A17412:749
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.
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.
11 We should be Peace-makers, for our father is the God of peace, and this will force men to call us the sons of God, Mat. 5.10.
11 Wee should be Peace-makers, for our father is the God of peace, and this will force men to call us the sonnes of God, Mat. 5.10.
2 We must not render reviling for reviling, but rather bless, seeing we are heirs of blessing, as the Apostle urgeth it, ver. 9.
2 Wee must not render reviling for reviling, but rather blesse, seeing wee are heires of blessing, as the Apostle urgeth it, ver. 9.
3 We should live without care, as knowing that we have a heavenly father that careth for us, Mat. 6.32. And seeing we are heirs of a better world, we should not love this world, nor set our hearts upon such mean things as this world can afford, 1. Joh. 2.15.
3 Wee should live without care, as knowing that wee have a heavenly father that careth for us, Mat. 6.32. And seeing wee are heires of a better world, wee should not love this world, nor set our hearts upon such mean things as this world can afford, 1. Ioh. 2.15.
4 If we be Gods sons, we should be willing to submit our selves to his correction. If we yield that power to the fathers of our bodies, how much more to the Father of our spirits? Heb. 12.9. But especially take heed, that we provoke not God by carelessness and boldness, in favouring any corruption, Deut. 32.18, 19.
4 If wee be Gods sonnes, wee should be willing to submit our selves to his correction. If wee yeeld that power to the fathers of our bodies, how much more to the Father of our spirits? Heb. 12.9. But especially take heed, that we provoke not God by carelesnesse and boldnesse, in favouring any corruption, Deut. 32.18, 19.
Thirdly, our Adoption should be a singular consolation to us against all the miseries of this life. It matters not though our life be hid, and though it do not appear to the world what we are, and though we have many crosses, and losses, and persecutions, yet the thought of our inheritance with God should swallow up all; Whatsoever we are now, yet when Christ appears, we shall appear in glory: and there can be no comparison between the suffering of this life, and the glory to be revealed upon us, Rom. 8.17. Mat. 19.29. Col. 3.2, 4. 1 Joh. 3.2. And that we may be the more comforted, we should often pray to God to show us by degrees, and to make us know the riches of our inheritance, both in what we possess in this world, and what we look for in heaven. And thus of the title of our dignities; We are heirs.
Thirdly, our Adoption should be a singular consolation to us against all the miseries of this life. It matters not though our life bee hid, and though it doe not appeare to the world what wee are, and though wee have many crosses, and losses, and persecutions, yet the thought of our inheritance with God should swallow up all; Whatsoever wee are now, yet when Christ appeares, wee shall appeare in glory: and there can be no comparison betweene the suffering of this life, and the glory to be revealed upon us, Rom. 8.17. Mat. 19.29. Col. 3.2, 4. 1 Ioh. 3.2. And that wee may be the more comforted, wee should often pray to God to shew us by degrees, and to make us know the riches of our inheritance, both in what we possesse in this world, and what wee looke for in heaven. And thus of the title of our dignities; We are heires.
Of life] Now follows to consider what we inherit; and that is Life; We are heirs of life. It is somewhat a strange speech; but yet if we consider of it, Life is a most sweet thing, there can be no happiness without it. A living Dog ⟨p. 139⟩is better than a dead Lyon. But as life is to be taken here, it is a Treasure above all treasures in the world. But the enquiry into it is very difficult: it is wonderful hard to find out what life is; especially to describe or define the life here mentioned, as the glory of Gods adopted ones.
Of life] Now follows to consider what we inherit; and that is Life; We are heires of life. It is somewhat a strange speech; but yet if wee consider of it, Life is a most sweet thing, there can be no happinesse without it. A living Dog ⟨p. 139⟩is better than a dead Lyon. But as life is to be taken here, it is a Treasure above all treasures in the world. But the enquirie into it is very difficult: it is wonderfull hard to find out what life is; especially to describe or define the life here mentioned, as the glory of Gods adopted ones.
