A17412:738
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.
5. They may ask whatsoever they will of God, and are sure to have it: They may get any suit of God; and he is so far from not granting, that he rather complains that they will not ask him often enough, Joh. 16.23.
5. They may aske whatsoever they will of God, and are sure to have it: They may get any suit of God; and he is so far from not granting, that hee rather complaines that they will not aske him often enough, Ioh. 16.23.
6. If at any time they fall into distress, they have such interest in Gods special providence, that a hair of their heads shall not fall to the ground without the providence of their heavenly Father. And besides, God will make himself marvellous in their deliverance, if all worldly helps fail, Isaiah 43.18, 19, 20, 21.
6. If at any time they fall into distresse, they have such interest in Gods speciall providence, that a haire of their heads shall not fall to the ground without the providence of their heavenly Father. And besides, God will make himselfe marvellous in their deliverance, if all worldly helpes faile, Esay 43.18, 19, 20, 21.
5. If we consider the wonderful manner of their communion with Christ, and that four ways. For first, we have communion of nature with him, and that by his Incarnation, for he took our nature, and so became our Brother. And this doth nothing at all belong to Reprobates, because Christ took not nature polluted with sin, Heb. 2.14. Yea, we have communion with him in his divine nature, as that nature doth dwell graciously in us, and we are made like unto it, 2. Pet. 1.4. Secondly, they have communion of state with him; which the Scripture acknowledgeth as a great mystery: for so they are said to live with him, to suffer with him, to dye with him, to be buried with him; yea, to rise with him, to ascend to heaven with him, and to sit together with him, Eph. 2. yea, to judge the world with him: only preserving ⟨p. 135⟩the difference between the head and the members in all this. Thirdly, they have communion of offices with him, for he hath made them Kings and Priests with him: The oil that was poured on his head, hath run down upon his members, Revel. 1.5.6. so that Gods heirs are all Kings & Priests. A royal nation, and a kingdom of Priests, 1. Pet. 2.10. Fourthly, they have communion in benefits with him; for, God as a Father hath blessed them in him with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, Eph. 1.3. Communion they have with him in Grace in this life, & in Glory in the life to come.
5. If wee consider the wonderfull manner of their communion with Christ, and that foure waies. For first, wee have communion of nature with him, and that by his Incarnation, for he tooke our nature, and so became our Brother. And this doth nothing at all belong to Reprobates, because Christ tooke not nature polluted with sinne,
Lastly, if we consider the assurance that Christians have given them for their right of Adoption: for first, they have an Act for it in Gods eternal Counsel, Eph. 1.5. Men that have an Act of Parliament for the holding of their lands, they think they have a sure tenure; and yet many Acts of Parliament may be repealed, but the Acts of Gods Counsel are like himself, immutable. The godly they are predestinate to Adoption. Secondly, they have not only Gods promise for their inheritance, but Gods oath, that by two immutable things, the heirs of promise might have abundant consolation, as the Apostle shows, Heb. 6.17, 18. Thirdly, to make all sure, God hath put his spirit within them, as the seal and earnest of their inheritance, Eph. 1.13, 14.
Lastly, if wee consider the assurance that Christians have given them for their right of Adoption: for first, they have an Act for it in Gods eternal Councel, Eph. 1.5. Men that have an Act of Parliament for the holding of their lands, they thinke they have a sure tenure; and yet many Acts of Parliament may be repealed, but the Acts of Gods Councell are like himselfe, immutable. The godly they are predestinate to Adoption. Secondly, they have not onely Gods promise for their inheritance, but Gods oath, that by two immutable things, the heires of promise might have abundant consolation, as the Apostle shewes, Heb. 6.17, 18. Thirdly, to make all sure, God hath put his spirit within them, as the seale and earnest of their inheritance, Eph. 1.13, 14.
The use may be,
1 For Information; and so first, to show the great goodness of God to man, that not only requires and gives holiness, but adds also blessedness to his servants. In Justification and Sanctification, he gives to men those good things they call bona virtutos, the good things of virtue: and in Adoption, he gives those good things they call, bona conditionis, the good things of condition, even blessedness and true happiness: whom God makes holy, he will make happy also. Secondly, it manifestly shows, that we hold all our happiness, not by Merit, but by Grace. For, adopted children cannot plead merit, but must acknowledge all of gift, as will more appear when we come to speak of the cause of Inheriting, viz. Grace.
