A17412:790
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 It must be such a knowledge, as doth nor only discern aright the doctrine of the Nature of God, and of the person and offices of Christ; but doth discern that God is ours (in particular) in Jesus Christ; and fully reconciled to us, and our portion for ever. To know God to be our God in Christ, is the very life of our souls: Now, because we discern this in God two ways, viz. by the light of faith, believing the promises ⟨p. 146⟩of the Word, though we see him not; and by the light of vision, when we shall see him in his goodness face to face: therefore is the former light called the light of faith, and belongs to this life; and the later light belongs to another world. Hence our justification which is by faith, is called, The justification of life, Rom. 5.18. This is a point, which should be of unspeakable comfort to the weak Christians, that have attained to this knowledge; for certainly this is eternal life in them, as true as if they had th• glory of heaven already. But now, that true Christians may be the more infallibly settled in the knowledge of their interest in eternal life, as it lieth in the right knowledge of God, to be ours in Jesus Christ, I will add certain effects of this knowledge, which show, not only that it is right, but also, that it is very eternal or spiritual life: for, if it be a right knowledge,
5 It must be such a knowledge, as doth nor only discerne aright the doctrine of the Nature of God, and of the person and offices of Christ; but doth discerne that God is ours (in particular) in Iesus Christ; and fully reconciled to us, and our portion for ever. To know God to be our God in Christ, is the very life of our soules: Now, because we discerne this in God two waies, viz. by the light of faith, beleeving the promises ⟨p. 146⟩of the Word, though we see him not; and by the light of vision, when we shall see him in his goodnesse face to face: therefore is the former light called the light of faith, and belongs to this life; and the later light belongs to another world. Hence our justification which is by faith, is called, The justification of life, Rom. 5.18. This is a point, which should bee of unspeakable comfort to the weake Christians, that have attained to this knowledge; for certainly this is eternall life in them, as true as if they had th• glory of heaven already. But now, that true Christians may be the more infallibly setled in the knowledge of their interest in eternall life, as it lyeth in the right knowledge of God, to be ours in Iesus Christ, I will adde certaine effects of this knowledge, which shew, not onely that it is right, but also, that it is very eternall or spirituall life: for, if it be a right knowledge,
1 It raiseth in the dead heart of man spiritual senses, that were never there before: It makes the soul of a man able to hear Gods word, that could never do it before: It gives sight in spiritual things, and sense, and feeling, and spiritual tastes of Gods goodness, and a favouring of spiritual things, more than earthly, 2. Cor. 2.15. Rom. 8 5. Psal. 36.8. Phil. 1.9.
1 It raiseth in the dead heart of man spirituall senses, that were never there before: It makes the soule of a man able to heare Gods word, that could never doe it before: It gives sight in spirituall things, and sense, and feeling, and spirituall tasts of Gods goodnesse, and a favouring of spirituall things, more than earthly, 2. Cor. 2.15. Rom. 8 5. Psal. 36.8. Phil. 1.9.
2 It is a knowledge with admiration: it sets a mans heart upon a constant wondering at the glory of the things revealed. He that hath this knowledge, sees in a Mirror; he sees, and wonders: Nothing more ravisheth the heart, than doth the word, when it shew• him the glory of Gods grace to him, 2. Cor. 3.18. Wicked men see, but they see not in a Mirror.
2 It is a knowledge with admiration: it sets a mans heart upon a constant wondering at the glory of the things revealed. He that hath this knowledge, sees in a Mirrour; he sees, and wonders: Nothing more ravisheth the heart, than doth the word, when it shew• him the glory of Gods grace to him, 2. Cor. 3.18. Wicked men see, but they see not in a Mirrour.
3 It is a knowledge that works transformation: it changeth a man into the likeness of that it sees, even from glory to glory, by the power of the spirit of Christ. The light comes into wicked men, but leaves them the same men it found them, for disposition and conversation: but this light humbles the heart of a man for his sins, and purifieth him from his most secret sins, Act. 15.9. and besides, prints upon him the Image of God, and stirs him up to all the motives of life in doing good works, 2. Cor. 3.18. Col. 3.10. 1. Joh. 2, 3. & 3.24.
