A17412:624
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.
Ans. Because it is to be supposed, that they have a larger knowledge of Gods will. And besides, in that tender age of the Christian world, the Apostles in discretion said less to superiors, to avoid provocation of irreligious husbands, and the better to allure them to the Christian faith, when they should see their wives so largely instructed in their behaviour towards them. And further, ever the shorter their lesson is, the more shame for them not to learn it, and show themselves exact both in the understanding and in the practise of it.
Ans. Because it is to be supposed, that they have a larger knowledge of Gods will. And besides, in that tender age of the Christian world, the Apostles in discretion said lesse to superiours, to avoide provocation of irreligious husbands, and the better to allure them to the Christian faith, when they should see their wives so largely instructed in their behaviour towards them. And further, ever the shorter their lesson is, the more shame for them not to learne it, and shew themselves exact both in the understanding and in the practise of it.
Ye Husbands.] God speaks to them in the second persons, to import, that they should hear these words, as if God were present to speak to them in his own person; & withal, to teach them, that the right hearing of this doctrine, is for every man to hear it as spoken directly to himself. God doth single them out to hear their charge, and speaks to them as if he named them in particular.
Yee Husbands.] God speakes to them in the second persons, to import, that they should heare these words, as if God were present to speak to them in his owne person; & withall, to teach them, that the right hearing of this doctrine, is for everie man to heare it as spoken directly to himselfe. God doth single them out to heare their charge, and speakes to them as if he named them in particular.
Husbands.] The persons charged are Husbands: and the word is a term that imports that special relation, in which God binds one man to one woman; investing the man in prerogatives of a superior in that union.
Husbands.] The persons charged are Husbands: and the word is a terme that imports that speciall relation, in which God bindes one man to one woman; investing the man in prerogatives of a superiour in that union.
Before I come to the duty charged upon Husbands, it will ⟨p. 112⟩not be unprofitable, by way of Preface, to use some motives to such husbands as will make conscience of their ways, to persuade them to be very careful of their charge. The reasons used in the Text afterwards, I will not now meddle withal, but only put them in mind of some few things which ought to be effectual to persuade them. The motives may be drawn from four fountains.
Before I come to the dutie charged upon Husbands, it will ⟨p. 112⟩not be unprofitable, by way of Preface, to use some motives to such husbands as will make conscience of their wayes, to perswade them to be verie carefull of their charge. The reasons used in the Text afterwards, I will not now meddle withall, but only put them in minde of some few things which ought to be effectuall to perswade them. The motives may be drawn from foure fountaines.
11 From commandment: and there let them consider, who commandeth them, and how. Who commandeth them; and so let them mark, first, that God himself hath given them their law of walking. They are not tied by mans laws, but by Gods own law. Secondly, God speaks to them by the Ministry of great Apostles: it was one part of the Commission of those high Ambassadors (sent into the Christian world) to give husbands their charge. Thirdly, it should somewhat the more move them, that S. Peter was himself a married man, and therefore did practise what he taught them, and did know by experience, that a husband might with comfort undertake this task. And then it should much move them, to observe how God hath given his commandment to them: he first chargeth their wives, before he chargeth them. And besides, he hath given a long charge to the wives, and but a short charge to them.
11 From commandement: and there let them consider, who commandeth them, and how. Who commandeth them; and so let them marke, first, that God himselfe hath given them their law of walking. They are not tyed by mans lawes, but by Gods owne law. Secondly, God speakes to them by the Ministerie of great Apostles: it was one part of the Commission of those high Ambassadours (sent into the Christian world) to give husbands their charge. Thirdly, it should somewhat the more move them, that S. Peter was himselfe a married man, and therefore did practise what he taught them, and did know by experience, that a husband might with comfort undertake this taske. And then it should much move them, to observe how God hath given his commandement to them: hee first chargeth their wives, before hee chargeth them. And besides, he hath given a long charge to the wives, and but a short charge to them.
2 From their relation to their wives. They are their wives heads, and therefore should be careful how they order themselves. They are the life of their lives, as it were: God hath made the wife to depend upon them for comfort, and direction, and preservation.
2 From their relation to their wives. They are their wives heads, and therefore should be carefull how they order themselves. They are the life of their lives, as it were: God hath made the wife to depend upon them for comfort, and direction, and preservation.
3 From their prerogatives: God hath given them great power, more than the wives. They are heads to their wives: and besides, they are images of Jesus Christ: they show in the family what Christ is in the Church: they do as it were act Christs part, and resemble him in his relation to the Church; and therefore they had need to think of it, how they carry themselves. They are types of Jesus Christ, and will they shame him by acting folly, passion, pride, and dissoluteness? Did Christ do so to the Church? Besides, it should much move him, that God hath, in the most things, left the husband ⟨p. 113⟩free from the laws of men. He hath no man to control him in his office; and hath not God made him both King and Priest in his family? His household is a little kingdom or a little Church, where he is of sovereign power, and hath great supremacy; and if the world acknowledge not the glory of his place, yet it is acknowledged in heaven.
