A17412:1223
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.
More specially, the days of the wicked man are evil, eiin this life,1 or after this life. In this life his days are evil in two special senses; either in respect of the shortening of them, or in respect of the afflicting of them. It is a special evil to some wicked men, that their days on earth are shortened. Some men live not out half their days, and dye in the middest of their days, Psal. 55.24. Jer. 17.11. and so it is a curse that his days are few, Psal. 109.8. Eccles. 8.13. Again, the days of wicked men are said to be evil, in respect of some special judgements of God, to be poured out upon them for their sins. These days are called the days of Gods wrath and anger: and days of Gods visitation, Isa. 10.3. the day of vengeance, Isaiah 61.2. which God proclaims against all wicked men; and by an excellency, The evil day, Amos 6.3. And these days are in special called the days of wicked men: and they are theirs, because properly no day is theirs till it be evil, Jer. 50.31. After this life comes that ⟨p. 230⟩most special evil days, even that day of eternal misery in hell: of which Solomon said, God made the wicked for the day of evil, Prov. 16.4.
More specially, the daies of the wicked man are evill, eiin this life,1 or after this life. In this life his daies are evill in two speciall senses; either in respect of the shortning of them, or in respect of the afflicting of them. It is a speciall evill to some wicked men, that their daies on earth are shortned. Some men live not out halfe their daies, and dye in the middest of their daies, Psal. 55.24. Ier. 17.11. and so it is a curse that his daies are few, Psal. 109.8. Eccles. 8.13. Againe, the daies of wicked men are said to bee evill, in respect of some speciall judgements of God, to bee powred out upon them for their sinnes. These daies are called the daies of Gods wrath and anger: and daies of Gods visitation, Isa. 10.3. the day of vengeance, Esay 61.2. which God proclaimes against all wicked men; and by an excellency, The evill day, Amos 6.3. And these daies are in speciall called the daies of wicked men: and they are theirs, because properly no day is theirs till it bee evill, Ier. 50.31. After this life comes that ⟨p. 230⟩most speciall evill daies, even that day of eternall misery in hell: of which Salomon said, God made the wicked for the day of evill, Prov. 16.4.
This doctrine of their evil days, should much affright wicked men, not only with the consideration of what they suffer now, but of what they are liable to in the days to come. Little do they dream of the misery may befall them: such days may come, as will burst their hearts with exquisite grief, their hearts shall not be able to endure, Ezech. 22.14. and therefore they should take heed of putting far from them the evil day, Amos 6.3. and in time repent, and reconcile themselves to God in Jesus Christ, that they may prevent the evil days may yet fall upon them, and know that their uncircumcised heart is the cause of all the evil brought, or to be brought upon them, Jer. 9. ult. Thus of evil days in the life of the wicked.
This doctrine of their evill daies, should much affright wicked men, not onely with the consideration of what they suffer now, but of what they are liable to in the daies to come. Little doe they dreame of the misery may befall them: such daies may come, as will burst their hearts with exquisite griefe, their hearts shall not bee able to endure, Ezech. 22.14. and therefore they should take heed of putting farre from them the evill day, Amos 6.3. and in time repent, and reconcile themselves to God in Iesus Christ, that they may prevent the evill daies may yet fall upon them, and know that their uncircumcised heart is the cause of all the evill brought, or to bee brought upon them, Ier. 9. ult. Thus of evill daies in the life of the wicked.
1 The days of spiritual famine are evil days: when a man cannot enjoy the means of Salvation in the life and power of them. In this case David said, his tears were his meat day and night, Psal. 42.2.
1 The daies of spirituall famine are evill daies: when a man cannot enjoy the meanes of Salvation in the life and power of them. In this case David said, his teares were his meat day and night, Psal. 42.2.
2 The days in which God is displeased with them, or hideth himself, so as he will not hear their prayers, or not let them discern it. These are bitter days to the godly, Psal. 102.2, 3. & 90.9.
2 The daies in which God is displeased with them, or hideth himselfe, so as he will not heare their praiers, or not let them discerne it. These are bitter daies to the godly, Psal. 102.2, 3. & 90.9.
