A17412:779
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.
Lastly, the Uses of it.
Lastly, the Vses of it.
1 For the first, we must understand, that this life hath three degrees,1 into which we enter in at three gates as it were. The first degree of eternal life, begins at the first spiritual acquaintance with God in this life, when his favour is made known to us in Jesus Christ, by the Gospel, so as we are truly justified and sanctified, being reconciled unto God, having all our sins forgiven us, and our natures made new: and into this degree we enter by the gate of Regeneration. Thus our Saviour saith; This is eternal life, to know God, and ⟨p. 142⟩whom he hath sent Jesus Christ, Joh. 17.3. Thus he that heareth Christs words and believeth, is passed from death to life, Joh. 5.24. The second degree begins at our death, and continueth the life that the soul, separated from the body, enjoys till the resurrection at the last day. And concerning the estate of the soul in this degree of life, we have no absolute revelation; but yet are taught in Scripture, that it returns to God that gave it to the body at first, Eccles. 12.7. and that it is with Christ, Phil. 1.23. that it is in the hands of God, and in Paradise, Luk. 23.43. and lives in unspeakable joy, Luk. 16. 25. and is freed from all miseries of this life, and enjoys the honour of all good works,