A17412:1129
Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle of S. Peter Being the last that were preached by the late faithful and painful minister of Gods word, Nicolas Byfield. Wherein method, sense, doctrine, and use, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinity largely discussed. Published since the authors death by William Gouge.
London: printed by H. Lownes for George Latham, 1626
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.
The use should be, to teach us with all possible affections to magnify Gods grace in our calling, and to strive to walk worthy of our calling, Ephes. 4.1. and to pray hard unto God to fulfil the work of his grace in our calling, that we may live to his glory, and abound in all faith and well-doing, 2. Thess. 1.11, 12.
The use should be, to teach us with all possible affections to magnifie Gods grace in our calling, and to strive to walk worthie of our calling, Ephes. 4.1. and to pray hard unto God to fulfill the worke of his grace in our calling, that we may live to his glory, and abound in all faith and well-doing, 2. Thess. 1.11, 12.
The second use may be for great reproof of mens wickedness, in neglecting the voice of Christ in the Gospel, and in entertaining so many excuses, & delays, hardening themselves in their evil ways, and suffering the Devil to keep them without this high preferment. Matth. 22.
The second use may be for great reproofe of mens wickednesse, in neglecting the voyce of Christ in the Gospell, and in intertayning so many excuses, & delayes, hardning themselves in their evill wayes, and suffering the Divell to keepe them without this high preferment. Matth. 22.
Doct. 2. From the coherence it is plain, That all Gods servants are called to holiness of life, aswell as to happiness. ⟨p. 207⟩Their calling is a holy calling; & they are called to be Saints, Rom. 1.7. so also 2. Thes. 2.14, 13. 1. Pet. 1.15.1. Thes. 4.7. The use is, to discover false Christians from true; by their fruits you shall know them. Such as make not conscience of their ways, to serve God all the days of their lives in holiness and fear, are not right Christians. And therefore as men desire to have comfort in their calling, they must take heed that they abuse not their liberty to licentiousness, Gal. 5.13.
Doct. 2. From the coherence it is plaine, That all Gods servants are called to holinesse of life, aswell as to happinesse. ⟨p. 207⟩Their calling is a holy calling; & they are called to be Saints, Rom. 1.7. so also 2. Thes. 2.14, 13. 1. Pet. 1.15.1. Thes. 4.7. The use is, to discover false Christians from true; by their fruits you shall know them. Such as make not conscience of their waies, to serve God all the daies of their lives in holinesse and feare, are not right Christians. And therefore as men desire to have comfort in their calling, they must take heed that they abuse not their liberty to licentiousnesse, Gal. 5.13.
Doct. 3 The calling of a Christian is a hard calling to flesh and blood: he is called to hard work. As in the coherence here, to be so humble, and unmoveable, and holy disposed, as when he is grossly abused and wronged in words & deeds, yet not only to be patient, but to bless. So it is in other parts of their work; as when a man must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Christ: For a man to forsake every thing his heart naturally desireth, and to be daily crossed, is a hard task. The use should be, to raise up the hearts of Christians to a care to live above the course of this world, and to press forward towards the mark, not caring for the difficulty of the race, but looking to the price of his calling. Phil. 3.14.
Doct. 3 The calling of a Christian is a hard calling to flesh and bloud: he is called to hard worke. As in the coherence here, to be so humble, and unmoveable, and holy disposed, as when he is grossely abused and wronged in words & deeds, yet not onely to be patient, but to blesse. So it is in other parts of their worke; as when a man must deny himselfe, and take up his crosse daily and follow Christ: For a man to forsake every thing his heart naturally desireth, and to bee daily crossed, is a hard taske. The use should bee, to raise up the hearts of Christians to a care to live above the course of this world, and to presse forward towards the marke, not caring for the difficulty of the race, but looking to the price of his calling. Phil. 3.14.
Doct. 4. A true Christian may know his calling: Know it, I say, that is, he may be infallibly assured of it. And this is true in two respects: first, he may know that he is truly called, and converted, & elected of God: secondly, he may know his calling in respect of the warrant of all his particular actions: as here, he may know what is required of him in his carriage towards his enemies.
Doct. 4. A true Christian may know his calling: Know it, I say, that is, hee may be infallibly assured of it. And this is true in two respects: first, he may know that he is truely called, and converted, & elected of God: secondly, he may know his calling in respect of the warrant of all his particular actions: as here, he may know what is required of him in his carriage towards his enemies.
Now, that every true Christian may be sure of his calling & election, and may know his conversion, is most apparent by these Scriptures, 2. Cor 13.5. 1. Cor. 3.16. 2. Tim. 1.12. Heb. 8.11. 1. John 2.3. & 3.14. & 4.16. & 5.13.19.
Now, that everie true Christian may be sure of his calling & election, and may know his conversion, is most apparant by these Scriptures, 2. Cor 13.5. 1. Cor. 3.16. 2. Tim. 1.12. Heb. 8.11. 1. Iohn 2.3. & 3.14. & 4.16. & 5.13.19.
And that every Christian is bound to seek this assurance and knowledge, is apparent by many reasons. As first, from Gods commandment: He requires it of us, that we should with all diligence seek to make our calling and election sure, 2. Pet. 1.10. Secondly, many reasons may be gathered from the effects and benefits, such knowledge and assurance will bring ⟨p. 208⟩to us. Assurance is profitable for many things. In general, it is our best riches on earth, Col. 2.2. and in particular,
And that everie Christian is bound to seeke this assurance and knowledge, is apparant by many reasons. As first, from Gods commandement: He requires it of us, that wee should with all diligence seek to make our calling and election sure, 2. Pet. 1.10. Secondly, many reasons may be gathered from the effects and benefites, such knowledge and assurance will bring ⟨p. 208⟩to us. Assurance is profitable for many things. In generall, it is our best riches on earth, Col. 2.2. and in particular,
11 It estates us in all the promises of God: when we know we are truly called, then we know our right to all the promises of Gods word.
