A17384:319
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.
First, that grace is wrought in Christians by degrees. Christ is revealed in us by four degrees. First, as a child, or little babe new formed and borne: Secondly, as a young man in more strength, and vigour, and comeliness, and activeness: Thirdly, as a father, or old man settled with long experience: these three are in this life, and mentioned 1. Joh. 2.14. Now the fourth is, when Christ shall appear in us as the Ancient of days, like God himself in a marvellous glorious resemblance ⟨p. 66⟩of the holiness, and properties of God: And this shall be in another world. The use should be both for thankfulness, if Christ be formed in us to any degree, and to incite our industry in all the means appointed of God, seeing we receive gifts by degrees, and not all at once.
First, that grace is wrought in Christians by degrees. Christ is reuealed in vs by foure degrees. First, as a child, or little babe new formed and borne: Secondly, as a yong man in more strength, and vigour, and comeliness, and actiueness: Thirdly, as a father, or old man settled with long experience: these three are in this life, and mentioned 1. Ioh. 2.14. Now the fourth is, when Christ shall appear in vs as the Antient of daies, like God himself in a maruelous glorious resemblance ⟨p. 66⟩of the holiness, and properties of God: And this shall bee in another world. The vse should bee both for thankfulnes, if Christ bee formed in vs to any degree, and to incite our industry in all the meanes appointed of God, seeing wee receiue gifts by degrees, and not all at once.
Secondly, that true grace may stand with many weaknesses. A child doth truly live, and yet it is very ignorant, & infirm, & wayward, & fit for little or no employment: such may Christians be for a time, such were the very disciples of Christ for a time: such were the Corinthians,