A17412:844
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.
8 The properties of this life follow,1 and they are five: for,
1 It is unspeakable; eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can the heart of man conceive, what God hath prepared in life for them that love him, 1. Cor. 2.9.
1 It is unspeakable; eye hath not seene, nor eare heard, nor can the heart of man conceive, what God hath prepared in life for them that love him, 1. Cor. 2.9.
2 It is free, it is not given by merit, but is the free gift of God, Rom. 6. ult.
3 It is certain; for there is an Act for it in Gods counsel. Men be ordained to life, and their names written in the book of life, Act. 13.48. Phil. 4.4. and God hath bound himself, by many promises in his Word, to the believer; and besides, hath confirmed it with an oath, Heb. 6.17. and Christ is gone into heaven, to make the place ready for all the heirs of life, Joh. 14.3. and further, we have it already begun, even eternal life begun, Joh. 17.3.
3 It is certain; for there is an Act for it in Gods councell. Men be ordained to life, and their names written in the booke of life, Act. 13.48. Phil. 4.4. and God hath bound himselfe, by many promises in his Word, to the believer; and besides, hath confirmed it with an oath, Heb. 6.17. and Christ is gone into heaven, to make the place ready for all the heires of life, Ioh. 14.3. and further, wee have it already begun, even eternall life begun, Ioh. 17.3.
4 It is a life by assimilation, that is, such a life as is fashioned in likeness to the life of another, even Jesus Christ, according to whose Image we are created, Col. 3.10. And who shall change our vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body, Phil. 3.21.
4 It is a life by assimilation, that is, such a life as is fashioned in likenesse to the life of another, even Iesus Christ, according to whose Image wee are created, Col. 3.10. And who shall change our vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body, Phil. 3.21.
5 It is eternal: A life that will last as long as God liveth; it will never have an end. Divines express the eternity of it, in part, by this similitude: Suppose a little Bird came to the Sea once in a thousand years, and took up only one drop of water, and so should continue to take every thousand years only one drop, what an unspeakable space of time would it be, before the Sea would be drunk up? and yet eternity is a lasting beyond that unmeasurably. Thus of the explication of the doctrine concerning life.
5 It is eternall: A life that will last as long as God liveth; it will never have an end. Divines expresse the et•rnitie of it, in part, by this similitude: Suppose a little Bird came to the Sea once in a thousand yeares, and tooke up onely one drop of water, and so should continue to take every thousand yeares onely one drop, what an unspeakable space of time would it be, before the Sea would be drunke up? and yet eternity is a lasting beyond that unmeasurably. Thus of the explication of the doctrine concerning life.
The uses follow: and,
Use 1. First, what a strong impression should this doctrine have upon the hearts of all unregenerate men? How should life and heaven suffer violence? How should this force open their eyes, that they might awake from that fearful lethargy, and stand up from the dead, that Christ might give them this light of life? How should they unchangeably resolve to seek Gods kingdom first above all things; and above all gettings, strive to get understanding? What shall it profit them to win the whole world, and lose their own souls?
Vse 1. First, what a strong impression should this doctrine have upon the hearts of all unregenerate men? How should life and heaven suffer violence? How should this force open their eies, that they might awake from that fearefull lethargie, and stand up from the dead, that Christ might give them this light of life? How should they unchangeably resolve to seeke Gods kingdome first above all things; and above all gettings, strive to get understanding? What shall it profit them to winne the whole world, and lose their owne soules?
But especially the doctrine of life should melt the hearts of all the godly, and imprint upon them the care of many duties; as,
But especially the doctrine of life should melt the hearts of all the godly, and imprint upon them the care of many dueties; as,
11 They have cause to wonder at the exceeding riches of Gods kindness to them in Jesus Christ, in providing such an inheritance for them, Eph. 2.7.
11 They have cause to wonder at the exceeding riches of Gods kindnesse to them in Iesus Christ, in providing such an inheritance for them, Eph. 2.7.
2 They should pray earnestly to God to open their eyes more and more, to see the glory of this life; and effectually to take notice of the high dignity of their calling, and riches of their inheritance in life, Eph. 1.19.
3 This should marvellously wean their hearts from the cares of this present life, and from the love of earthly things, seeing their inheritance lieth in spiritual and eternal life, ⟨p. 163⟩1. Cor. 7.31. Heb. 13.4, 5. & 11.13. Col. 3.1, 2. Phil. 3.20.
3 This should marvellously weane their hearts from the cares of this present life, and from the love of earthly things, seeing their inheritance lyeth in spirituall and eternall life, ⟨p. 163⟩1. Cor. 7.31. Heb. 13.4, 5. & 11.13. Col. 3.1, 2. Phil. 3.20.
4 Since they have found this precious life by the Gospel, they should therefore take heed they be not carried about with divers and strange doctrine, nor trouble themselves with doubtful disputations, or unprofitable questions. They have found the words of eternal life, and whither else will they go? Tit. 3.7, 9. Heb. 13.9.
4 Since they have found this precious life by the Gospell, they should therefore take heed they be not carried about with divers and strange doctrine, nor trouble themselves with doubtfull disputations, or unprofitable questions. They have found the words of eternall life, and whither else will they goe? Tit. 3.7, 9. Heb. 13.9.
5 This should make them love one another, as such as shall be companions in life for ever. Yea, they should receive one another, as Christ received them to glory, Joh. 13.34. Eph. 4.2. & 5.1. Rom. 15.7. And in particular, husbands should make much of their wives, and masters of such servants as are heirs with them of the grace of life, as this Text shows, and Col. 3.24.
5 This should make them love one another, as such as shall bee companions in life for ever. Yea, they should receive one another, as Christ received them to glory, Ioh. 13.34. Eph. 4.2. & 5.1. Rom. 15.7. And in particular, husbands should make much of their wives, and masters of such servants as are heires with them of the grace of life, as this Text shewes, and Col. 3.24.
6 They should strive to show the power of this life, and how much it excels natural life: and therefore the fruit of the Spirit should be in them in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, Eph. 5.9. and they should so hold forth the Word of life, that they should think on whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; and if there be any virtue, or any praise, they should strive to act that, being careful in all things to maintain good works, Phil. 4.8. Tit. 3.7.8. Oh, what manner of persons should they be in all manner of good conversation!
6 They should strive to shew the power of this life, and how much it excells naturall life: and therefore the fruit of the Spirit should be in them in all goodnesse, righteousnesse, and truth, Eph. 5.9. and they should so hold forth the Word of life, that they should thinke on whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report; and if there be any vertue, or any praise, they should strive to act that, being carefull in all things to maintaine good workes, Phil. 4.8. Tit. 3.7.8. Oh, what manner of persons should they be in all manner of good conversation!
7 They should lift up their heads with joy, and be always comfortable, considering the assurance they have of eternal life; they have the Spirit of glory resting upon them. One would think they should be always singing, & making melody in their hearts: though they have crosses and wants in this life, yet, is not God their portion? and is it not enough they are provided for in respect of eternity? and is there any comparison between the afflictions in this world, and the glory to be revealed?
7 They should lift up their heads with joy, and bee alwaies comfortable, considering the assurance they have of eternall life; they have the Spirit of glory resting upon them. One would thinke they should be alwaies singing, & making melody in their hearts: though they have crosses and wants in this life, yet, is not God their portion? and is it not enough they are provided for in respect of eternitie? and is there any comparison betweene the afflictions in this world, and the glory to bee revealed?
