The Beginning of the Doctrine of Christ, Chapter 11 – Chapter 14
CHAP. XI.
Shewing the ſinnes againſt mans eſtate.
THe ſinnes againſt the eſtates of men follow, and theſe are eyther internall, or externall.
Internall, and ſo hee offends,
That is diſcontented with his eſtate, Heb. 13. 5.
That is worldly, and diſtreſſeth himſelf with bootleſſe cares about his eſtate, Prou. 15. 27. Math. 6. 25, 34 Luke 21. 34.
That delights not in his calling, Prou. 12. 17.
That is couetous, and in louelove with the things of this world, Eph. 5. 5. 1. Tim. 6. 10. 1. Iohn. 2. 15.
The externall ſins follow, and ſo men offend both by Omiſſion, and Commiſſion.
By Omiſſion he offends,
That implies not the good things he hath, Iam. 5. 2, 3.
That relieues not the poore, and ſo with-holdeth the good from the owner thereof, Prou. 3. 28.
The aggrauations are,
To forſake the poore, Iob 20. 19.
To hide his eyes from the poore, Prou. 28. 9.
That brings not foorth his corne to ſell, Prou. 11. 26.
That detaines wages, Ier. 22. 23. Leuit. 19. 23. Iames 5. 4.
That payes not what he hath borrowed, Pſal. 37. 21.
That is idle, and neglects his calling, Eccl. 4. 5. and of this ſinne he is guilty alſo,
That with-draweth not his foote from his neighbours houſe, Prou. 25. 17. 1. Tim. 5. 13.
That is giuen to much ſleepe, Prou. 6. 9, 10.
That is ſtacke in buſines, Prou. 10. 4. & 14. 13.
That neglects the opportunities of his calling, Pro. 10. 5.
The aggrauations are,
To be pertinacious in the defence of it, Prou. 26. 16.
To be a buſie-body in other folks matters, 2. Theſ. 3. 11.
That is ſlothfull in the buſines of others, Prou. 26.
That prouides not for his family, 1. Tim. 5. 8.
Thus of ſinnes of Omiſſion.
By Commiſſion hee offends,
That ſteales, robs or pilfers, which is the ſin mentioned in the eighth commandement.
That ſteales by conſequent; as he doth
That is an Vſurer, Exod. 22. 25. Leuit. 25. 36. Deut. 23. 19.
That is guilty of Oppreſſion, Iob 31. 38, 39. Amos 4. 1. Prou. 4. 17. Eſay 5. 8. & 30. 12. eſpecially hee that loues oppreſſion, Hoſ. 12. 7. Micha 2. 9.
That vſeth fraud in buying and ſelling, in meteyard, waight or meaſure, Deutero. 25. 13, 14, 15. and hee is guilty of this ſinne alſo,
That ſelleth refuſe, Mi…ha 6.
That makes aduantage of the pouerty of others, Leuiticus 25. 39. &c. Prou. 22. 22.
That takes the mil-ſtone to pledge, &c. Deuteronomy 24. 6. 12.
That beeing a buyer, ſaith, It is naught, contrary to his owne iudgement: and ſo likewiſe on the other ſide, that beeing a ſeller, doth commend it for good, when he knowes it is not ſo, Pro. 21. 14.
That vſeth any other fraud, though it be not in buying or ſelling, 1. Theſ. 4. 6.
And this ſinne of ſtealing is to be extended further alſo, as
1. To leſſer ſtealths, as robbing of Vineyards, or Orchards, or corne in the field, Deut. 23. 24, 25.
2. To raſh ſuretiſhip, Prou. 6. 1, 2. & 22. 26.
3. To extreamities vſed in recouering our owne rights, Iob. 24. 3, 4, 9, 10.
To not reſtoring of euill gotten goods, Ez…h. 33. 15
5. To remouing of landmarkes, Deut. 19. 14.
6. To liuing in vnlawful callings, ſuch as begging is, 2. Theſ. 3. 11.
7. To vnthriftineſſe in following vaine perſons, or ſpending prodigally on pleaſures, or diet, Prouerbs 12. 11. & 21. 27. & 22. 22. & 23. 26.
8. To the concealing of Theft, Prou. 29. 24.
9. To the Lordly vſage of the borrower, Prouerbs 22. 7.
The aggrauations of the ſinne of ſtealing are,
To take from the poore, Deuteronomy. 24. 14. Iob 20. 19.
To reproue it in others, and yet commit it himſelfe, Romanes 2. 21.
To do it vnderunder pretence of Religion, 2. Corinth. 11. 20.