3 It is a knowledge that works transformation: it changeth a man into the likenesse of that it sees, even from gl•ry to glory, by the power of the spirit of Christ. The light comes into wicked men, but leaues them the same men it found them, for disposition and conversation: but this light humbles the heart of a man for his sinnes, and purifieth him from his most secret sinnes, Act. 15.9. and besides, prints upon him the Image of God, and stirres him up to all the motives of life in doing good workes, 2. Cor. 3.18. Col. 3.10. 1. Ioh. 2, 3. & 3.24
4 It is such a light as is indelible, and will abide the trial, of manifold afflictions, and gives life and joy still to the soul: It doth not only comfort in Gods house, but will support us when we are gone home, under the miseries of this present life, 1 Pet. 1.7
4 It is such a light as is indelible, and will abide the triall, of manifold afflictions, and gives life and joy still to the soule: It doth not onely comfort in Gods house, but will support us when we are gone home, under the miseries of this present life, 1 Pet. 1.7
The use should be, to teach us all to bless God for the Gospel that brings life to light, and shows us the love of God to us in Christ; and for all the means by which the Gospel is preached to us in the life of it. Oh, how should we be beholding to them that help us to eternal life, by leading us unto God, this Ocean of goodness? And withal, we should be wonderfully thankful to God, and for ever comforted, if we can find that we have attained to the assurance of Gods love to us in Christ. Though our knowledge here be but small and weak, yet it is so rich as the tongue of man cannot utter, if it be in any measure true and sincere. Besides, how should this fire our desires after wisdom, and spiritual understanding in the word of Christ? seeing it is our life, and in the same degree we increase in eternal life, that we increase in acquaintance with God in Christ, and therefore above all gettings, we should be getting understanding. And finally, it shows the woeful estate of ignorant persons, that are careless of the study of the word of God, and of hearing of the Gospel preached: This is their death, & will be their eternal death, if they prevent it not by repentance, and sound redeeming of the time, for the service of the soul, about this sacred knowledge.
The use should be, to teach us all to blesse God for the Gospell that brings life to light, and shewes us the love of God to us in Christ; and for all the meanes by which the Gospell is preached to us in the life of it. Oh, how should wee bee beholding to them that helpe us to eternall life, by leading us unto God, this Ocean of goodnesse? And withall, wee should be wonderfully thankefull to God, and for ever comforted, if we can finde that wee have attained to the assurance of Gods love to us in Christ. Though our knowledge here bee but small and weake, yet it is so rich as the tongue of man cannot utter, if it be in any measure true and sincere. Besides, how should this fire our desires after wisdome, and spirituall understanding in the word of Christ? seeing it is our life, and in the same degree wee encrease in eternall life, that we encrease in acquaintance with God in Christ, and therefore aboue all gettings, we should be getting understanding. And finally, it shews the woful estate of ignorant persons, that are careless of the study of the word of God, and of hearing of the Gospel preached: This is their death, & wil be their eternal death, if they prevent it not by repentance, and sound redeeming of the time, for the service of the soule, about this sacred knowledge.
4 Now for the fourth point, the things that nourish life are greatly to be heeded, both to show us what we should apply our selves to, and with what thankfulness to receive the means of our good herein.
4 Now for the fourth point, the things that nourish life are greatly to be heeded, both to shew us what we should apply our selves to, and with what thankefulnesse to receive the meanes of our good herein.
1 We must know,1 that the principal cause of the nourishment and increase of spiritual life, is the influence of virtue from Christ our mystical head, by the secret and unutterable working of the spirit of Christ; which is therefore called, the Spirit of life, because it both frees us by degrees from the fears of death, and from the power and blots of sin, Rom. 8.2. and withal, it quickens and increaseth life in us, for the better exercise of righteousness, Rom. 8.10.
1 Wee must know,1 that the principall cause of the nourishment and encrease of spirituall life, is the influence of vertue from Christ our mysticall head, by the secret and unutterable working of the spirit of Christ; which is therefore called, the Spirit of life, because it both frees us by degrees from the feares of death, and from the power and blots of sinne, Rom. 8.2. and withall, it quickens and encreaseth life in us, for the better exercise of righteousnesse, Rom. 8.10.
2 The contemplation of Gods favour and presence doth wonderfully extend and inflame life in us. To mark God any where, or by any experience to find effectually his love, and to taste of the sweetness of his goodness; this is life from the dead, better than all things in natural life: It doth a godly mans heart more good, than all things in the world can do, as these places show, Psal. 30.5. & 63.7, 8. & 36.3. & 16. ult. with coherence.
2 The contemplation of Gods favour and presence doth wonderfully extend and inflame life in us. To marke God any where, or by any experience to finde effectually his loue, and to taste of the sweetnesse of his goodnesse; this is life from the dead, better than all things in naturall life: It doth a godly mans heart more good, than all things in the world can doe, as these places shew, Psal. 30.5. & 63.7, 8. & 36.3. & 16. ult. with coherence.
