A17384:1030
A commentary
A commentary: or, sermons upon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter wherein method, sense, doctrine, and use, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.A commentary: or, sermons vpon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter vvherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of diuinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.
London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The use may be, first for confutation of their folly and madness,1 that account it a course of abasement to follow Christ, and leave the vanities of the world. Godly courses are honourable courses: No man ever lost honour by cleaving to Christ, and living so as might become the faith and love of Christ. Secondly, and withal we may hence be informed, that all the honour that is without Christ, is but obscure baseness: no man can be truly honourable without the faith of Jesus Christ in his heart. Thirdly, we should hence be resolved to make more account of the Godly, because Christ is to them all honour: they are the only excellent ones in the world. Fourthly, we should labour also to be an honour unto Christ, and to the faith and profession of his name, and service: we must remember, that he is our surety to God for us, and hath undertaken for our good behaviour, and therefore for that reason we should be careful of our duties: and besides we see, that the disorders of great mens servants leave an imputation on their master, and so it is with us and Christ. If we live righteously, and soberly, and religiously, we honour Christ our Master: but otherwise if we be scandalous, we dishonour Christ, and therefore had need to look to our ways. And lastly, we should account Christ sufficient honour to us, and not regard the scorns and reproaches ⟨p. 231⟩of the world, but rather with Moses esteem the reproaches of Christ, greater riches then the treasures of Egypt.
The vse may be, first for confutation of their folly and madnes,1 that account it a course of abasement to follow Christ, and leaue the vanities of the world. Godly courses are honourable courses: No man euer lost honor by cleauing to Christ, and liuing so as might become the faith and loue of Christ. Secondly, and withall wee may hence be informed, that all the honour that is without Christ, is but obscure basenesse: no man can bee truely honourable without the faith of Iesus Christ in his heart. Thirdly, we should hence be resolued to make more account of the Godly, because Christ is to them al honour: they are the only excellent ones in the world. Fourthly, wee should labour also to bee an honour vnto Christ, and to the faith and profession of his name, and seruice: wee must remember, that he is our surety to God for vs, and hath vndertaken for our good behauiour, and therefore for that reason wee should be carefull of our duties: and besides wee see, that the disorders of great mens seruants leaue an imputation on their master, and so it is with vs and Christ. If wee liue righteously, and soberly, and religiously, wee honour Christ our Master: but otherwise if wee bee scandalous, wee dishonour Christ, and therefore had need to looke to our waies. And lastly, we shold account Christ sufficient honour to vs, and not regard the scornes and reproaches