To oppreſſe ſtrangers or widdowes, or the fatherleſſe, Exodus 22. 21, 22.
To bleſſe the couetous, Pſal. 10. 3.
To commit it in the place of iudgement, by peruerting of Iuſtice, or by extortion, Ezekiel. 22. 12. or by bribery, Amos 5. 12. Exodus 23. 8. or by refuſing to to doe Iuſtice, Prouerbs. 21. 7.
To ſteale thy Maſters goods, Tit. 2.
To ſteale conſecrated things by ſacriledge, or ſimony, Mal. 3. 8. Acts 8. 18, 20.
To ſteale a man or maid, Exod. 22. 16.
CHAP. XII.
THus of the ſinnes againſt mans goods.
The ſinnes againſt mens good name follow, and ſo men offend by Omiſſion, or by Commiſſion.
By Omiſſion hee offends,
That ſets not forth righteouſneſſe, Prou. 12. 9.
That doth not cleere or deliuer the afflicted, when he may, Gen. 40. 23.
That diſgraceth others, by forbearing their company without iuſt cauſe, Iob 19. 3, 19. Pſal. 58. 3.
That is vnthankefull, 1. Tim. 3. 2.
By Commiſſion men offend, Internally, or Externally.
Internally he offends,
That deſpiſeth his neighbour in his thoughts, Prou. 14. 21.
That diſdaines at the credit and praiſe of others, as the Phariſes did.
That thirſts after all occaſions of the contempt of others, Iob 34. 7.
That is ſuſpicious, and thinketh euill, 1. Cor. 12. 5.
Externally men offend,
1. In witneſſe-bearing, and ſo he offends,
That condemnes a man without witneſſe, Deut. 19. 15.
That beares falſe witneſſe.
That is fearefull to beare witneſſe to the Truth, Reu. 21. 8.
That furthers the euill cauſes of wicked men, Exo. 23. 1.
2. In lying, Reuelat. 22. 15. and the blame of this ſinne reacheth,
To ſuch as vſe diſſimulation, Gal. 2. 25.
To ſuch as ſpeak vntruth for feare, Gen. 38. 2.
The aggrauations of lying are,
To louelove lyes, Reuclat. 22. 15. Pſal. 52. 3.
To hate thoſe thou haſt wronged with thy lyes, Pro. 26. vlt.
To breake promiſe, 2. Tim. 3. 3.
To preach falſhoods, 1. Cor. 15. 15.
To ſay one hath no ſin, 1. Iohn 1. 8.
To ſay to men in diſtreſs, There is no helpe, Pſal. 3. 2. Iob 13. 14.
To colour ſin with pretence of Religion, Marke 12. 40.
3. In ſlandering and euill reports, Ex. 23. 1. which is to be extended alſo to
1. Biting ieſts, Epheſ. 5. 4.
2. To reuealing of ſecret infirmities, Prou. 11. 13. & 20. 19.
3. To the carying about of tales, Leuit. 19. 16. Prou. 16. 28.
4. To the receiuing & furthering of ſlanders, Ier. 20. 10.
5. To the wreſting of mens words, or telling the truth of malice, 1. Sam. 22. 9, 10. Pſal. 52. 1, 2.
The aggrauations of ſlander are,
1. To encourage themſelues in an euill matter, and to commune together about it, Pſal. 64. 5.
2. To boaſt of his wickedneſſe therein, Pſalme 52. 1.
3. To ſlander the righteous, and quiet of the land, Pſalme. 31. 18. & 59. 2. & 102. 8. & 35. 20. & 83. 3, 5. & 4. 2.
4. To raiſe euill report of his parents, Geneſis 9. 22
5. To fill the eares of Princes with clamour, Hoſ. 3. 8.
6. To be a make-bate, or a railer, 1. Cor. 6. 9. 2. Tim. 3. 3.
4. In cenſuring & iudging, Iam. 2. 4.
The aggrauations are,
To ſearch and pry for faults in others, that he might cenſure them, Pſal. 64. 6. Prou. 16. 27.
To doe it for things indifferent, Rom. 14.
To cenſure ſmall faults in others, and to be guilty of great offences himſelfe, Math. 7.
5. In vaine-glory and minding too much our owne praiſes.
And ſo alſo he offends,
That boaſteth of a falſe gift, Prou. 27. 1.
That iuſtifieth himſelfe ouer-much, Iob 35. 2.
That boaſts of to morrow, Prou. 17. 1.
That meaſures himſelfe by himſelfe, 2. Cor. 10. 12.
