A17384:1343
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.
Secondly, the Priest-hood of Christians should put them in mind of divers duties, as
Secondly, the Priest-hood of Christians should put them in minde of diuers duties, as
First, it should work in them a care of knowledge: the Priests should preserve knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth. A godly Christian should be able to direct others, and hold forth the light of the Word for the profit of others: and as dumb Ministers are to be disliked, so are dumb Christians too.
First, it should work in them a care of knowledge: the Priests should preserue knowledge, and they should seeke the Law at his mouth. A godly Christian should bee able to direct others, and hold forth the light of the Word for the profit of others: and as dumb Ministers are to be disliked, so are dumbe Christians too.
Secondly, it should teach Christians to strive to be of an harmless, and inoffensive disposition. The Priests in the Law of God were men without blemish: and so should Christians in the Gospel, Phil. 2, 15.
Secondly, it should teach Christians to striue to bee of an harmelesse, and inoffensiue disposition. The Priests in the Law of God were men without blemish: and so should Christians in the Gospel, Phil. 2, 15.
Thirdly, we should hence learn to set the Lord always before us, and to walk before him, seeing it is our office to keep in the Temple, and to be near the Lord.
Thirdly, wee should hence learne to set the Lord alwaies before vs, and to walke before him, seeing it is our office to keepe in the Temple, and to bee neere the Lord.
Fourthly, it should compel upon us a care of our sacrifice: The main work of the Priests was, to offer sacrifices: Now our sacrifices are principally prayers and good works, as more at large is showed on the notes of verse 5. and in these we must be daily employed: But then we must in all our services look to the rules of Sacrificing, which as I said, I have handled at large verse 5. only for the present remember these few things: 1. That their sacrifices are worth nothing, without an Altar to sacrifice them on: and this Altar is Jesus Christ, Heb. 13.10. 2. That thou must have fire to burn the sacrifice on the Altar; and this fire is holy affections, Mark 9. 3. That in all thy sacrifices thou must keep out leaven: now the spiritual leaven, that mars thy sacrifices, are: first, malice: secondly, any notable wickedness: thirdly, evil opinions, fourthly, worldly grief and passions, which like leaven soureth the sacrifice.
Fourthly, it should compell vpon vs a care of our sacrifice: The maine worke of the Priests was, to offer sacrifices: Now our sacrifices are principally praiers and good works, as more at large is shewed on the notes of verse 5. and in these wee must be daily imployed: But then we must in all our seruices looke to the rules of Sacrificing, which as I said, I haue handled at large verse 5. onely for the present remember these few things: 1. That their sacrifices are worth nothing, without an Altar to sacrifice them on: and this Altar is Iesus Christ, Heb. 13.10. 2. That thou must haue fire to burne the sacrifice on the Altar; and this fire is holy affections, Marke 9. 3. That in all thy sacrifices thou must keep out leauen: now the spirituall leauen, that marres thy sacrifices, are: first, malice: secondly, any notable wickednes: thirdly, euill opinions, fourthly, worldly griefe and passions, which like leauen sowreth the sacrifice.
Thus of the second principal use.
Thus of the second principall vse.
Use 3. This may serve for reproof-of divers sorts of men, as,
Vse 3. This may serue for reproofe-of diuers sorts of men, as,
First, of the Papist: They have fire, but no Altar, and therefore cannot sacrifice: They have zeal, but not knowledge, as was said in the case ⟨p. 303⟩of the lewes, who knew not the righteousness of Christ.
First, of the Papist: They haue fire, but no Altar, and therefore cannot sacrifice: They haue zeale, but not knowledge, as was said in the case ⟨p. 303⟩of the lewes, who knew not the righteousnes of Christ.
Secondly, of the carnal Protestants. They have an Altar, in that they profess justification by Christ: but either they have no sacrifice, or no fire. The rich among them bring not their sacrifice of alms, and all sorts neglect prayer and good works; or if they do any service to God, there is no fire to burn the sacrifice: they serve God without zeal and holy affections.
Secondly, of the carnall Protestants. They haue an Altar, in that they professe iustification by Christ: but either they haue no sacrifice, or no fire. The rich among them bring not their sacrifice of almes, and all sorts neglect praier and good works; or if they doo any seruice to God, there is no fire to burn the sacrifice: they serue God without zeal and holy affections.
Thirdly, hypocrites are here rebuked. They bring, for matter, the right sacrifices sometimes, and they have fire too: but it is strange fire many times: they have zeal, but it is rash and unwarranted: they do good duties in an ill manner, or spend their zeal on traditions, either on the left hand, or on the right.
Thirdly, hypocrites are heer rebuked. They bring, for matter, the right sacrifices sometimes, and they haue fire too: but it is strange fire many times: they haue zeal, but it is rash and vnwarranted: they doo good duties in an ill manner, or spend their zeal on traditions, either on the left hand, or on the right.
Fourthly, fearful Christians are here reproved, because when they have sacrifices, and an Altar, and fire too, yet they believe not the atonement may come by it, or the acceptation of them from God.
Fourthly, fearfull Christians are heer reproued, because when they haue sacrifices, and an Altar, and fire too, yet they beleeue not the atonement may come by it, or the acceptation of them from God.
Thus of the fourth point.
An holy Nation.]
The holiness of a Christian is his fifth prerogative, wherein he excels all other people: and the Godly are holy many ways. Some are less principal: some are more principal.
The holinesse of a Christian is his fift prerogatiue, wherein he excels all other people: and the Godly are holy many waies. Some are lesse principall: some are more principall.
First,1 they are holy in respect of GOD's appointment and calling: God hath decreed them to holiness, Eph. 1.4. and created them to good works, Eph. 2.10. and called them to be Saints, 1. Cor. 1.16.
First,1 they are holy in respect of GOD's appointment and calling: God hath decreed them to holinesse, Eph. 1.4. and created them to good works, Eph. 2.10. and called them to bee Saints, 1. Cor. 1.16.
Secondly, they are holy in their sect or kindred. They are of a holy kindred: for, their Head Christ Jesus is infinitely holy, and their brethren are holy brethren, Heb. 4.1.
Secondly, they are holy in their sect or kinred. They are of a holy kinred: for, their Head Christ Iesus is infinitely holy, and their brethren are holy brethren, Heb. 4.1.