Life, in Scripture is either natural or spiritual: as for natural life (especially since the fall) that is so poor a thing, as to be an heir to, it is no great preferment. By natural life, I mean that life that men live while they are unregenerate: I say, that life is a very poor thing; Which will appear, if we consider the quality of it,1 or the means of preserving it, or the short continuance of it, or the subject of it, or the things with which it is oppressed, or the whole nature of it.
Life, in Scripture is either naturall or spirituall: as for naturall life (especially since the fall) that is so poore a thing, as to be an heire to, it is no great preferment. By naturall life, I meane that life that men live while they are unregenerate: I say, that life is a very poore thing; Which will appeare, if we consider the quality of it,1 or the meanes of preserving it, or the short continuance of it, or the subject of it, or the things with which it is opprest, or the whole nature of it.
1 For the quality of it; What is life? It is but a wind, or breath: God breathed into man the breath of life, as if his life were but his breath, Gen. 2.7. and so it is said; Every thing that had the breath of life, Gen. 6.17. & 7.15.22. My life is a wind, saith Joh, Joh 7.7. What is your life (saith S. James)? it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away, Jam. 4.14.
1 For the qualitie of it; What is life? It is but a winde, or breath: God breathed into man the breath of life, as if his life were but his breath, Gen. 2.7. and so it is said; Every thing that had the breath of life, Gen. 6.17. & 7.15.22. My life is a winde, saith Ioh, Ioh 7.7. What is your life (saith S. Iames)? it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away, Iam. 4.14.
2 If we consider the short continuance of it. It will vanish away of it self after a while, as we see in that place. It is compared to a Weavers Shuttle; or at the best, every hour of our life, or every action, adds secretly a thread till the web be woven, and then we are cut off. So Hezekiah compares himself to a Weaver in that respect, Isaiah 38.12. Our life is scarce a span long: for to live is but to dye; to begin to live, is to begin to dye; for death takes away time past, and every moment we yield something to death.
2 If we consider the short continuance of it. It will vanish away of it selfe after a while, as wee see in that place. It is compared to a Weavers Shuttle; or at the best, every houre of our life, or every action, addes secretly a threed till the web be woven, and then wee are cut off. So Hezekiah compares himselfe to a Weaver in that respect, Esay 38.12. Our life is scarce a span long: for to live is but to dye; to begin to live, is to begin to dye; for death takes away time past, and every moment we yeeld something to death.
3 If we consider the poor means of preserving life: It is such a weak thing, that if we do not daily give it food, it will fail us; and if it be not kept with raiment, it will be extinguished. And for the means we use, how silly are they? Our life is called the life of our hands, Isaiah 57.10. because it will not last, unless we make hard shift with our hands to preserve it.
3 If wee consider the poore meanes of preserving life: It is such a weake thing, that if we doe not daily give it food, it will faile us; and if it be not kept with rayment, it will be extinguished. And for the meanes we use, how silly are they? Our life is called the life of our hands, Esay 57.10. because it will not last, unlesse wee make hard shift with our hands to preserve it.
4 If we consider the subject of it; It is but our bodies: for our souls in our natural condition, according to the sense ⟨p. 140⟩of Scripture, are dead in trespasses and sins. They have as it were a being, but not a life. Our souls, in respect of the substance of them, are excellent things, because invisible and spiritual existences; but yet are destitute of that life is proper to them: They are things indeed will last long, but are void of that life which is spiritual.
4 If wee consider the subject of it; It is but our bodies: for our soules in our naturall condition, according to the sense ⟨p. 140⟩of Scripture, are dead in trespasses and sinnes. They have as it were a beeing, but not a life. Our soules, inrespect of the substance of them, are excellent things, because invisible and spirituall existences; but yet are destitute of that life is proper to them: They are things indeed will last long, but are void of that life which is spirituall.