1 For Information; and so first, to shew the great goodnesse of God to man, that not onely requires and gives holinesse, but addes also blessednesse to his servants. In Iustification and Sanctification, he gives to men those good things they call bona virtutos, the good things of vertue: and in Adoption, he gives those good things they call, bona conditionis, the good things of condition, even blessednesse and true happinesse: whom God makes holy, he will make happy also. Secondly, it manifestly shewes, that we hold all our happinesse, not by Merit, but by Grace. For, adopted children cannot plead merit, but must acknowledge all of gift, as will more appeare when we come to speak of the cause of Inheriting, viz. Grace.
2 For Instruction; and so
The first impression this Doctrine should work upon us, ⟨p. 136⟩should be a desire to be such as may obtain the right of Adoption of sons, for flesh and blood cannot inherit, 1. Cor. 15.50. So long as we are carnal and unregenerate men, we neither are, nor are to be called the heirs of God. The unrighteous, that is, such as live in gross sin, and do the works of the flesh, are expressly and peremptorily excluded from the benefit of Adoption, 1. Cor. 6.9, 10. Gal. 5.21. None but such as are effectually called,1 and borne of God, are capable of this Grace, Heb. 9.16. Joh. 1.13. And in particular, we must have a true justifying faith, Joh. 1.12. For, as was showed before, we come to the right of Sons, only as we are ingrafted into Christ, upon whom, all the inheritance is originally and fundamentally conferred. and into Christ we cannot get but by faith. And further, we must look to the sound mortification of the deeds of the flesh, Rom. 8.13. and know, that none can inherit but such as overcome the power of their corruptions, and are not in bondage to any sin, Rev. 21.7. And more specially God requires in all such as will be his sons, that they be such as are not in bondage to the passions and perturbations of the heart […] for he hath promised that the meek shall inherit; Mat. 5.5. Thirdly, we must forsake all needless society & familiarity with the wicked of the world, if we will be Gods sons and daughters, and resolutely refuse to be corrupted with the sins of the times; as the Apostle shows at large,
And that we may be the more established in the knowledge of our Adoption, it will be good for us to try our selves by the signs of such as are Gods adopted children.
And that we may be the more established in the knowledge of our Adoption, it will bee good for us to try our selves by the signes of such as are Gods adopted children.
11 Such as are Gods children by Adoption, have this mark, They are made like unto God their Father, in holiness, in some truth of resemblance, 1. Pet. 1.25. And this they show two ⟨p. 137⟩ways: first, by purifying themselves, and sound humbling of their souls for their sins, that deface the Image of God in them: as Saint John saith; Every one that hath this hope, purifieth himself, as he is pure, 1. Joh. 3.2, 3. Secondly, by employing himself constantly in doing righteousness; for hereby the children of God are known from the children of the Devil, 1. Joh. 3.10.
11 Such as are Gods children by Adoption, haue this marke, They are made like unto God their Father, in holiness, in some truth of resemblance, 1. Pet. 1.25. And this they shew two ⟨p. 137⟩waies: first, by purifying themselves, and sound humbling of their soules for their sinnes, that deface the Image of God in them: as Saint Iohn saith; Every one that hath this hope, purifyeth himselfe, as he is pure, 1. Ioh. 3.2, 3. Secondly, by imploying himselfe constantly in doing righteousnesse; for hereby the children of God are knowne from the children of the Divell, 1. Ioh. 3.10.
2 In the last recited place, you may discern another sign of a son and heir to God, and that is the love of the godly, as his brethren and fellow heirs: He that loveth not the brethren, is of the Devil, not of God, 1. Joh 3.10.
2 In the last recited place, you may discerne another signe of a sonne and heire to God, and that is the love of the godly, as his brethren and fellow heires: Hee that loveth not the brethren, is of the Divell, not of God, 1. Ioh 3.10.
3 The gift of prayer is a sign of Adoption, and that we have received the spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8.15, 16. By the gift of prayer, I mean, not the skill to utter words to God in a good form of words, and variously; but the gift to speak to God in prayer, both with confidence in God, as in a father, and with the affections of prayer, which the phrase of crying Abba Father, imports.
3 The gift of prayer is a signe of Adoption, and that we have received the spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8.15, 16. By the gift of prayer, I meane, not the skill to utter words to God in a good form of words, and variously; but the gift to speake to God in prayer, both with confidence in God, as in a father, and with the affections of praier, which the phrase of crying Abba Father, imports.
