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 8.

Whom yee have not seene and yet love him, in whom now though yee see him not, yet doe you beleeve, and rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious.

THis verse and the next containes an answer to a second objection, which might be made thus: Might some one say, I know not whe∣ther the former comforts belong unto me: I know not whether I be borne againe, &c.

To this the Apostle answers by giving two signes, by which men might try themselves. 1. The first is the love of Christ. 2. The second, the joyes of the holy Ghost. Concerning which, the meaning is, that whosoever loves Christ, whom he hath not seene, and hath felt those unspeakable and glorious joyes of the holy Ghost, hee is undoubtedly borne againe: But

such are you; therefore you need not doubt your estate.

In generall we may then note,

1. First, that there are certain and infallible signs of a child of God: there [ 1] is such a way of tryall by signes.

2. Secondly, that the triall of our estate by effects wrought in us, is a safe and profitable way.

3. Thirdly, that though we see not all the signes, yet if we discerne any in sincerity, they are infallible, therefore the Apostle here propounds two of many.

Whom having not seene ye love.

Two things may here be observed: the one exprest, the other implied.

The doctrine exprest is, that the unfained love of Jesus Christ is in every one that is borne of God; and where it is, it is an infallible signe. He that loves Christ, it is certaine, that both God the Father, and Christ love him, Ioh. 14. 21. Eph. 6.23. and contrariwise, 1 Cor. 16.22.

The Use of this doctrine is threefold:

1. First, it should teach us to try our selves whether the love of Christ be in us or no: now that this may be distinctly discerned,* 1.1 wee must under∣stand, that the love of Christ may be two waies considered, either as it is in the sparkle, or as it is in the flame. In some the true love of Christ is, as it is but in a small measure. Now others have the inflamed love of Christ.

First, there are 7. signes of the love of Christ wheresoever it is in truth,* 1.2 though but weak.

1. First, we may know whether we love Christ by our estimation of him, if we doe truly love him, wee esteem him above all other persons and things in the world, Mat. 10 37 Phil. 3.9.

2 Secondly, we may know it by our constant desire after the meanes of communion with Christ: he loves not Christ, that loves not the meanes in which Christ makes his favour knowne to men:* 1.3 doe we love the kisses of his mouth? that is, doe we affectionately desire the meanes, by which hee shews his love, even those sweet pledges of his love in his word.

3 Thirdly, we may know our love to Christ by our love to Christians that are his members: we love him that begat, if we love them that are begotten of him, 1 Iohn 5.1.

4 Fourthly, we may know it by beleeving in him, Iohn 16.27. For if we love him we put our trust in him, and relye upon him and his merits.

5. Fiftly, we may know it by our care to keep his commandements. For so he saith himselfe, He loveth me, that keepeth my commandements, Iohn 14.21. The love of Christ and the love of sinne cannot stand together.

6 Sixtly, we may know it by our griefe for his absence: if to misse Christ be the sorrow of our hearts, it is a signe we love him. Cant. 3.1.

7 Seventhly, we may know it by our willingnes to suffer for his sake, Ioh. 21.19 Thus Peter must one day prove that he loves Christ, by being willing to be caryed whither naturally hee would not, for the confirmation of the truth.

2 Now there are seaven signes also of the inflamed love of Christ:* 1.4 For they that have such tender affection after Christ:

1 Doe sometimes feele the very passions of love, they are as it were sick of love, for the time overcome with the wonderfull affection they beare to Christ, Cant. 2.5. especially when they have felt great comfort in the meanes.

2. Their love is unquenchable and unresistible, it is strong as death, and much water cannot quench it, Cant. 8.6, 7.

3. They doe wonderfully, earnestly, and affectionately sometimes long

after his second comming, greatly desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ, 2 Tim. 4.8. Phil. 1.23.

4. Fourthly, they doe almost onely joy in Christ. God forbid I should re∣joyce in any thing but the crosse of Christ, Gal. 6.14. They account all other things losse & dung in comparison of the excellent knowledg of Christ, Phil. 3.9.

5. Fiftly, they continually talk of him, they never linn, they have words at will, their tongue is as the pen of a ready writer, Psal. 45.1. They can easily praise him, and admire almost every thing in him. Cant. 5.9. to the end.

6. Sixtly, their inflamed love is shewne by a willingnesse with content∣ment to doe the meanest service to Christ, or his religion. This was a signe Mary loved much, that shee could even kisse the feet of Christ, and wash them with her teares, and wipe them with the haire of her head, Luke 7.44. to the end.

7. Seventhly, they are wonderfully incouraged with his praises, they are more fiered with his praises of them, or his acceptation of them in the word or prayer, then with the applause of the whole world besides, Cant. 4.16.

Coherence.

2. Secondly, if wee want the love of Christ, wee should use all meanes to get it. Now there are three things that would further us in getting this love.

* 1.51. To pray for it to God.

