A17412:1159
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.
3 That true Christians inherit nothing but blessing: there is no curse mingled withal. It will presently rise in mens minds, that many afflictions of all sorts befall them as well as others. But I answer, first, that all the malediction deserved by their sins, was charged upon Christ, and he hath borne all the curse for them, Gal. 3. Isa. 53. and so Gods justice is satisfied, and their debt paid. Secondly, I may take advantage of the word Inherit, and that two ways: first, that though afflictions (which are properly rods for the wicked) may break in upon the lot of the righteous, yet they shall not rest there, Psal. 125.3. It is but for a little while that God can be angry with them, but he loves them with an everlasting love, Isa. 54.1 They inherit not afflictions, though they have afflictions, Secondly, they are called to inherit blessing: which imports further, That though during their minority in this world, they may endure some hardship, yet when these heirs come to perfect age in heaven, then all affliction shall be cast into the Sea, and there shall be no curse, Revelat. 22. Thirdly, I answer, that even their crosses are blessings: for as God can curse the very blessings of the wicked, so can he, and doth bless the seeming curses of the godly. All shall work together for the best to them that love God, Rom. 2.28. All things are to be measured for good or ill, according to the use of them to us. That which doth us hurt, cannot be a blessing; and that which doth us good, cannot be a curse.
3 That true Christians inherite nothing but blessing: there is no curse mingled withall. It will presently rise in mens mindes, that many afflictions of all sorts befall them as well as others. But I answer, first, that all the malediction deserved by their sinnes, was charged upon Christ, and hee hath borne all the curse for them, Gal. 3. Isa. 53. and so Gods justice is satisfied, and their debt paide. Secondly, I may take advantage of the word Inherit, and that two wayes: first, that though afflictions (which are properly rodds for the wicked) may breake in upon the lot of the righteous, yet they shall not rest there, Psal. 125.3. It is but for a little while that God can be angry with them, but he loves them with an everlasting love, Isa. 54.1 They inherite not afflictions, though they have afflictions, Secondly, they are called to inherite blessing: which imports further, That though during their minoritie in this world, they may endure some hardship, yet when these heyres come to perfect age in heaven, then all affliction shall be cast into the Sea, and there shall bee no curse, Revelat. 22. Thirdly, I answer, that even their crosses are blessings: for as God can curse the very blessings of the wicked, so can he, and doth blesse the seeming curses of the godly. All shall worke together for the best to them that love God, Rom. 2.28. All things are to be measured for good or ill, according to the use of them to us. That which doth us hurt, cannot be a blessing; and that which doth us good, cannot be a curse.
Now for the particular unfolding of this blessing they ⟨p. 214⟩inherit, we must know, that godly Christians inherit blessing divers ways.
Now for the particular unfoulding of this blessing they ⟨p. 214⟩inherite, wee must know, that godly Christians inherite blessing divers waies.
11 From other men; and so the poor bless them for their charity. The blessing of him that is ready to perish, many times comes upon them, Job 29.13. Their very loins bless them, Job 31.20. and their neighbours bless them for peace making, Mat. 5.8. and the godly bless them for their gifts of grace, and pray for Gods blessings upon them, Psal. 134.3. and if they have any public employments for God, in Church or Common-wealth, the ear that heareth them, blesseth them, Job 29.11. And at sometimes God doth so guide and prosper the ways of his servants, that all sorts of men do acknowledge them for the seed which the Lord hath blessed, Isaiah 61.8.
11 From other men; and so the poore blesse them for their charity. The blessing of him that is readie to perish, many times comes upon them, Iob 29.13. Their very loynes blesse them, Iob 31.20. and their neighbours blesse them for peace making, Mat. 5.8. and the godly blesse them for their gifts of grace, and pray for Gods blessings upon them, Psal. 134.3. and if they have any publike employments for God, in Church or Common-wealth, the eare that heareth them, blesseth them, Iob 29.11. And at sometimes God doth so guide and prosper the waies of his servants, that all sorts of men doe acknowledge them for the seed which the Lord hath blessed, Esay 61.8.
12 From their own consciences: if the world at any time testify against him, or revile him, yea, if Devils and men set against him, yet he inherits this blessing, that his own conscience will witness for him to his singular joy, 2. Cor. 1.12. The daily encouragements of a good conscience are like a continual feast within.
12 From their own consciences: if the world at any time testifie against him, or revile him, yea, if Divells and men set against him, yet he inherits this blessing, that his owne conscience will witnesse for him to his singular joy, 2. Cor. 1.12. The daily encouragements of a good conscience are like a continuall feast within.