4 All days of trouble are in some respect evil days, Psal. 49.5. & 50.14. &. 41.1, 2. especially those days are evil, when the Lord turns wicked men loose upon the godly, and leaves them as it were in their hands to be reproached and oppressed all the day, especially when himself will not appear to help them, Psal. 102.8.10.11. Isaiah 37.3. and most of all, when the just man seemeth to perish in his righteousness, Eccles. 7.15.1
4 All daies of trouble are in some respect evill daies, Psal. 49.5. & 50.14. &. 41.1, 2. especially those daies are evill, when the Lord turnes wicked men loose upon the godly, and leaves them as it were in their hands to bee reproached and oppressed all the day, especially when himselfe will not appeare to helpe them, Psal. 102.8.10.11. Esay 37.3. and most of all, when the just man seemeth to perish in his righteousnesse, Eccles. 7.15.1
But yet here is a great deal of difference between the evil days of godly men, and the evil days of wicked men: because God sanctifies the evil of his days to the godly man, ⟨p. 231⟩so as he is blessed when God chasteneth him, for he thereby teacheth him his law, Psal. 94.12. Heb. 12. Secondly, God will deliver him out of evil, if he call upon him. Psal. 50.15. yea, though his troubles seem desperate, Jer. 30.7. Thirdly, though God may seem to delay for a time, yet he will make hast to perform his deliverance, After two days he will return, and the third day he will revive them, Hos. 6.3. Fourthly, God will make them glad, according to the days he hath afflicted them; he will make them amends for all their evil days, Psal. 90.15.
But yet here is a great deale of difference betweene the evill daies of godly men, and the evill daies of wicked men: because God sanctifies the evill of his daies to the godly man, ⟨p. 231⟩so as he is blessed when God chasteneth him, for hee thereby teacheth him his law, Psal. 94.12. Heb. 12. Secondly, God will deliver him out of evill, if he call upon him. Psal. 50.15. yea, though his troubles seeme desperate, Ier. 30.7. Thirdly, though God may seem to delay for a time, yet he wil make hast to performe his deliverance, After two daies hee will returne, and the third day he will revive them,
To conclude this point,1 there be days that are called evil, which are common both to good and bad; and such are the days of old age, Eccles. 12.1. when the Sun, Moon, and Stars are darkened, that is, all sense of prosperity is removed, and the infirmities of old age come thick one upon another, like clouds after rain, Vers. 2. when the arms, which are the keepers of the house, shake; and the thighs and legs, which were like strong men, now bow and bend under them; and their teeth, which were the grinders or chewers of their meat, now cease working, because they are few; and the eyes, which are the windows of the body, grow dark, Vers. 3. when the doors shall be shut in the streets, that is, when upon the loss of his appetite he shall have no delight in any thing at home, nor mind to go abroad, but his own house shall be his prison; and when he shall be so unable to rest in his bed, that he shall rise with the first voice of the bird, and be waked with the least noise that is; and that have no delight in music of any kind, as Barzillai said, 2. Sam. 19.36. when they shall be afraid of every straw in their way, they shall go so weakly, and their Almond tree shall flourish, that is, their heads shall be white as the blossoms of the Almond; & they shall be so fore, that a very Grasshopper shall be a burden to them; to touch them shall be grievous, and all the things they were wont to love, they cannot now find any comfort in: and thus they are passing to their long-home, which is the grave; and they are so near, as if their very mourners were ready in the streets to carry them to their graves, Vers. 4, 5. yea, they will not continue long, but the ⟨p. 232⟩silver cord will be loosened, that is, the marrow of their backs be consumed; and their golden Ewer, which is the brain-pan, be broke; and so will the pitcher at the Well, that is, the veins at the liver; and so will the wheel at the Cistern be broken, that is, the head which draws the powers of life from the heart, Ver. 6. and the dust returns unto the earth as it was, and the spirit to God that gave it, Vers. 7.
To conclude this point,1
Thus of the days that be evil days. Now it remains that we enquire which be good days; and so we shall find, that there be days that be good, in the judgment of the inward man, and sometimes days that be good, in the judgment of the outward man: only thus much we must know, that in the first sense, none enjoy good days but good men. Now good days in the sense of the Scripture, must be considered, either in general, or in particular.
Thus of the daies that be evill daies. Now it remaines that wee enquire which be good daies; and so wee shall finde, that there bedaies that bee good, in the judgment of the inward man, and sometimes daies that be good, in the judgment of the outward man: onely thus much wee must know, that in the first sense, none enjoy good daies but good men. Now good daies in the sense of the Scripture, must bee considered, either in generall, or in particular.
1In general; and so first, all the days of Christ, after he is revealed in a Christian, are good days: and so all the days of a true christian, from his conversion to his death, are good days. Which appears thus: Saint Paul saith, that Christ is our Passover; and the Passover is a feast which we must keep, 1. Cor. 5.8. and such high festival days are good days, especially the first and last days of the Passover were good days, in a special solemnity, that is, the day of thy conversion to spiritual life, and the day of thy death, which is the beginning of the day of eternal life. Secondly, all the days in which Christians enjoy the preaching of the Gospel in the power of it, and other ordinances of Christ in their glory, all these days be good days; for they are days in which God makes rich feasts unto all Nations, as is effectually described in the Allegory, Isaiah 25.8. Thus David saith, One day in Gods courts is better than a thousand any where else, Psal. 84.10. The righteous flourish when Christ comes down upon their souls, as rain upon the mowen grass, Psal. 72.6, 7. Thirdly, those be good days in which we see the Church of God in general to prosper, Psal. 128.5, 6. when God keeps his Church as his Vineyard, and waters it every moment, and watcheth it night and day, and destroyeth every thing that might annoy it, Isaiah 27.2, 3.