2. To acquaint our selves with the word of Christ. For that sets out his praises, his love to us, and the singular blessings he hath purchased for us.

3. To converse with Christians that doe tenderly love Christ, and abound in holy affections. Those daughters of Ierusalem, that wondered why the Church should make such adoe about Christ, when they had conversed with her a while, and heard her speak with such affection and admiration, they are turned, and will now goe seek Christ as well as shee, Cant. 5.9. to the end, and 6.1.

* 1.63. Thirdly, such as have felt this love of Christ, should be carefull to keep it; now there are seven things to be observed, if wee would preserve the love of Christ in our hearts.

1. First, we must establish our assurance of both our loves to Christ, and his love to us: we must labour our owne edification in the faith, if wee would keep our selves in the love of God, Iud. 20.

2. Secondly, if we would preserve this love, we must keepe uprightnesse. For if we relapse to the love of sin, the love of Christ will decay in us.

3. Thirdly, we must keep our selves out of the company of such, as might intice us from the love of Christ, namely, out of the company of Idolaters, and all profane persons.

4. Fourthly, we must take heed of worldlinesse: for the love of God, and the love of the world will not stand together. The cares of this life will be a snare and bait to draw us away.

5. Fiftly, we must take heed of security after feelings. For if the Church be so sleepie after communion with Christ, that when he comes again she will be slumbring, and not rise when he calls; Christ will be gone and not answer, no though afterwards she call, Cant. 5.2, 6, 7.

6. Sixtly, we must walke in the steps of the flock, and feed our kids neere the tents of the shepheards; we must converse with holy Christians, and keepe our selves under the powerfull instructions of profitable Ministers, Cant. 1.7. &c.

7. Seventhly, wee must be much in the preparation for the second com∣ming of Christ. To be much in thinking of or praying for the comming of Christ will preserve us from declination in our affection to Christ, Iud. 20, 21.

The doctrine implyed in these words is, that when we shall come to hea∣ven, and shall see Christ face to face, we shall love him, and admire him won∣derfully. For the Apostle takes it for granted, that it is no hard thing to love Christ, if we once saw him.

And thus of the first signe.

The second signe is the joy of the holy Ghost expressed in these words:

In whom, though you see him not, yet beleeving ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious.

There are six kind of joyes.

1. Some are unnaturall, such is the joy of those mentioned,* 1.7 Iob 3.22. that are glad at heart to find the grave.

2. Some are naturall, such are the joyes Solomon commends, Eccles. 8.15. & Prov. 15.13.

3. Some are sensuall, such are the joyes Epicures conceive in the pleasures and sports of this life, Eccles. 11.9. Iob 21.12.

4. Some are fantasticall, when men rejoyce upon meere conceits and fan∣cies without any ground. For as in some diseases there are abundance of sor∣rowes without cause, so are there also joyes without reason in divers.

5. Some are diabolicall, and there are three sorts of devilish joyes.* 1.8

• 1. The first is to joy in sinne.
• 2. The second is to joy in the misery of Gods people, Ezech. 25.6.
• 3. The third is the joy we call illusion, when Sathan to feed the secu∣rity of men doth tickle their hearts with a great deale of joy and ra∣vishing of the heart.

6. Lastly, some joyes are spirituall joyes: and these are either

• 1. Temporary: or
• 2. Eternall.

Temporary joyes are those, which wicked men may feele in the hearing the word, Mat. 13.

Eternall joyes are such, as onely the Elect feele; I call these Eternall, not because they are felt without interruption for ever, but because they are so now in the hearts of Gods children, that they shall never either totally or finally be lost, but shall be felt againe.

Now there are two sorts of this joy in Gods elect. The one is a duty, the other is a signe: the one man brings to Gods service, the other God gives as a token of his acceptance of mans service.

The joyes given of God are here meant, these are here called unspeakable and glorious.

But how may we discern these joyes of the holy Ghost from all the other sorts, especially the temporary joyes and illusions of Sathan?* 1.9

The true joy in the holy Ghost may be known by these marks.* 1.10

1. It is given of God in the due use of some ordinance of God, the soule being retired into Gods presence; especially these joyes are felt in prayer, this joy is drawne out of the wells of salvation.

2. It usually follows humiliation for sin, Esay 6.2, 3. Ioh. 16.20, 22.

3. It may be felt in adversity, as well as prosperity, Hab. 3.17, 18. Rom. 5.3. Phil. 2.17.

4. It is accompanyed with righteousnesse. It can never be felt of any, in whom the love of any sin raignes, Rom. 14.17.

5. It ratifies the written promises, and doth assure nothing but what the word assures, Eph. 1.14.

6. It is kindled upon the sense of Gods favour, it followes here bele••ving.

7. It is unspeakable and glorious above all carnall or earthly joyes: it doth ravish the heart, as if a man were already in heaven.