13 From God, and so they have Gods blessing certain: and this is a great inheritance, and hath so much happiness in it, as it should swallow up all the grievance of afflictions, and the contempts and scorns of the world: It is enough if we have Gods blessing. Now that this point may be distinctly beaten out, we must understand, that true Christians may be said to inherit Gods blessing, first, in a more restrained sense, and then in a more large sense: In a restrained sense, blessing may here be taken for Gods comfortable speaking; for, [Greek or Hebrew], properly signifies blessing by words, & so it answers to the coherence; If they will use good words to men, God will speak good words to them. And in this sense we may hence gather, That Gods natural language to the called of Jesus Christ, is blessing, or comfortable words. God will speak to his people peace, Psal. 84.5. and therefore he gives a charge to his Ministers to speak comfortably to Jerusalem, Isaiah 40.1, 2. Secondly, that Gods elect never find this till they have their calling. Thirdly, that it is a great inheritance in this life, to ⟨p. 215⟩have God to speak well to us. Fourthly, that if the fault be not in us, we shall never have God speak otherwise. It is our inheritance, to comfort us against all the miseries of life. And therefore Ministers that are the mouth of God, should study comfort much: and those Christians that desire to have the fruit of their inheritance in this thing, should provide to live in such places where God speaks to men. And those Ministers have a great account to make, that set themselves to speak disgracefully, and terribly to such as fear God, striving to discourage their hearts, and to strengthen the hands of the wicked. Thus of the restrained sense: only note by the way, That God speaks good words, both for his people behind their backs, and to his people before their faces. They inherit Gods good word for them in their absence: Thus God speaks excellently in the praise of Job to the Devil, before the Angels, Job 1. & 2. and thus he can speak in the consciences of the greatest on earth in praise of his people, as Isaiah 41.9.
Now in the general sense,1 Gods people enjoy this blessing many ways: and that both in this life, and in the life to come. In this life they have his blessing.
Now in the generall sense,1 Gods people enjoy this blessing many waies: and that both in this life, and in the life to come. In this life they have his blessin.
1 In temporal things of all sorts: he makes the earth bless them, and the heavens, and the waters, Gen. 49.25. he blesseth them in the City, and in the field, in the fruit of their bodies, and of the ground, and of their cattle, in their Basket and in their store, when they come in, and when they go out, yea, God will command the blessing upon them in their storehouses, & upon all they set their hands to, & he will open his good treasures unto them, and bless all the work of their hands, Deut. 28.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12. And if they enjoy not so much in quality of these things as some wicked men, yet they have a fair portion, and a good blessing, because, that they have is blessed; both in the original of it, and in the nature of it, and in the use of it, and in their right to it.
1 In temporall things of all sorts: hee makes the earth blesse them, and the heavens, and the waters, Gen. 49.25. hee blesseth them in the City, and in the field, in the fruit of their bodies, and of the ground, and of their cattell, in their Basket and in their store, when they come in, and when they goe out, yea, God will command the blessing upon them in their storehouses, & upon all they set their hands to, & he will open his good treasures unto them, and blesse all the worke of their hands, Deut. 28.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12. And if they enjoy not so much in quality of these things as some wicked men, yet they have a faire portion, and a good blessing, because, that they have is blessed; both in the originall of it, and in the nature of it, and in the use of it, and in their right to it.
2 In the means of grace and salvation: and so they enjoy the blessing of God in his house-keeping; and great is th••• blessing, where with God blesseth his people in his house, on his holy hill, and round about. The Lord hath long since ⟨p. 216⟩promised to make all the places about his holy hill, blessings. Yea, there Gods people do receive showers of blessing: every powerful Sermon is as a shower of blessing; every doctrine being as a blessed drop of instruction or comfort, Ezech. 34.26. Exod. 20.24. Psal. 132.15.
2 In the meanes of grace and salvation: and so they enjoy the blessing of God in his house-keeping; and great is th••• blessing, where with God blesseth his people in his house, on his holy hill, and round about. The Lord hath long since ⟨p. 216⟩promised to make all the places about his holy hill, blessings. Yea, there Gods people doe receive showers of blessing: every powerfull Sermon is as a shower of blessing; every doctrine being as a blessed drop of instruction or comfort, Ezech. 34.26. Exod. 20.24. Psal. 132.15.
3 In the gifts of grace: and so he hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, A poor Christian carrieth about with him in his heart, more treasure than all the Monarchs of the world (being not true Christians) can any way possess or command, Eph. 1.3.