1In generall; and so first, all the daies of Christ, after hee is revealed in a Christian, are good daies: and so all the daies of a true christian, from his conversion to his death, are good daies. Which appears thus: Saint Paul saith, that Christ is our Passeover; amd the Passeover is a feast which we must keep, 1. Cor. 5.8. and such high festivall daies are good daies, especially the first and last daies of the Passover were good daies, in a special solemnity, that is, the day of thy conversion to spirituall life, and the day of thy death, which is the beginning of the day of eternall life. Secondly, all the daies in which Christians enjoy the preaching of the Gospell in the power of it, and other ordinances of Christ in their glory, all these daies be good daies; for they are daies in which God makes rich feasts unto all Nations, as is effectually described in the Allegory, Esay 25.8. Thus David saith, One day in Gods courts is better than a thousand any where else,
In particular,1 a Christian finds divers sorts of good days; as first, the Sabbath days well sanctified, are good days, above all other days of the week, when his body enjoys rest, & his soul is blessed, according to Gods promise, with spiritual rest and grace in Jesus Christ. Secondly, the days in which the soul of a Christian after sin, and the judgment of God for it, is humbled soundly, and anew admitted into Gods presence, and reconciled to God: those days, when God entertains the repenting sinner that prays unto him, especially at the first reconciliation, are wonderful good days, Job 33.25, 26. with the coherence. & 36.11. Psal. 90.14. Luk. 4.21. with Isaiah 61.1.2.10.
In particular,1 a Christian finds divers sorts of good daies; as first, the Sabbath daies well sanctified, are good daies, above all other daies of the week, when his body enjoyes rest, & his soule is blessed, according to Gods promise, with spiritual rest and grace in Iesus Christ. Secondly, the dayes in which the soule of a Christian after sinne, and the judgment of God for it, is humbled soundly, and anew admitted into Gods presence, and reconciled to God: those daies, when God entertaines the repenting sinner that praies unto him, especially at the first reconciliation, are wonderfull good daies, Iob 33.25, 26. with the coherence. & 36.11. Psal. 90.14. Luk. 4.21. with Esay 61.1.2.10.
Thirdly, all the days in which a Christian thrives and prospers in the knowledge of Gods word, and grows in the spiritual understanding in the mysteries of Gods kingdom, are all good days; for this knowledge is that wisdom Solomon speaks of, which makes a man so happy, Pro. 3.18.2.16.
Thirdly, all the daies in which a Christian thrives and prospers in the knowledge of Gods word, and growes in the spirituall understanding in the mysteries of Gods kingdome, are all good daies; for this knowledge is that wisedom Salomon speakes of, wh•ch makes a man so happy, Pro. 3.18.2.16.
Thus of the good days that are so in the judgement of the inward man. God is pleased also to grant such good days, as are, or ought to be so accounted, in the judgement of the outward man: and so,
Thus of the good daies that are so in the judgement of the inward man. God is pleased also to grant such good daies, as are, or ought to be so accounted, in the judgement of the outward man: and so,
First, the days of youth, in which a man hath strength of body, and vigour of mind, to fit him not only for the comforts of life, but for the service of his creator, are good days, Eccles. 12.1. it being a blessed thing to bear Gods yoke in a mans youth.
First, the daies of youth, in which a man hath strength of body, and vigour of minde, to fit him not onely for the comforts of life, but for the service of his creator, are good daies, Eccles. 12.1. it being a blessed thing to beare Gods yoake in a mans youth.
Secondly, the days of special prosperity in the world, which sometime God grants unto his people, are also good days: when God gives his people abundance of blessings in their families and estates, and withal, public honour and respect withal sorts, even the great ones of the world; as was in the case of Job, which he describes in the whole 29 Chapter of his book: but then it must have this indeed, that in this prosperity the godly man be employed in all well doing, and get himself honour by the flourishing of his gifts and good works, as is showed in that Chapter by Job.
Secondly, the daies of speciall prosperity in the world, which sometime God grants unto his people, are also good daies: when God gives his people abundance of blessings in their families and estates, and withall, publike honour and respect withall sorts, even the great ones of the world; as was in the case of Iob, which hee describes in the whole 29 Chapter of his booke: but then it must have this indeed, that in this prosperity the godly man be imployed in all well doing, and get himselfe honour by the flourishing of his gifts and good workes, as is shewed in that Chapter by Iob.