3 From their prerogatives: God hath given them great power, more than the wives. They are heads to their wives: and besides, they are images of Iesus Christ: they shew in the family what Christ is in the Church: they doe as it were act Christs part, and resemble him in his relation to the Church; and therefore they had need to thinke of it, how they carrie themselves. They are types of Iesus Christ, and will they shame him by acting folly, passion, pride, and dissolutenesse? Did Christ doe so to the Church? Besides, it should much move him, that God hath, in the most things, left the husband ⟨p. 113⟩free from the lawes of men. Hee hath no man to controule him in his office; and hath not God made him both King and Priest in his family? His household is a little kingdome or a little Church, where hee is of soveraigne power, and hath great supremacy; and if the world acknowledge not the glory of his place, yet it is acknowledged in heaven.
4 From the manner of his coming into this relation: he was not borne a husband but made so, and made so by the gift of God: for God gave him his wife, as he did Eve to Adam: yea, let him consider, that God gave him the wife that was of his own choosing, and whom with so much desire he longed after, and it may be, prayed for. But especially let him consider, that God hath bound him to his wife by covenant; yea, that he hath bound himself to God by covenant for this thing: yea, that the oath of God is upon him; he hath sworn before the Lord to do his duty. Thus of the general motives.
4 From the manner of his comming into this relation: he was not borne a husband but made so, and made so by the gift of God: for God gave him his wife, as hee did Eve to Adam: yea, let him consider, that God gave him the wife that was of his owne choosing, and whom with so much desire he longed after, and it may be, praied for. But especially let him consider, that God hath bound him to his wife by covenant; yea, that he hath bound himself to God by covenant for this thing: yea, that the oath of God is upon him; he hath sworne before the Lord to do his duty. Thus of the generall motives.
Further, in that he said, Husbands indefinitely, he shows thereby, That all husbands are bound to observe this charge, & all alike. God chargeth rich, learned, wise, godly husbands as much, and aswell as poor, unlearned, and ill disposed men. Two uses may be made of this point: for first, hereby we may see clearly, that outward things make no difference before God: when God gives a law, he gives it to all men, as if they were but one man. Civill difference of blood, nations, calling, condition, or common gifts, makes no exception from any, when God gives his law. Secondly, such husbands as find an outward difference from other husbands, either in their gifts, or greatness of means, or highness of office or calling, should lay aside all thought of such things, and show as much respect to their wives, as any other men that have no such things to boast of. And yet one thing more I may add to such hearers as hear this doctrine; seeing God chargeth all, they should take heed of that common fault of thinking of other husbands, and how the doctrine will fit them, and so neglect application to themselves.
Further, in that he said, Husbands indefinitely, hee shewes thereby, That all husbands are bound to observe this charge, & all alike. God chargeth rich, learned, wise, godly husbands asmuch, and aswell as poore, unlearned, and ill disposed men. Two uses may bee made of this point: for first, hereby wee may see cleerly, that outward things make no difference before God: when God gives a law, he gives it to all men, as if they were but one man. Civill difference of blood, nations, calling, condition, or common gifts, makes no exception from any, when God gives his law. Secondly, such husbands as finde an outward difference from other husbands, either in their gifts, or greatnesse of meanes, or highnesse of office or calling, should lay aside all thought of such things, and shew as much respect to their wives, as any other men that have no such things to boast of. And yet one thing more I may adde to such hearers as heare this doctrine; seeing God chargeth all, they should take heed of that common fault of thinking of other husbands, and how the doctrine will fit them, and so neglect application to themselves.
Dwell with them.] The duty charged upon husbands, is contained briefly in these words; and under this phrase of dwelling with them, is comprehended in effect, all essential ⟨p. 114⟩matrimonial duties: For it imports,
Dwell with them.] The duety charged upon husbands, is contained briefly in these words; and under this phrase of dwelling with them, is comprehended in effect, all essentiall ⟨p. 114⟩matrimoniall dueties: For it imports,
11 Not only cohabitation, but also,
2 Separation from all the world, to a special fellowship with that woman.
2 Separation from all the world, to a speciall fellowship with that woman.
3 Communion of goods: They that must be partners of Gods treasures in Heaven, must be partners in all outward blessings. All things should be common: so as the husband must provide maintenance for his wife, and that not only while he lives with her, but he ought, as he is able, to provide for her maintenance after he is dead.
3 Communion of goods: They that must be partners of Gods treasures in Heaven, must bee partners in all outward blessings. All things should bee common: so as the husband must provide maintenance for his wife, and that not onely while he lives with her, but he ought, as he is able, to provide for her maintenance after he is dead.
6 Serving of God together, as the last reason in the end of the verse shows.
6 Serving of God together, as the last reason in the end of the verse shewes.
