A17412:936
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.
Ob. I want words, I know not what to say when I come to pray.
Sol. Pray for that very thing; that God that commands thee to take unto thee words, Hos. 14.2. would himself give them to thee. Secondly, the Spirit helps our infirmities, when we know not what to pray as we ought, Rom. 8.16. Thirdly, we serve such a God as will hear us, if like little children we can but name the name of our heavenly Father. Rom. 8.15. 2. Tim. 2.19.
Sol. Pray for that very thing; that God that commands thee to take unto thee words, Hos. 14.2. would himselfe give them to thee. Secondly, the Spirit helpes our infirmities, when we know not what to pray as we ought, Rom. 8.16. Thirdly, we serve such a God as will heare us, if like little children we can but name the name of our heavenly Father. Rom. 8.15. 2. Tim. 2.19.
Ob. But I am afraid God will not regard what I say to him.
Ob. But I am affraid God will not regard what I say to him.
Ans. Consider first the nature of God; he loves to hear prayer, Psal. 95.1. then think of the commandment of God, who in so many Scriptures, doth so peremptorily enjoin ⟨p. 176⟩us to pray to him: and thirdly, think of the many promises he hath made unto such as do call upon his name, and then thou hast no reason to doubt of audience, if thou bring lawful petitions, and an honest heart.
Ans. Consider first the nature of God; hee loves to heare praier, Psal. 95.1. then thinke of the commandment of God, who in so many Scriptures, doth so peremptorily enjoyne ⟨p. 176⟩us to pray to him: and thirdly, thinke of the many promises he hath made unto such as doe call upon his name, and then thou hast no reason to doubt of audience, if thou bring lawfull petitions, and an honest heart.
Ob. But I have prayed, and I find no success.
Ob. But I have praied, and I finde no successe.
Sol. God sometimes seems not to hear, of purpose to make us the more importunate, Luk. 18.1. &c. Again, God may hear us, and not grant what we ask, but something that is better for us: as he heard Christ, Heb. 5. and Paul, 2. Cor. 12.8, 9.
Sol. God sometimes seemes not to heare, of purpose to make us the more importunate, Luk. 18.1. &c. Againe, God may heare us, and not grant what wee aske, but something that is better for us: as he heard Christ, Heb. 5. and Paul, 2. Cor. 12.8, 9.
Hitherto of the general exhortation to all Christians, and the special exhortation to subjects, servants, wives, and husbands. Now follows the third part of my division, which I made when I entreated of Vers. 3. of Chapter the first, viz. matter of dehortation. For I conceive, that the Apostle in the rest of this Chapter doth secretly intend to dehort Christians from impatience, under the troubles may befall them in this life.
HItherto of the generall exhortation to all Christians, and the speciall exhortation to subjects, servants, wives, and husbands. Now followes the third part of my division, which I made when I entreated of Vers. 3. of Chapter the first, viz. matter of dehortation. For I conceive, that the Apostle in the rest of this Chapter doth secretly entend to dehort Christians from impaciency, under the troubles may befall them in this life.
Where he proceeds in this order: First, he strives to show them the best course to avoid trouble, as much as in them lies, from Vers. 8. to 14. Secondly, he shows them how to avoid impatience, if trouble do come, from Verse 14. to the end of the Chapter.
Where hee proceeds in this order: First, he strives to shew them the best course to avoid trouble, as much as in them lies, from Vers. 8. to 14. Secondly, hee shewes them how to avoid impatiency, if trouble doe come, from Verse 14. to the end of the Chapter.
About the avoiding of troubles, he gives both Rules and Reasons: Rules Verse 8, 9. Reasons Verse 9. to 14.
About the avoiding of troubles, hee gives both Rules and Reasons: Rules Verse 8, 9. Reasons Verse 9. to 14.
The Rules show us how we must carry our selves, both towards the good, Verse 8. and towards the bad, Verse 9. And to strengthen those Rules, especially the latter of them, he gives three strong reasons: one taken from the state and condition of the true Christian, Verse 9. the other taken from a prophetical testimony: where he shows what the Prophet Davids opinion was long since, Vers. 10, 11, 12. the third taken from the profitable effect, or event of such a course, Vers. 13. About avoiding of impatience if trouble do come, he, proceeds ⟨p. 177⟩in the like order: For first, he gives Rules, Vers. 14, 15, 16. then Reasons, Vers. 17. to the end of the Chapter. In giving Rules, he shows them what to think on, Vers. 14. and what to do, both towards themselves, Vers. 14. and towards God, Vers. 15. and towards other men, Ver. 16. In general, if we mark the whole frame, and the Apostles order, we may observe divers things: as,
The Rules shew us how wee must carrie our selves, both towards the good, Verse 8. and towards the bad, Verse 9. And to strengthen those Rules, especially the latter of them, he gives three strong reasons: one taken from the state and condition of the true Christian, Verse 9. the other taken from a propheticall testimony: where hee shewes what the Prophet Davids opinion was long since, Vers. 10, 11, 12. the third taken from the profitable effect, or event of such a course, Vers. 13. About avoyding of impatiency if trouble doe come, hee, proceeds ⟨p. 177⟩in the like order: For first, he gives Rules, Vers. 14, 15, 16. then Reasons, Vers. 17. to the end of the Chapter. In giving Rules, hee shewes them what to thinke on, Vers. 14. and what to doe, both towards themselves, Vers. 14. and towards God, Vers. 15. and towards other men, Ver. 16. In generall, if we marke the whole frame, and the Apostles order, wee may observe divers things: as,
1 That troubles are not to be desired: for the Apostle shows how to avoid them. Which is to be noted, to confute those weak Christians, that long for that which they call persecution.
1 That troubles are not to bee desired: for the Apostle shewes how to avoid them. Which is to be noted, to confute those weake Christians, that long for that which they call persecution.
2 That a man may be a good Christian, and yet not be much opposed outwardly: which blames those that dislike their own estate, or censure the estate of others, because they are not afflicted or persecuted as other men.
2 That a man may bee a good Christian, and yet not bee much opposed outwardly: which blames those that dislike t•eir owne estate, or censure the estate of others, because they are not afflicted or persecuted as other men.
3 Yea, it is the duty of every Christian, to look carefully to his conversation; and to strive by the use of all good means, to avoid unquietness and trouble in the world. Rom. 12.19. Amos 5.12. 1. Tim. 2.2, 3.
3 Yea, it is the duty of every Christian, to looke carefully to his conversation; and to strive by the use of all good meanes, to avoide unquietnesse and trouble in the world. Rom. 12.19. Amos 5.12. 1. Tim. 2.2, 3.
4 That some Christians may carry themselves with great discretion, humility, piety, and inoffensiveness, and yet cannot avoid trouble, but shall suffer from the world.
4 That some Christians may carry themselves with great discretion, humility, piety, and inoffensivenesse, and yet cannot avoid trouble, but shall suffer from the world.
5 That impatience and disquietness in the time of trouble, is a very dishonourable vice in a Christian, & with great care, and all possible endeavour to be avoided.
5 That impatiency and disquietnesse in the time of trouble, is a very dishonourable vice in a Christian, & with great care, and all possible endeavour to be avoided.