3 In the gifts of grace: and so he hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things, A poore Christian carrieth about with him in his heart, more treasure than all the Monarchs of the world (being not true Christians) can any way possesse or command, Eph. 1.3.
Thus of Gods blessing in this life. After this life, who can recount the glory of their inheritance, in the blessing they shall have then from God? Oh that our hearts could be enlarged to think of the power of these words of Christ at the last day, Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world!
Thus of Gods blessing in this life. After this life, who can recount the glory of their inheritance, in the blessing they shall have then from God? Oh that our hearts could be enlarged to thinke of the power of these words of Christ at the last day, Come yee blessed of my father, inherite the kingdome prepared for you before the foundation of the world!
The use should be, for great comfort to all true Christians. They have great cause to rejoice in their fathers blessing all their days: and the rather, if they consider that Gods blessing, as a Father, is better than the blessing of any earthly father: For an earthly fathers blessing is most an end but verbal, in words; Gods blessing is real, in deeds. A father on earth cannot derive blessing to his child from himself, but from God; whereas Gods blessing is from himself. Besides, if an earthly father would bless his child, yet he wants power to give him what he desires; but God our Father is almighty, able to give as much as he wisheth, Gen. 28.3. Finally, an earthly fathers blessing may be lost, as Chams was; but Gods blessing cannot be lost; he will bless with everlasting mercy.
The use should be, for great comfort to all true Christians. They have great cause to rejoyce in their fathers blessing all their daies: and the rather, if they consider that Gods blessing, as a Father, is better than the blessing of any earthly father: For an earthly fathers blessing is most an end but verball, in words; Gods blessing is reall, in deeds. A father on earth cannot derive blessing to his childe from himselfe, but from God; whereas Gods blessing is from himselfe. Besides, if an earthly father would blesse his childe, yet hee wants power to give him what he desires; but God our Father is almighty, able to give as much as he wisheth, Gen. 28.3. Finally, an earthly fathers blessing may bee lost, as Chams was; but Gods blessing cannot be lost; hee will blesse with everlasting mercy.
Secondly, such as yet enjoy not the privilege of Gods called ones, should be greatly stirred up with desire to get this blessing, even to have Gods blessing. Let no man be profane like Esa•, to contemn Gods blessing, but seek it while it may be had, Heb. 12.17.
Secondly, such as yet enjoy not the priviledge of Gods called ones, should be greatly stirred up with desire to get this blessing, even to have Gods blessing. Let no man bee prophane like Esa•, to contemne Gods blessing, but seeke it while it may be had, Heb. 12.17.
Que. But what should we do, to get Gods blessing?
Que. But what should we doe, to get Gods blessing?
1Ans. First, you must diligently resort to Gods house; for there God hath commanded the blessing, Psal. 133.3. and ⟨p. 217⟩be careful and attentive hearers of Gods Word: for the ground that drinketh in the rain, receiveth a blessing from God, Heb. 6.7. the rain of instruction must soak into your hearts.
1Ans. First, you must diligently resort to Gods house; for there God hath commanded the blessing, Psal. 133.3. and ⟨p. 217⟩bee carefull and attentive hearers of Gods Word: for the ground that drinketh in the raine, receiveth a blessing from God, Heb. 6.7. the raine of instruction must soake into your hearts.
2 You must turn you every one from all your transgressions if you will have Gods blessing in his Son Jesus, Act. 3.26. without sound repentance Gods blessing will not be had. Men must not think to get Gods blessing, and do after the things they do now a days every one that, is right in his own eyes Deut. 12.7, 8.
2 You must turne you every one from all your transgressions if you will have Gods blessing in his Son Iesus, Act. 3.26. without sound repentance Gods blessing will not be had. Men must not thinke to get Gods blessing, and doe after the things they doe now a daies every one that, is right in his owne eyes Deut. 12.7, 8.
Finally, we must be all such as fear God truly, Psal. 115.13. and such as will not lift up their souls to follow vanity, but get clean hands and a pure heart; for such only shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of their salvation, Psal. 24.4.5. and to this end we must carefully hearken to Gods voice, and observe to do all that he commandeth us, Deut. 15.4.5.6.
Finally, wee must be all such as feare God truly, Psal. 115.13. and such as will not lift up their soules to follow vanity, but get cleane hands and a pure heart; for such onely shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousnesse from the God of their salvation, Psal. 24.4.5. and to this end we must carefully hearken to Gods voice, and observe to doe all that he commandeth us, Deut. 15.4.5.6.
