesse is wonderfully scourged with want of sense and experience of Gods mighty working, or at best it gives but dishonourable entertainment to the greatest meanes of God. For though perhaps great mercies are greatly affected for the present, yet the sense of them is instantly gone, and every trifling crosse turnes the heart out of contentment, and so out of perswasion too for all, that is not yet had: ^mThese are unstable in all their wayes.

mJohn 11.40.

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But contrariwise that persuasion, that is thus mighty through Gods power to keep us, is a persuasion ⁿoriginally begotten by the word, prepared ^oby repentance, witnessed ^pby the spirit, confirmed ^qby the Sacraments, renewed ^rby prayer, attended ^swith the love of God, encouraged by ^texperience within our selves ^uor others, and continued by ^*some seed of the word.

But contrariwise that perswasion, that is thus mighty through Gods power to keep us, is a perswasion ⁿoriginally begotten by the word, prepared ^oby repentance, witnessed ^pby the spirit, confirmed ^qby the Sacraments, renewed ^rby prayer, attended ^swith the love of God, encouraged by ^t

:569p. 47–48§10

The use of all this is threefold: 1. First for terror to all those, that live without faith, and for humiliation to all those, that live without the settled assurance of faith: Here men may see, what by faith might be had,¹ and the ⟨p. 48⟩need of it. Now what can be the estate of such, as neglect it and willingly sit down in unbelief, but even the condemnation hereunto belonging: He that ^xbelieveth not is condemned, and this is the condemnation of worlds of men, even their wretched sinning against faith and assurance of Gods promises: This is the true reason, that they^y dye in their sins, this is^z a sign they are not of Christs sheep. For if they were, they would believe in him; yea and the wretched wilfulness of many in confirming themselves in the neglect of assurance, causeth many times these fearful judgements, that they should be given over to such an estate, as they should neither see nor understand: the Lord being as it were made^a unwilling, that they should be converted: yea this very unbelief may cause God to repent of his mercies, and destroy men^b even after many singular favours bestowed upon them: what shall I say, if we out of this text consider the use and need of faith, may not Christ wonder at our unbelief^c, if still we will go on in security?

The use of all this is threefold: 1. First for terror to all those, that live without faith, and for humiliation to all those, that live without the setled assurance of faith: Here men may see, what by faith might be had,¹

:570p. 48§10

Secondly, we should all then be persuaded to settle about this work of faith and assurance, knowing the singular worth and use of it, and to this end pray unto God to show us the greatness of his power in them that believe, and withal make use of the light, while we have it to walk in it, that •o the Lord may still own us, as the children of light, &c.

Secondly, we should all then be perswaded to settle about this work of faith and assurance, knowing the singular worth and use of it, and to this end pray unto God to shew us the greatnesse of his power in them that beleeve, and withall make use of the light, while we have it to walke in it, that •o the Lord may still owne us, as the children of light, &c.

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Lastly, it may be a great comfort to all, that have gotten assurance. He ^dthat believeth is in such an estate for happiness, as he needs not be ashamed, no the Lord will so perform all things according to his faith, that he shall never be ashamed. A man need be ashamed of nothing but his unbelief; and of every such Christian it may be said, as once it was of one,^e Blessed is she that believed. For there shall be a performance of those things, which were told her from the Lord.

Lastly, it may be a great comfort to all, that have gotten assurance. Hee ^dthat beleeveth is in such an estate for happinesse, as he needs not be ashamed, no the Lord will so performe all things according to his faith, that he shall never be ashamed. A man need be ashamed of nothing but his unbeliefe; and of every such Christian it may be said, as once it was of one,^e Blessed is she that beleeved. For there shall be a performance of those things, which were told her from the Lord.

dRom. 10.11.
eLuke 1.45.

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Unto salvation.

Vnto salvation.

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This is the end of our preservation.

:574p. 48§10

From the coherence and general consideration of the words three things may be noted.

From the coherence and generall consideration of the words three things may be noted.

