A commentary

Name: A commentary
Author: Nicholas Byfield

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.

Nicholas Byfield 1579–1622London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623

[16], 922, [6] p. · 245k words · STC 4211 · ESTC S107078

Title page typeset from the transcription.

AN EXPOSITION of the Second Chapter of the first Epistle general o… › Verses 19. and 20. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscienc…: Verses 19. and 20. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure…AN EXPOSITION of the Second Chapter of the first Epistle generall o… › Verses 19. and 20. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscienc…: Verses 19. and 20. For this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure…

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.

[ Earlier:3207–3222 of 3,895

:3207p. 773–775

Now, unto the right application of this medicine, four things are requisite. First, the light of knowledge. Secondly, the washing of regeneration. Thirdly, the assurance of Faith. Fourthly, the warmth of love. First, knowledge a man must have both Legal and Evangelical. For they must know by the Law, what sins lie upon the Conscience, ⟨p. 774⟩and trouble it, and they must know by the Gospel, what a propitiation is made by Christ for sins. And for the second, an evil Conscience will never be gotten off, unless our harts be sprinkled, and washed from the filth and power of the sins, which did lie upon the Conscience, Heb. 10.22. 1. Tim. 1.5. Now unto such removing of such sins from the hart, two things are requisite: First, that by particular confession we do, as it were, scratch off the filth of those sins that foul the heart, and trouble the Conscience. Secondly, and then that we wash our harts, and daily rinse them with the tears of true repentance and humiliation before God for those sins. Thirdly, assurance of faith is necessary to the cure of an ill Conscience, because faith is the hand, that lays on the medicine. A man must apply the sufferings of Christ to himself, and believe that Christ did satisfy for those sins that lie upon the conscience, and must accordingly all to besprinkle the conscience with that blood of Christ, and then of an evil Conscience, it will presently become good: but men must look to one thing, and that is that their faith be unfeigned. For Conscience will not be satisfied with the profession of faith: they must believe indeed, and with their harts, and with sound application of the promises of the Gospel concerning the blood of Christ, or else Conscience will not be answered, Heb. 10.22. 1. Tim. 1.5. Fourthly, the heat of love must be added: a man must so apply the blood of Christ, as that his own ⟨p. 775⟩blood be heated in him, with affection both towards God, and Christ and Christians.

Now, vnto the right application of this medicine, foure things are requisite. First, the light of knowledge. Secondly, the washing of regeneration. Thirdly, the assurance of Faith. Fourthly, the warmth of loue. First, knowledge a man must haue both Legall and Euangelicall. For they must knowe by the Law, what sinnes lie vpon the Conscience,

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Transcription key