A17384:2826
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.
As for the freedom of Christians from the Judicial Laws; that must be understood with a distinction: for so many of the Judicial Laws, as did agree with the common political law of Nature, are in force: only so much of the Judicial law, as did only concern the singular & particular policy of the Jews, is abolished. Where the reason of the Law is Universal, the Law binds all: where the respect and reason of the Law is fitted only to the condition of that people, there the law is abolished.
As for the freedome of Christians from the Iudiciall Lawes; that must be vnderstood with a distinction: for so many of the Iudicial Lawes, as did agree with the common politicall law of Nature, are in force: only so much of the Iudicial law, as did only concern the singular & particular policy of the Iewes, is abolished. Where the reason of the Law is Vniuersal, the Law binds all: where the respect and reason of the Law is fitted onely to the condition of that people, there the law is abolisht.
Sixthly, from servile fear, unto which we are, and were in bondage by Nature, and so we are freed from the servile fears of the grave, of men, of death: there was a spirit of bondage in us by nature, we durst not come into Gods presence, and legal terrors did lie at the door of our hearts, to drive us to despair of mercy or acceptation. But when Faith came, then the spirit of bondage went ⟨p. 674⟩away, and the hearts of Christians are emboldened with spiritual liberty and firm confidence; taking delight in the Law of God, in the inner man, Rō. 8.15. Luke 1.74. And there was likewise in us by Nature, a fear of the reproach and rage of men, and the oppositions and scorns of the World, from which God's children are so delivered, that many times they have contemned the uttermost fury of Tyrants; as Daniel and his companions, and the Martyrs, and the Patriarchs, and Moses, &c. and from the fear of death. We were all in bondage to it all our life; but now Christ hath delivered us, by destroying him that had the power of death,