3 The entertainment God gives his people in his house, is one special cause of increase of this life in us, as it increaseth both knowledge, and joy, and all goodness, and satisfies the heart of man; especially amongst all the things that are without us, the Word of God, as it is powerfully preached in Gods house, is the food of this life; called the savour of life unto life, 2. Cor. 2.16. Christs words are the words of eternal life, Joh. 6. see Psal. 36.8. Joh 12.50. Prov. 4.22.
3 The entertainment God gives his people in his house, is one speciall cause of encrease of this life in us, as it encreaseth both knowledge, and joy, and all goodnesse, and satisfies the heart of man; especially amongst all the things that are without us, the Word of God, as it is powerfully preached in Gods house, is the food of this life; called the savour of life unto life, 2. Cor. 2.16. Christs words are the words of eternall life, Ioh. 6. see Psal. 36.8. Ioh 12.50. Prov. 4.22.
4 Fellowship with the godly, is singular to quicken and excite the life of grace, and joy, and knowledge in us: therefore it is an amiable thing for brethren to dwell together in unity, because there God hath commanded the blessing, even life for evermore, Psal. 133. ult. Prov. 2.20. The mouth of the righteous is a vein of life Pro. 10.11. Yea, the very reproofs of instruction are the way of life, Pro. 6.23. And therefore weak Christians should be instructed from hence, with faith to rest upon the God of their lives, who by the spirit of Christ can enable them to eternal life; & with thankfulness to embrace all signs of Gods favour and presence; and above all things in life, to provide for themselves powerful means in public, and good society in private; and not to be turned off from either of these, by slight either objections or difficulties; and to resolve to labour more for these, than carnal persons would do, to have their natural lives, if they were in distress or danger. It is also excellent counsel which Saint Jude gives in this point concerning eternal life: he would have us look to four things: The first is, to edify our selves in our most holy faith, striving to get in more store of Gods promises, and divine knowledges, and to strive to establish our hearts in our assurance of our right to them. ⟨p. 149⟩The second is, to pray in the holy Ghost; for he knew that powerful prayer doth greatly further eternal life in us. The third is, to keep our selves in the love of God, avoiding all things might displease him; choosing rather to live under the hatred of all the world, than to anger God by working iniquity. The fourth is, to look as often and as earnestly as we can, after that highest degree of mercy and glory we shall have in the coming of Christ, Jud. 1.19, 20.
4 Fellowship with the godly, is singular to quicken and excite the life of grace, and joy, and knowledge in us: therefore it is an amiable thing for brethren to dwell together in unity, because there God hath commanded the blessing, even life for evermore,
I will conclude this point with that one counsel of Solomon; Keep thy heart with all diligence, for there out come the issues of life. Christians that would prosper in spiritual life, should be very careful of the first beginnings of sin in their thoughts and desires, and be very diligent in nourishing all good motions of the holy Ghost, preserving their peace and joy, in believing with all good consciences, Pro. 4.23. Thus of the fourth point.
I will conclude this point with that one counsell of Salomon; Keepe thy heart with all diligence, for there out come the issues of life. Christians that would prosper in spirituall life, should be very carefull of the first beginnings of sin in their thoughts and desires, and bee very diligent in nourishing all good motions of the holy Ghost, preserving their peace and joy, in beleeving with all good consciences, Pro. 4.23. Thus of the fourth point.
5 Now for the differences of life in these degrees, especially the first and last degree, they are very great: for though eternal life in the first degree, be a treasure of singular value, yet the glory of this life doth greatly excel, as it is to be held in another world.
5 Now for the differences of life in these degrees, especially the first and last degree, they are very great: for though eternall life in the first degree, bee a treasure of singular value, yet the glory of this life doth greatly excell, as it is to be held in another world.
I intend not to compare life in heaven with natural life here (for that is not worthy to be mentioned in the balance with that eternal life of glory) but with eternal life it self, as it is held by the godly only in this world. And so the difference is very great.
I entend not to compare life in heaven with naturall life here (for that is not worthy to be mentioned in the balance with that eternall life of glory) but with eternall life it selfe, as it is held by the godly onely in this world. And so the difference is very great.
1 In respect of the place where the godly lives in each degree.1
2 In respect of the means of preservation of life in each degree.
2 In respect of the meanes of preservation of life in each degree.
