A17412:762
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 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.
5 If we consider the miseries with which this life is infested, both by sin, and the punishments of it. As for sin, it is leprous from the womb, and charged with Adams fault, and errs so often as cannot be numbered; the faults of it are more than the hairs of our heads. As for punishment, how hath God avenged himself upon thy wretched life, to thrust thee out of Paradise, and would not let thee enjoy life in any place that was not accursed? The Devils also compass about thy life to destroy it, 2. Cor. 10.5. What deformities and infirmities are found in all the Vessels of life, even in all the parts of thy body in which it dwells? And without thee, in the objects of life, how is it frighted with cares, plagues, or vexed with particular crosses? How doth God pass by thee, in many blessings he gives before thy face to others, and will not to thee? And what thou hast to comfort thy life, is it not cursed to thee, so as thou feelest vanity and vexation in the use of it? But above, how is thy life frighted with the danger of eternal death?
5 If wee consider the miseries with which this life is infested, both by sinne, and the punishments of it. As for sinne, it is leprous from the wombe, and charged with Adams fault, and erres so often as cannot be numbred; the faults of it are more than the haires of our heads. As for punishment, how hath God ave•ged himselfe upon thy wretched life, to thrust thee out of Paradise, and would not let thee enjoy life in any place that was not accursed? The Divells also compasse about thy life to destroy it, 2. Cor. 10.5. What deformities and infirmities are found in all the Vessels of life, even in all the parts of thy body in which it dwells? And without thee, in the objects of life, how is it frighted with cares, plagues, or vexed with particular crosses? How doth God passe by thee, in many blessings he gives before thy face to others, and will not to thee? And what thou hast to comfort thy life, is it not cursed to thee, so as thou feelest vanity and vexation in the use of it? But above, how is thy life frighted with the danger of eternall death?
6 Lastly, if we consider the whole nature of life; The Apostle here thinks it is not worth the naming by the name of life, when he saith only of the godly, that they are heirs of life: as if there were no living men but they; and as if they had bin dead all the time they were, till they were adopted.
6 Lastly, if we consider the whole nature of life; The Apostle here thinks it is not worth the naming by the name of life, when he saith onely of the godly, that they are heires of life: as if there were no living men but they; and as if they had bin dead all the time they were, till they were adopted.
But it is not Natural life is here meant, but Spiritual life, called in Scripture, New life, and the Life of God, and eternal Life. The words of the Apostle Paul, Tit. 3.7. when he saith, We are heirs according to the hope of eternal life, serve to expound these words of the Apostle Peter.
But it is not Naturall life is here meant, but Spirituall life, called in Scripture, New life, and the Life of God, and eternall Life. The words of the Apostle Paul, Tit. 3.7. when hee saith, We are heires according to the hope of eternall life, serve to expound these words of the Apostle Peter.
Now concerning this life, it is above the reach of all mortal creatures to describe it as it is, especially in the perfection of it in heaven; for Saint Paul saith, of what he saw in heaven, that he saw things that could not be uttered, 2. Cor. 12. ⟨p. 141⟩and Saint John saith; It doth not appear what we shall be, 1. Joh. 3.2. And in the 1. Cor. 2.9. it is said; that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive of, what God hath prepared for them that love him: Yea, Christ himself doth seem to grant; that, as Man, he did not fully see the glory of this eternal life, in his mortal condition, where speaking of his estate after death, he said; Thou wilt show me the paths of life, Act. 2.
Now concerning this life, it is above the reach of all mortall creatures to describe it as it is, especially in the perfection of it in heaven; for Saint Paul saith, of what he saw in heaven, that he saw things that could not be uttered, 2. Cor. 12. ⟨p. 141⟩and Saint Iohn saith; It doth not appeare what wee shall be, 1. Ioh. 3.2. And in the 1. Cor. 2.9. it is said; that eye hath not seene, nor eare heard, nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive of, what God hath prepared for them that love him: Yea, Christ himselfe doth seeme to grant; that, as Man, he did not fully see the glory of this eternall life, in his mortall condition, where speaking of his estate after death, he said; Thou wilt shew me the paths of life, Act. 2.
And for so much as is revealed concerning this spiritual and eternal life, two things must be remembered; the one, That the doctrine of this life lieth hid from ages and generations, in extreme darkness; and when the Gospel treats of it, it brings it as it were out of a dark dungeon, into the light, 2. Tim. 1.10. The other is; That when it is brought to light, none can reach to it, but such as God endues with special wisdom: for Solomon long since had observed; that Life is above to the wise only, Prov. 15.24.
And for so much as is revealed concerning this spirituall and eternall life, two things must be remembred; the one, That the doctrine of this life lyeth hid from ages and generations, in extreame darkenesse; and when the Gospell treats of it, it brings it as it were out of a darke dungeon, into the light, 2. Tim. 1.10. The other is; That when it is brought to light, none can reach to it, but such as God endewes with speciall wisdome: for Salomon long since had observed; that Life is above to the wise onely, Prov. 15.24.
The things I would consider of about this life, are these.
1 The Degrees of it.
2 The Original of it.
2 The Originall of it.
3 A guess at the Nature of it.
3 A ghesse at the Nature of it.
4 The things that nourish it.
5 The differences between this life on earth, and as it is in heaven.
5 The differences betweene this life on earth, and as it is in heaven.
6 The Means to attain it, or what we must do if we would enter into life.
6 The Meanes to attaine it, or what we must doe if wee would enter into life.
7 The Signs to know whether it be in us.
7 The Signes to know whether it be in us.