11 It estates us in all the promises of God: when wee know wee are truly called, then wee know our right to all the promises of Gods word.
2 It purifieth the heart and life of man, Act. 15.9. for when we know we are the children of God, we are thereby stirred up to the greater care to please God, and walk in his ways.
2 It purifyeth the heart and life of man, Act. 15.9. for when wee know we are the children of God, wee are thereby stirred up to the greater care to please God, and walke in his waies.
3 It greatly stays and supports the heart of man: in the evil day, when temptations or afflictions befall us, yet the comfort of our assurance sustains us, and refresheth us greatly. For help in the evil day, the Apostle saith we should above all things put on the shield of faith. which, if it remove not the cross, yet it quencheth the fiery temptations of Satan, with which we may be assaulted, Eph. 6.16. and it greatly helps us against the fear and terror of death, Heb. 10.19, 20, 22. In a word, it overcomes the world, 1. John 5.4, 5.
3 It greatly staies and supports the heart of man: in the evill day, when temptations or afflictions befall us, yet the comfort of our assurance sustaines us, and refresheth us greatly. For helpe in the evill day, the Apostle saith wee should above all things put on the shield of faith. which, if it remove not the crosse, yet it quencheth the fiery temptations of Sathan, with which we may be assaulted, Eph. 6.16. and it greatly helpes us against the feare and terrour of death, Heb. 10.19, 20, 22. In a word, it overcomes the world, 1. Iohn 5.4, 5.
4 The faith of a Christian is all his living: he lives by faith in all the occasions of life, as his faith helps him when all other means fails him, and makes all other means more successful when he useth them. The just man lives by faith. The people in captivity, that were Gods children, raised a living for themselves in a strange land by their faith, Hab. 2.5.
4 The faith of a Christian is all his living: hee lives by faith in all the occasions of life, as his faith helps him when all other meanes failes him, and makes all other meanes more successfull when he useth them. The just man lives by faith. The people in captivity, that were Gods children, raised a living for themselves in a strange land by their faith, Hab. 2.5.
5 It puts life into all the duties of religion or righteousness; it worketh by love, it sets all our affections on work towards God, and his people, and creatures, Gal. 5.6.
5 It puts life into all the duties of religion or righteousnesse; it worketh by love, it sets all our affections on worke towards God, and his people, and creatures, Gal. 5.6.
6 It opens a spring of grace in the heart of a Christian: every good gift from above, is excited and made to flow from within him, by the benefit of his certain knowledge, and assurance of faith, Job. 7.38.
6 It opens a spring of grace in the heart of a Christian: every good gift from above, is excited and made to flow from within him, by the benefit of his certaine knowledge, and assurance of faith, Iob. 7.38.
Now if any ask, how a Christian comes to know his calling? I answer.
Now if any aske, how a Christian comes to know his calling? I answer.
11 By his sensible feeling of his sins to be a heavy burden to him, of which he is truly weary, so as he desireth more to be rid of them, than of any burdensome cross whatsoever, Mat. 11.2•. & 9.13.
11 By his sensible feeling of his sinnes to be a heavie burthen to him, of which hee is truely weary, so as hee desireth more to be rid of them, than of any burthensome crosse whatsoever, Mat. 11.2•. & 9.13.
2 By his manner of receiving the voice of Christ, and the preaching of the Gospel, not in word but in power: The voice of Christ hath a marvellous power over him, above all things in the world; which appears by the effects of it: For he feels, in hearing the word, first, such an estimation of it, as he acknowledgeth nothing like it, for power and wisdom, 1. Cor. 1.23, 24. Secondly, he finds, at sometimes especially, such an assurance of the truth of his religion, and the doctrine he heareth, that he is fully established, and ••eed from his natural uncertainties about the true religion. Thirdly, the Word worketh in him spiritual senses, and very life from the dead, which he feels in all parts of his conversation, making conscience of his ways in all things, bewailing his frailties, and striving to be such as God would have him to be. Fourthly, it makes him to separate himself from the world, avoiding all needless society with the wicked, and exciting in him constant desires to use the world as if he used it not. Fifthly, much spiritual joy before the Lord, even then when in respect of outward things he is in much affliction. The most of these effects are noted, 1. Thes. 1.4, 5.
2 By his manner of receiving the voice of Christ, and the preaching of the Gospell, not in word but in power: The voice of Christ hath a marvellous power over him, above all things in the world; which appeares by the effects of it: For he feeles, in hearing the word, first, such an estimation of it, as he acknowledgeth nothing like it, for power and wisdome, 1. Cor. 1.23, 24. Secondly, he finds, at sometimes especially, such an assurance of the truth of his religion, and the doctrine hee heareth, that he is fully established, and ••eed from his naturall uncertainties about the true religion. Thirdly, the Word worketh in him spirituall senses, and very life from the dead, which hee feeles in all parts of his conversation, making conscience of his waies in all things, bewailing his frailties, and striving to be such as God would have him to be. Fourthly, it makes him to separate himselfe from the world, avoiding all needlesse society with the wicked, and exciting in him constant desires to use the world as if he used it not. Fiftly, much spirituall joy before the Lord, even then when in respect of outward things he is in much affliction. The most of these effects are noted,
