A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St. Peter VVherin are most judiciously and profitably handled such points of doctrine as naturally flow from the text. Together with a very usefull application thereof: and many good rules for a godly life. By Nicholas Byfield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. To which is now newly added an alphabeticall table, not formerly published.

Verse 11.

Searching when or what manner of time, the Spirit which testified of Christ which was in them, &c.

THe particular subiect of their inquiry was to have found the time of those glories the holy Ghost foretold should follow the sufferings of CHRIST.

Foure sorts of men have inquired about times, and the manner of times. For there is the observation, 1. of the curious, 2. of the weak, 3. of the su∣perstitious, 4. of the wise.

1 Curious men search into times prohibited, and restrained from them: They inquire what God did before he made the world, and in what yeare and day Christ shall come to Iudgement, with such like.

2 The weake Christian many times is too busie about time, as in his di∣stresse his thoughts runne about the time of his deliverance, and with impa∣tience he asks, How long? when hee ought not to limit God, but live by faith, and leave the time unto God.

3 The superstitious are imployed in observing time; such were the Ga∣lathians, of whom Paul was afraid. This was their humour▪ they did ob∣serve dayes and times not commanded of God, but prescribed, and kept a∣foot by the inventions of men.

4 Now in the last place, the wise observe time, and thus they observe time necessarily, or arbitrarily. Necessarily they observe the seasons and op∣portunities of Gods grace, and so not to observe time is a great offence. Ier. 8.7. Luke 9. Mat. 16.3. Arbitrary, they enquire after time, as the circum∣stance of some great things, wherein there appeareth some glory of God, and good to the soule. Thus the Prophets here enquire about the time of Gods manifestation of the great grace he promised to the Church.

Three things may be noted out of these words.

1 That the times and seasons of all things are known unto God: else the Prophets would not have searched, but that it was a received principle that all the times of all things are set and knowne to God.

2 That the Lord is many times loth to discover the precise time of his mercy: as for a long time he would not let it be known when Christ should come, so it was ab••ut the calling of the Gentiles, and so it is about the time of our going to heaven. For if it should be farre off, men would grow the more impatient with their present condition, and by this meanes God tries the faith, and patience, and obedience of his people: and thus are blessings more admired and welcome when they doe come; and by works of prepa∣ration the happinesse of the Elect is greatly furthered.

But is it not uncomfortable to be ignorant of the time when God will shew his mercy?

It is not: for

• 1 The time is infallibly set by God.
• 2 The Lord hath chosen and appointed the fittest time.
• 3 The Lord is precise in keeping his time.

3 The third Observation is, that when the circumstance of time is not of absolute necessitie for our good to be knowne, we must be sober and tempe∣rate, and enquire with all humilitie: we may learne this of the Prophets about salvation it selfe, they are said to enquire diligently; but about the time, it is barely said, they searched.

Thus of the third thing.

4 The fourth thing is the Occasion; which was an inspiration of the holy Ghost, which testified of Christs sufferings, and strange glories should follow

after. So that the efficient cause of the inspiration was the holy Ghost, which was in them: The finall cause was to testifie or beare witnesse: The subject matter of this inspiration was twofold. 1 Of the sufferings of Christ. 2 Of the glories should follow.

The Spirit that was in them.

Note that he saith not the Spirit of God, but the Spirit of Christ: so the holy Ghost is called the Spirit of the Sonne, Gal. 4.6. He may be called the Spirit of Christ, because he is given by Christ, and because he is given to the members of Christ, and because he should be especially manifested in the times under Christ, and because it did especially reveale Christ, and chiefly because it was essentially ioyned unto Christ, and did proceed of Him and the Father from all eternitie.

Now for the use hereof. Here is both Information and Consolation. We may be informed here, that the doctrine of the Trinitie was not unknowne in the Church of the Jewes, in that we see, that the Spirit of God was called the Spirit of Christ. As for that place in Act. 19. where some say, they had not heard, whether there were a holy Ghost or no; It is to be understood of the extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost, which at the time of the conver∣sion of many did fall upon them, and not of the nature of the holy Ghost. This doctrine also may comfort us greatly: for whereas it it the office of the holy Ghost to mortifie the deeds of the flesh, to lead us into all truth, to be a comforter, to beare witnesse unto our spirits, to help us when we know not how to pray as we ought, &c. This doctrine (I say) may greatly incourageus to beg the holy Ghost, and to beleeve our help therein, seeing hee is sent of Christ; and is at his disposing that dyed for us, and gave himselfe for us: how shall he not then give us his holy Spirit also, if we aske it of him?

Further, hence we may note, that the Spirit of God is the onely immedi∣ate fountaine and originall of all Prophesies concerning times and things to come. The Oracles of the Gentiles were but eyther delusions under ambigu∣ous sentences, or but coniectures; or else when they did foretell aright, they were permitted of God for the further hardning of the people, eyther from Scripture, or other revelation to foretell. As for the Sibyls that prophesied of Christ, &c. it is no absurditie to grant, that they were stirred up by the holy Ghost to prophesie of Christ among the Gentiles, &c.

Notes

• Foure sorts of men inquire about times.