8. Lastly, it may be knowne by the effects: For

1. It will make a man more humble, and apt to acknowledge his owne vilenesse and unworthinesse.

2. It will make a man lesse censorious of others, and with more compassi∣on to tender the wants and sorrowes of others.

3. It will marre the taste of carnall joyes: it causeth us to find lesse rellish in the taste of earthly delights.

4. It breeds a great love of God and godliness, and quickens to diligence in well-doing.

Whereas the joyes, that are illusions, or temporary joyes, will make men more proud and carelesse, and contemptuous, and more negligent in the use of the meanes, and the care to doe good.

* 1.11But are these joyes felt of every Christian?

* 1.12Distinguish of Christians, and of feeling, and of joyes.

1 Some are Hypocrites, and so have not any power of godliness at all, but onely a shew.

2 Some have temporary grace onely: these have joy, but not such as will abide the tryall: For,

• 1 These joyes are not accompanyed with humiliation for sinne, or not for all sinne.
• 2 They arise not from any grounds of particular assurance.
• 3 They are not felt in the time of temptation.

3 Some Christians are alwayes diseased with some spirituall malady, and that many times till death, as with passion, or with strange effects of melan∣choly: these may possibly dye without any evident comfort.

Some fall after calling, into some grosse sinne for a time, and these may so lose the joy of their salvation, as they may never recover it till their ve∣ry end.

Againe, distinguish about feeling.

1 Some have those joyes, but observe them not, eyther through ignorance of the doctrine of the joy of the holy Ghost, or through neglect.

2 Some haue this joy and observe it, and are affected & established with it for the time, but presently eyther forget it, or suspect it.

Lastly, this joy in the holy Ghost in some is an habituall gladnesse of heart, which constantly after assurance is found in them, though they feele not the passions of joy: but in others there is felt at sometimes the vehement passions of joy, but not the constant gladnesse. Now eyther may be the true joy of the holy Ghost, if it agree to the former signes.

* 1.13But what should wee doe to get the joyes of God?

* 1.141 Thou must be in the generall Gods servant, and devote thy selfe to ho∣linesse, else thou canst never feele them. Esay 65.13.

2 Thou must voluntarily seeke godly sorrow for thy sins: for these joyes are promised to, and most felt by such as mourne for sin, Psal. 126.2, 3, 5, 6. Esay 61.3. Prov. 14.10. Mat. 5.5.

3. Thou must labour after the affections of godlinesse: till thou come to love Christ and the Word, and holy exercises, thou canst not get the joy in the holy Ghost: if we did once love to be Gods servants, the Lord would re∣fresh us with the joyes of his presence,* 1.15 Esay 56.6, 7.

* 1.16But what should we doe to preserve the joyes of God, that'wee might more constantly rejoyce in the holy Ghost?

Observe these rules.

1. Thou must get a meeke spirit. For passion and pride hinder the refresh∣ings of God wonderfully, Esay 29.19.

2. Preserve uprightnesse: the upright shall have an harvest of joy: But if

thou nourish the love of any sinne, it is impossible to keep the joyes of God, Psal. 96.11. Prov. 29.6. & 12.20.

3. Lose not Gods presence, but set him in thy sight, and walk before him, There is fulnesse of joy at his right hand, Psal, 16.11.

4. Be much in well-doing: For that will make our joy abound, Col. 1. 9, 10, 11.

5. Hang upon the brests of the Churches consolation and sincerity, Esay 66.11.

6. Take heed of much carnall, or outward reioycing. For the immoderate liking of earthly things hardens the heart in the things of God.

Hence wee may briefly note the causes, why many professors have no more ioy.

• 1. Some neglect the meanes.
• 2. Others are mastered by strong affections, as Envy, or Passions, &c.
• 3. Others have neglected mortification.
• 4. In many their very unprofitablenesse is the cause.
• 5. In some, the love of some secret sinne blasts all grace and joy.

Thus of the 8. verse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vses.
• * 1.2

  7. Signes of the love of Christ in the sparkle.
• * 1.3

  Cant. 1.1
• * 1.4

  7. Signes of the l••ve ••f Christ in the flame.
• * 1.5

  What we must doe to get the love of Christ.
• * 1.6

  7. Things to be observed to keep our hearts in the love of Christ.
• * 1.7

  Sixe kinds of joy.
• * 1.8

  3 Kinds of de∣vilish joy.
• * 1.9

  Quest.
• * 1.10

  Answ.

  How the joyes of the holy Ghost may be discerned from all other joyes. 8. Signes.
• * 1.11

  Quest.
• * 1.12

  Answ.

  Whether the j••yes ••f the holy Ghost be f••lt of every Christian. The defects in the joy of the temporary faith.
• * 1.13

  Quest.
• * 1.14

  Answ.

  Wh••t we must doe to ge•• the joyes of God.
• * 1.15

  Quest.
• * 1.16

  Answ.

  What we must doe to pr••se••••e the joyes of the holy Ghost more con∣stantly.