A17412:208
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.
Secondly, from hence we may gather also, That a Christian must look to his justification before men, aswell as to his justification before God: for as God beholds his ways, so do men; and he is bound to seek his justification from men, aswell as his justification from God. And therefore, as the Apostle Paul had taught the justification of a sinner before God, so the Apostle James ▪ urgeth the justification of the godly man before men: which this Apostle imports in this place, when he requires such a conversation, as may compel carnal men to say, they are just men. So our Saviour, Mat. 5.16.
Secondly, from hence wee may gather also, That a Christian must looke to his justification before men, aswell as to his justification before God: for as God beholds his waies, so doe men; and he is bound to seek his justification from men, aswell as his justification from God. And therefore, as the Apostle Paul had taught the justification of a sinner before God, so the Apostle Iames ▪ urgeth the justification of the godly man before men: which this Apostle imports in this place, when he requires such a conversation, as may compell carnall men to say, they are justmen. So our Saviour, Mat. 5.16.
Quest. What can carnal men see in the conversation of the godly, to make them give glory to God, or the truth?
Quest. What can carnall men see in the conversation of the godly, to make them give glory to God, or the truth?
Answ. By the good conversation of true Christians, they gather the goodness of the law or religion, which they profess. And besides, they thence gather, that they are not hypocrites, but are religious indeed: whence they see, what power their religion hath over them in all their ways. And further, the scandal of reproaches, cast upon the godly, is often, by the observation of their conversation, utterly removed in the hearts of such carnal men, as set themselves