6. In flattery, Pſal. 12. 3. Prou. 27. 14. & 26. 26.
7. In iuſtifying the wicked, Prouerbs 15. 15. & 24. 24.
CHAP. XIII.
HItherto of the ſinnes with conſent of the will.
The ſinnes before conſent of the will, are:
1. To want deſire of the good and welfare eyther of himſelfe, or other men.
2. To conceiue euill thoughts, Math. 15. 19. or couet euill.
3. To delight in the inward contemplation of euill, whether in dreames▪ or awake, though it bee without purpoſe to act them outwardly, Iude 8. Iam. 1. 14.
Hitherto of the ſinnes againſt the Law.
CHAP. XIIII.
Shewing how many waies men offend againſt the Goſpell.
THe ſinnes againſt the Goſpell may be referred to foure heads, as they are ſinnes,
Againſt Chriſt.
Againſt Repentance.
Againſt Faith.
Againſt the graces of the Spirit.
1. Hee ſinnes againſt Chriſt,
That ſaith he is Chriſt, Math. 24.
That denyeth directly, or by conſequent, that Chriſt is come in the fleſh, 1. Iohn. 4: 3. & 2. 23.
That hath baſe thoughts of Chriſt, Eſay 53. 3.
That ſaith, hee hath no ſinne, 1. Iohn 1. 7, 8, 10.
That worſhips God without Chriſt, Ioh. 17. 3. 1. Ioh. 2. 23.
That vſeth not Chriſt as his owne and only Aduocate, 1. Iohn 2. 1. 2. Tim. 2. 5.
That loues not the Lord Ieſus Chriſt with inflamed affections, 1. Corin. 16. 12. Epheſ. 6. 24. Phil. 3. 9.
2. The ſins againſt repentance.
That confeſſeth not his ſinnes without hiding, diſtinctly, Prou. 28. 13. Pſalm. 32. 5.
That mournes not for his ſinnes, Ierem. 5. 2.
That forſakes not his ſinnes, Prou. 28. 13.
Yea hee ſinnes againſt repentance,
That repents faynedly, Ier. 3. 10.
That repents deſperately, as Cain and Iudas.
That repents too late, Iob 27. 9.
That repents by halues, and in ſome things onelyonly, as Ahab and Herod.
That falls away from his repentance, 2. Pet. 2. 19, 20.
The aggrauations are,
To be wiſe to doe euill, Ierem. 4. 22.
To purſue euill, Prouerbs 11. 9.
To reioyce in doing euill, and make a mocke of ſinne, Prou. 2. 14. & 14.
To bee without ſhame, and to declare his ſinne like the Sodomites, Iſaiah 5. 9. Ierem. 3. 3.
To be incorrigible, Ier. 5. 2.
To frette, becauſe hee is croffed in ſinne, Prou. 19. 3.
To bleſſe himſelf againſt the curſes of the Law, Deut. 29. 19.
To freeze in ſecurity, Zeph. 1. 12.
To refuſe to returne.
3. Hee ſinnes againſt Faith,
That beleeues not in Ieſus Chriſt for his Iuſtification and ſaluation, Iohn 3. 17.
Yea he offends,
That is careleſſe, & neglects the aſſurance of faith, Hebr. 6. 12. Rom. 1. 16.
That in affliction doubts of Gods fauour and goodneſſe, Eſay 41. & 49. 15.
The aggrauations.
Not to ſeeke after God at all, Zeph. 1. 6.
Not to ſtir vp our ſelues to take hold on God, when mercy is offered, Eſay 64. 7.
Not to anſwere when God calls, Eſay 50. 2.
To forſake our owne mercy, or ſcoffe at the ſignes of it, Ion. 2. 8.
4. He ſinnes againſt the graces of the Spirit,
1. That receiues the grace of God in vaine, 2. Cor. 6. 5.
2. That turns the grace of God into wantonneſſe, Iude 3.
3. That falls away from the grace of God, eyther wholly by forſaking the acknowledgement of the Truth, 2. Pet. 2. 20. Or in the meaſure, by loſing his firſt louelove, Reuel. 2.
4. That tempts, grieues, or quencheth the Spirit: Epheſ. 4. 30. 1. Theſ. 1. 19.
5. That deſpights the Spirit of Grace, and of malice perſecutes the knowne truth, which is the ſinne againſt the holy Ghoſt, Hebr. 10. 26.
FINIS.
End of the text · Nicholas Byfield, The Beginning of the Doctrine of Christ (1619)