First, it inflames in God a singular tendernesse of care to remove out of the way, what might be an occasion of falling, and therefore our Saviour Christ shewes, that God so loveth the weakest Christian, that is truely humble and beleeveth, that if any whosoever shall offend him, that is, cast any stumbling block in his way; in respect of the sore judgements of God upon those, by whom such offences come, it were better a milstone were hanged about their neckes^o, and they cast into the bottome of the Sea. 2. Secondly, as §2it procureth the healing of the soule of temptations, even of all the wounds of the serpent, quenching his fiery darts by shewing us Christ ^pthe true brazen Serpent of our recovery. 3. As it is the daily hand and mouth of the soule, §3by which we feed upon Christ the bread of life, and so are by the strength of that precious nourishment, kept to ^qlife everlasting. 4. As it lighteth us the way to heaven. For as there is a light apprehended by sense, and a light of §4reason: so there is a light of faith, by vertue of the promise of Christ, who said I am come a light into the world, ^rthat whosoever abideth in me, should not §5abide in darknesse. 5. As it bringeth us within the compasse of Christs intercession. For when hee prayed the father to keepe them from evill, hee expounds his meaning to be, to extend that his intercession not onely to his Apostles^s, ⁶but to all that should beleeve through their word. 6. As it procures the pardon of all sins according to that of Peter; to him gave ^tall the Prophets §6witnesse, that through his name whosoever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of their sins. 7. As it will excite and compell a Christian in all suits to §7seeke his owne help. If a man beleeve, his faith will make him speake both by confession, and ^uprayer to God, and by inquiry and counsell, and reproof to men. 8. As it procures the seale of the holy spirit of promise, and the earnest §8of the inheritance purchased^*. Faith opens such a fountaine of joy and incouragement within a man, that it makes him breake through at length all doubts and difficulties, having a witnesse within himselfe, even the witnesse §9of the spirit of adoption. 9. As it procures strength to suffer adversity, so as a man shall not faile or sink under crosses, or wrongs. For he that hath given us to beleeve in his 〈…〉^x, gave •• also strength to suffer for him. 10.

Now for the third, it must greatly be pondred, what kinde of faith,¹ or perswasion can effect all this? This I unfold negatively, and affirmatively: negatively, it is not a verball faith, will doe it: By a verball faith I meane a bare affirming, that a man hath faith without all reason or discerning, that inwardly there is any such thing in his soule; and this abounds every where amongst the ignorant sort, that take beleeving to be nothing else, but to say they doe beleeve: but this will availe nothing: Nor is it a forced faith, that will worke this: by a forced faith I meane such, as the faith of devils, when a man is compelled to beleeve some truth, not for love, or desire after the truth, but out of a servile disposition, because he cannot tell, how to deny it, or object against it: ^dThe devills beleeve and tremble, and so doe many wicked men. Nor is it a partiall faith; I am driven to use these tearmes, that by them I might expresse the severall humors of men: by partiall faith I meane this, when a man will beleeve some truthes, but not all, as some men will beleeve Moses^c, but not Christ: the Law, but not the Gospell: the truth of directions for life, but not the assurance in particular by the promises in Jesus Christ: and contrariwise some will beleeve Christ, but not Moses, they thinke the promises are true, but they will never beleeve, that such and such threatnings can be so: God will be more mercifull. Againe some men will beleeve in prosperity, while they see meanes^f, but not in adversity, when they want what they desire, or when their confidence may bring them into disgrace, or trouble: Nor is it a limiting faith, that will appoint, how it shall be before it bee beleeved. The Jewes will ^gbeleeve, but then Christ must worke wonders at their appointment: The Pharises will beleeve in the Messias, but then he must be such a one, as they will describe: many could beleeve, if God will doe it by such meanes, or at such times, or in such measure, as they could name^h. Thomas will beleeve, but then he must first see Christ: but it ⁱwas otherwise with Nathaniel. Nor is it a dead faith that Iames ^kspeakes of, that is without workes, that will effect this: Nor will the ^ltemporary faith doe it.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36