A17384:1281
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.
Thirdly, if we love one another, Joh. 15.17. and choose as God chooseth, Eph. 1.4. not despising the poorest Christian, Jam. 2.5.
Thirdly, if wee loue one another, Ioh. 15.17. and choose as God chuseth, Eph. 1.4. not despising the poorest Christian, Iam. 2.5.
Fourthly, if we set up the Lord to be our God to love him with all our heart, and to serve him, and in all things to show our selves desirous to please him, and to be resolved to please him, and his truth, and to his glory, &c. Deut. 26. Isaiah 44.1.5.
Fourthly, if we set vp the Lord to be our God to loue him with all our heart, and to serue him, and in all things to shew our selues desirous to please him, and to be resolued to please him, and his truth, and to his glory, &c. Deut. 26. Esay 44.1.5.
Fifthly, if we confirm our selves in a resolution to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, nor to suffer our selves to be unequally yoked: but since God hath chosen us out of the world, to keep our selves from needless society with wicked men.
Fiftly, if we confirme our selues in a resolution to haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknes, nor to suffer our selues to be vnequally yoaked: but since God hath chosen vs out of the world, to keepe our seluesse from needlesse society with wicked men.
Sixthly, if we continue in the Word, and be patient in afflictions, and show contentations in all estates, as knowing, that it is our Fathers pleasure to give us a Kingdom, Luke 12.32. and that all shall work together for the best, Rom. 8.28. and that the very hairs of our heads are numbered, Math. 10. & that nothing can be laid to our charge to condemn us, Rom. 8.33. and that God will never cast away his people, whom before he knew, Rom. 11.2. because his foundation remaineth sure, and he knoweth, who are his, 2. Tim. 2.19.
Sixtly, if we continue in the Word, and bee patient in afflictions, and shew contentations in all estates, as knowing, that it is our Fathers pleasure to giue vs a Kingdome, Luke 12.32. and that all shall worke together for the best, Rom. 8.28. and that the very haires of our heads are numbred, Math. 10. & that nothing can be laid to our charge to condemne vs, Rom. 8.33. and that God will neuer cast away his people, whom before he knew, Rom. 11.2. because his foundation remaineth sure, and hee knoweth, who are his, 2. Tim. 2.19.
Thus of the election.
The next thing by which they are commended, is their kindred and generation.
The next thing by which they are commended, is their kinred and generation.
This word generation signifies sometimes an age, or succession of men, or so many men as live in the world, in the age of one man: so one generation passeth, and another cometh, &c. Eccles. 1. Sometimes it signifies a progeny or off-spring, that is, so many as do descend out of the loins of such a one: as, the generation from Abraham to David, Mat. 1. Sometimes it signifies a kindred or stock; and so, not only carnal, but spiritual: and thus, wicked men are said to be an adulterous and untoward generation, Mat. 12.39. faithless and perverse, Mat. 17.17. and so it is no privilege to be one of that generation: but we are called upon to save our selves from this untoward generation, Matth. 12.40. so that it is a privilege to be one of this sort or kindred. They are the generation of vipers, Mat. 3. Now, there is another kind of spiritual alliance, and that is it whereby all Christians are a-kin one to another through the blood of Christ, as they all descend of the second Adam: and of this it is, that the Prophet speaketh, Isaiah 53.8. when admiredly he saith of Christ, Who can tell his generation? And thus the Godly are begotten of the best blood in the world, because they are begotten of the blood of Christ, John 1.13.
This word generation signifies sometimes an age, or succession of men, or so many men as liue in the world, in the age of one man: so one generation passeth, and another cometh, &c. Eccles. 1. Sometimes it signifies a progeny or off-spring, that is, so many as doo descend out of the loins of such a one: as, the generation from Abraham to Dauid, Mat. 1. Sometimes it signifies a kinred or stock; and so, not onely carnall, but spirituall: and thus, wicked men are said to be an adulterous and vntoward generation,
The doctrine then is, that Godly men are the happiest men in the world, in respect of their kindred and alliance. None come of so good a kindred ⟨p. 290⟩as godly Christians, which may appear by divers reasons.
The doctrine then is, that Godly men are the happiest men in the world, in respect of their kinred and alliance. None come of so good a kinred ⟨p. 290⟩as godly Christians, which may appear by diuers reasons.
1First, because they descend of the best blood, being the generation of Christ the second Adam; and so are better born than they that can tell of their great Nobility and Blood, both by the father's and mother's side, John 1.13.
1First, because they descend of the best bloud, being the generation of Christ the second Adam; and so are better born than they that can tell of their great Nobility and Bloud, both by the father's and mother's side, Iohn 1.13.
Secondly, because they are a chosen picked children or kindred, all the kindred culled out of all mankind; and so is no kindred in the world. For, in all other kindreds are all sorts of persons to be found, good and bad, virtuous and vicious: but of this kindred are none but good.
Secondly, because they are a chosen picked children or kinred, all the kinred culled out of all mankinde; and so is no kinred in the world. For, in all other kinreds are all sorts of persons to bee found, good and bad, vertuous and vicious: but of this kinred are none but good.
Thirdly, because the whole kindred is royal; they enjoy all great preferments: whereas there be few kindreds in the world, but there are some poor in it; but this generation hath not one poor man in it: all the kindred are Kings.
Thirdly, because the whole kinred is royall; they enioy all great preferments: whereas there bee few kinreds in the world, but there are some poor in it; but this generation hath not one poor man in it: all the kinred are Kings.
Fourthly, because all are fit for employment: all the kindred are Priests, and can sacrifice, which was not true of the very Tribe of Levi. There is not one Christian, but he can perform the work of the Priesthood, and doth in his order.
Fourthly, because all are fit for imploiment: all the kinred are Priests, and can sacrifice, which was not true of the very Tribe of Leui. There is not one Christian, but he can perform the work of the Priesthood, and doth in his order.
Fifthly, because there are so many of the kindred. The meanest Christian is a-kin to all the Saints in heaven, and to all the Godly in earth or on earth: and there is no kindred in the flesh, that can attain to the like number of kinsfolks in any degree of comparison worth the speaking of.
Fiftly, because there are so many of the kinred. The meanest Christian is a-kinne to all the Saints in heauen, and to all the Godly in earth or on earth: and there is no kinred in the flesh, that can attain to the like number of kinsfolks in any degree of comparison worth the speaking of.
Sixthly, because they are all accepted into high favour with the King of kings. Though a King ⟨p. 291⟩on earth, out of his love to see one person, would do much for many of his kindred, yet it is never seen, that all the kindred universally are preferred and entertained into special favour with the King: yet so it is with all the Godly: it is true of all, and of every one, that they are his peculiar treasure.
Sixtly, because they are all accepted into high fauour with the King of kings. Though a King ⟨p. 291⟩on earth, out of his loue to see one person, would doo much for many of his kinred, yet it is neuer seen, that all the kinred vniuersally are preferred and entertained into speciall fauour with the King: yet so it is with all the Godly: it is true of all, and of euery one, that they are his peculiar treasure.
Seventhly, because all our kindred will do for us: there is none of them but are able to pleasure us: whereas in carnal kindred, one may be a-kin to so great persons, that they will do nothing for them.
Seuenthly, because all our kinred will doo for vs: there is none of them but are able to pleasure vs: whereas in carnal kinred, one may be a-kinne to so great persons, that they will doo nothing for them.
