A17412:907
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.
Doct. 6. Wives and husbands, though they had never so many praises otherwaies, or for their carriage one towards another; yet if they be not religious persons, and in particular, such as serve God by daily and devout prayer, they are not true Christians, nor accepted of God. The Apostle takes it for granted, that all christian men and women, do make conscience of daily prayer to God. Which serves notably to confute the vain trust in civill honesty, and the fairness of domesticall conversation, which bewitcheth many persons in the world.
Doct. 6. Wives and husbands, though they had never so many praises otherwaies, or for their carriage one towards another; yet if they bee not religious persons, and in particular, such as serve God by daily and devoute prayer, they are not true Christians, nor accepted of God. The Apostle takes it for granted, that all christian men and women, doe make conscience of daily prayer to God. Which serves notably to confute the vaine trust in civill honesty, and the fairenesse of domesticall conversation, which bewitcheth many persons in the world.
Doct. 7. When the heart is not right towards man, it is not right towards God: as here domesticall disorders hinders the exercises of Religion towards God. That husband that loves not his wife, hath no great mind to pray. Wives that make no conscience to live quietly and obediently with their husbands, ⟨p. 173⟩suffer a like alienation from God, both in their ability to serve him, and in his acceptance of it.
Doct. 7. When the heart is not right towards man, it is not right towards God: as here domesticall disorders hinders the exercises of Religion towards God. That husband that loves not his wife, hath no great minde to pray. Wives that make no conscience to live quietly and obediently with their husbands, ⟨p. 173⟩suffer a like alienation from God, both in their ability to serve him, and in his acceptance of it.
Doct. 8. In that he saith your Prayers, it shows, That every Christian must make prayers of his own. As the just man lives by his own faith, so must the true Christian think of getting his living under God, by his own prayers. 'Tis not enough that he partake of other mens prayers in public, or that he can get others to pray for him in private; God looks for prayers from himself.
Doct. 8. In that he saith your Prayers, it shewes, That everie Christian must make prayers of his owne. As the just man lives by his owne faith, so must the true Christian thinke of getting his living under God, by his owne prayers. 'Tis not enough that he partake of other mens prayers in publicke, or that he can get others to pray for him in private; God lookes for prayers from himselfe.
Doct. 9. In that he saith prayers, it imports, That there be diverse kinds of prayer, and that private Christians must make not only a prayer, but prayers to God. Ephes. 6.18. Phil. 4. 6. Col. 4.2. The sorts of prayer, and differences, arise,
Doct. 9. In that he saith prayers, it imports, That there bee diverse kindes of prayer, and that private Christians must make not only a prayer, but prayers to God. Ephes. 6.18. Phil. 4. 6. Col. 4.2. The sorts of prayer, and differences, arise,
1 From the instrument by which it is formed:1 for there is the prayer of the heart only; such was Hannah her prayer, 1 Sam. 1. There is a prayer of the mouth only; such is the prayer of Hypocrites, Esa. 29.13. There is the prayer both of heart and mouth; and such is the prayer ordinarily of all the godly.
2 From the place of prayer: some prayers are public, some private; and a Christian must use both: Some are alone, some with others.
2 From the place of prayer: some prayers are publicke, some private; and a Christian must use both: Some are alone, some with others.
3 From the form; and so we have the prayer of Christ, as the pattern and rule for all prayers, and the prayers of Christians agreeable to that pattern. We must not rest upon saying over the words of the Lords prayer, and neglect all other prayers. Again, some prayer is conceived, some is in a set form used. A set form is fittest for the public, and for such weak Christians as are not yet able to express their own desire to God in their own words: nor are conceived forms unfit or unlawful for such as are able and desirous to perform prayer according to the rules of prayer; as is apparent by the examples of all sorts of prayers in both Testaments.
3 From the forme; and so we have the prayer of Christ, as the pattern and rule for all prayers, and the prayers of Christians agreeable to that patterne. We must not rest upon saying over the words of the Lords prayer, and neglect all other prayers. Againe, some prayer is conceived, some is in a set forme used. A set forme is fittest for the publicke, and for such weake Christians as are not yet able to expresse their owne desire to God in their owne words: nor are conceived formes unfit or unlawfull for such as are able and desirous to performe prayer according to the rules of prayer; as is apparant by the examples of all sorts of prayers in both Testaments.
4 From the object of prayer; and so some prayers are made daily at set times: and thence it was that the Church of the Jews had their hours of prayer, Act. 3.1. and some are uttered suddenly, according to some special occasion. And of ⟨p. 174⟩this sort are ejaculations, short petitions put up to God expressing the present motion in the heart.
4 From the object of prayer; and so some prayers are made daily at set times: and thence it was that the Church of the Iewes had their houres of prayer, Act. 3.1. and some are uttered suddenly, according to some speciall occasion. And of ⟨p. 174⟩this sort are ejaculations, short petitions put up to God expressing the present motion in the heart.
Doct. 10. It is a great loss or inconvenience to have our prayers interrupted. This is plain from the Text. And there may be many reasons assigned of it; I will instance but one or two: first, because for that time a man is thrust out of the presence of the King of heaven: To pray, is to stand before his face. Secondly, because while prayer stands still, our spiritual trade stands still: while we pray not, we thrive not. Thirdly, if it were nothing else but the respect of others, it must needs be a great inconvenience to omit prayer; because thereby we withdraw our aides from the Church: and that is as bad as in evil times of war, to withdraw our succours from the house of Israel.
Doct. 10. It is a great losse or inconvenience to have our prayers interrupted. This is plaine from the Text. And there may be many reasons assigned of it; I will instance but one or two: first, because for that time a man is thrust out of the presence of the King of heaven: To pray, is to stand before his face. Secondly, because while prayer stands still, our spirituall trade stands still: while we pray not, we thrive not. Thirdly, if it were nothing else but the respect of others, it must needs be a great inconvenience to omit prayer; because thereby we withdraw our aydes from the Church: and that is as bad as in evill times of warre, to withdraw our succours from the house of Israel.
Quest. But how many ways can prayer be interrupted?
Quest. But how manie wayes can prayer be interrupted?
Answ. Prayer may be interrupted either in heaven, or in earth; either in the hearing of it, or in the making of it.
Answ. Prayer may be interrupted eyther in heaven, or in earth; eyther in the hearing of it, or in the making of it.
1 If the person making it lye in any sin, without repentance, Prov 15.8. Isa. 59.2. Lam. 3.44. Psal. 66.18. 2. Tim. 2.19. 1. John 3.22.
1 If the person making it lye in any sinne, without repentance, Prov 15.8. Isa. 59.2. Lam. 3.44. Psal. 66.18. 2. Tim. 2.19. 1. Iohn 3.22.
2 If it be not made in faith, that is, if we believe not that we shall have what we ask. Matth. 11.24. Jam. 1.6.
2 If it be not made in faith, that is, if we beleeve not that we shall have what we aske. Matth. 11.24. Iam. 1.6.
3 If not made in the name of Christ. John 16.23.
3 If not made in the name of Christ. Iohn 16.23.
4 If it be made carelessly and coldly; if a mans head be full of distractions, so as he regards uot what he prays, he is not likely to be heard: for how shall God hear him, when he hears not himself? and how shall God heed what he says, when he heeds not what he says himself?
4 If it be made carelesly and coldly; if a mans head be full of distractions, so as he regards uot what he prayes, hee is not likely to be heard: for how shall God heare him, when he heares not himselfe? and how shall God heed what he sayes, when he heeds not what he sayes himselfe?