4 A Child of God discovers his Adoption by the manner of doing good duties: he doth serve God, not with servile respect, but with filial affection; he loves to be Gods servant, as may be gathered, Isaiah 56.6.
4 A Child of God discovers his Adoption by the manner of doing good dueties: hee doth serve God, not with servile respect, but with filiall affection; hee loves to be Gods servant, as may be gathered, Esay 56.6.
5 To love them that hate us, and bless them that curse us, and do good to them that persecute us, is a sign that we are children to God as our heavenly father, Luk. 6.35. Mat. 5.
5 To love them that hate us, and blesse them that curse us, and doe good to them that persecute us, is a signe that wee are children to God as our heavenly father, Luk. 6.35. Mat. 5.
The second impression that this glory of Adoption should make upon our hearts, should be to stir up us to carry our selves in this world, as becomes the children & heirs to such a father as God is. And so in general, it should wonderfully fire us to all possible care, to be holy as he is holy; and to express more to the life, the Image of Gods grace and holiness, 1. Pet. 1. 14, 15. And that in all manner of conversation, striving to carry our selves as the sons of God, without rebuke, in the middest of this froward and wicked world; all sorts of the men of the world being so ready to reproach such as are Gods people, that if they will speak evil, it may be only for our good conversation in Christ, Phil. 2.15, 16. And in particular, we are charged in Scripture with certain special and ⟨p. 138⟩choice things that do greatly adorn and grace the life of a child of God that is an heir of heaven, if we be Gods heirs, and he be our father.
The second impression that this glory of Adoption should make upon our hearts, should be to stir up us to cary our selves in this world, as becomes the children & heirs to such a father as God is. And so in generall, it should wonderfully fire us to all possible care, to be holy as he is holy; and to expresse more to the life, the Image of Gods grace and holinesse, 1. Pet. 1. 14, 15. And that in all manner of conversation, striving to carry our selves as the sonnes of God, without rebuke, in the middest of this froward and wicked world; all sorts of the men of the world being so ready to reproach such as are Gods people, that if they will speake evill, it may be onely for our good conversation in Christ, Phil. 2.15, 16. And in particular, wee are charged in Scripture with certaine speciall and ⟨p. 138⟩choise things that doe greatly adorne and grace the life of a child of God that is an heire of heaven, if we be Gods heirs, and he be our father.
The first impression this Doctrine should worke upon us, ⟨p. 136⟩should be a desire to be such as may obtaine the right of Adoption of sonnes, for flesh and blood cannot inherite, 1. Cor. 15.50. So long as wee are carnall and unregenerate men, wee neither are, nor are to be called the heires of God. The unrighteous, that is, such as live in grosse sinne, and doe the workes of the flesh, are expressely and peremptorily excluded from the benefit of Adoption, 1. Cor. 6.9, 10. Gal. 5.21. None but such as are effectually called,1 and borne of God, are capable of this Grace, Heb. 9.16. Ioh. 1.13. And in particular, wee must have a true justifying faith, Ioh. 1.12. For, as was shewed before, we come to the right of Sonnes, onely as wee are ingrafted into Christ, upon whom, all the inheritance is originally and fundamentally conferred. and into Christ wee cannot get but by faith. And further, wee must looke to the sound mortification of the deedes of the flesh, Rom. 8.13. and know, that none can inherit but such as ouercome the power of their corruptions, and are not in bondage to any sinne, Rev. 21.7. And more specially God requires in all such as will be his sonnes, that they bee such as are not in bondage to the passions and perturbations of the heart 〈…〉 for hee hath promised that the meeke shall inherit; Mat. 5.5. Thirdly, we must forsake all needlesse society & familiarity with the wicked of the world, if wee will be Gods sonnes and daughters, and resolutely refuse to be corrupted with the sinnes of the times; as the Apostle shewes at large, 2. Cor. 6.17, 18. Fourthly, wee must be such as are described, Esay 56.4, 5, 6. Wee must make conscience to keepe Gods Sabbaths, and chuse the thing will please God; being more desirous to please God in all things, than naturall children are to please their earthly parents; and take hold of Gods Covenant, as resting upon this preferment, and the promises of it, as our sufficient happinesse.
