A17412:169
Sermons upon the ten first verses of the third chapter of the first Epistle…
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.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 faithfull and painfull minister of Gods word, Nicolas Byfield. Wherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great varietie of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinitie 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.
Now if any ask, why all that belong to God are not converted all at once; I answer, that it were sufficient to satisfy us, if we knew no more, but that it pleased God to have it so:1 it is his will it should be so. But yet, that it is a wise providence of God so to order it, may appear in divers things: for, by continuing the means to call his own Elect thus by degrees, the wicked are left without excuse. Besides, the godly while they look for the daily discovery of new converts, are thereby put to the exercise of many graces and duties; as, diligence, compassion, charity, a winning conversation, meekness, prayer, exhortation, and the like. And besides, the outward peace of the Church is thereby preserved: for if it were known once, that all the Elect in any place were called; there would follow such violent opposition from the greater & worser sort, as there would be no place of rest for the Church in the world. They would all be of Cain's mind, if God had declared his testimony on both sides from Heaven. And therefore at the day of judgement, soon as he hath parted the Elect and Reprobate, and sentenced them, he disposeth so of them, as they shall never live together again. And further, if all the Elect were gathered at once, the world would be at an end: for then Christ would deliver up the kingdom ⟨p. 32⟩to his father, 1. Cor. 15.24. and therefore Ministers should continue painful in their labours, as remembering that they are set to work for the edification of the Church, till Christ come again, Eph. 4 12. And though the most of their present hearers have refused the Word of God, and are hardened, yet they may see cause of constancy; because God still supplies their Auditories with new generations, that rise up by degrees in the room of those hardened ones. And withal, they must think, that all the year is not harvest: they are Gods husbandmen, and must not think much to labour and toil many days and weeks, before they see the fruit of their labours; as hoping, that in the end God may grant them a comfortable harvest: and if Israel should not be gathered, yet their reward is with God. Thus of the first point, imported in this word, Also.