A17384:3319
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.
Fifthly, we may hence learn, that Christ suffered willingly and of his own accord. For in that he that is God suffered, it shows he had power ⟨p. 795⟩to preserve himself so, as all the world could not have forced him to suffer: and therefore we have cause so much the more to admire his love to us, that suffered for our sakes, as the next point will show.
Fiftly, wee may hence learne, that Christ suffered willingly and of his owne accord. For in that hee that is God suffered, it shewes hee had power ⟨p. 795⟩to preserue himselfe so, as all the world could not haue forced him to suffer: and therefore wee haue cause so much the more to admire his loue to vs, that suffered for our sakes, as the next point will shew.
Sixthly, we may hence learn to know, how abominable sin is, that makes the Son of God suffer miserable things, if he become a surety for sin.
Sixtly, wee may hence learne to know, how abominable sinne is, that makes the Sonne of God suffer miserable things, if hee become a surety for sinne.
Seventhly, we may hence learn to know the inevitable destruction, and fearful perdition of impenitent sinners. For if God spared not his own Son, that was but a surety for sin, and did none himself: will he ever spare them, that are principals and monstrous offenders?
Seuenthly, wee may hence learne to know the ineuitable destruction, and fearefull perdition of impenitent sinners. For if God spared not his own Sonne, that was but a surety for sinne, and did none himselfe: will hee euer spare them, that are principals and monstrous offenders?
Eighthly, did even Christ suffer? then we should evermore arm our selves with the same mind, and provide to suffer in the flesh, 1. Pet. 4.1. It is a shame for us to expect, or desire a life of ease and prosperity, seeing the Prince of our salvation was consecrated through afflictions, Heb. 2.10. and 12.3. And the more should we be confirmed to suffer in willingness in this life, because God hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son in sufferings, Rom. 8.29.
Eightly, did euen Christ suffer? then we should euermore arme our selues with the same minde, and prouide to suffer in the flesh, 1. Pet. 4.1. It is a shame for vs to expect, or desire a life of ease and prosperity, seeing the Prince of our saluation was consecrated through afflictions, Heb. 2.10. and 12.3. And the more should wee bee confirmed to suffer in willingnes in this life, because God hath predestinated vs to bee conformed to the image of his Sonne in sufferings, Rom. 8.29.
Lastly, in that it was Christ that suffered, we may hence gather comfort to our selves in his passion, all the days of our life, because his sufferings must needs be of infinite merit, being the sufferings of him that is God as well as man.
Lastly, in that it was Christ that suffered, wee may hence gather comfort to our selues in his passion, all the daies of our life, because his sufferings must needes bee of infinite merit, being the sufferings of him that is God as well as man.
Thus of the Person suffering.
The persons for whom he suffered, follow.
The persons for whom hee suffered, follow.
For us.]
For vs.]
The sufferings of Christ were not casual, such as befell him for no use: nor were they deserved by himself. For he never offended God, nor did he seek his own peculiar good in them, but he suffered all he did, for our sakes, Isaiah 53▪5. He was wounded for our transgressions: the chastisement of our peace was laid upon him: and verse 8. He was plagued for the transgression of God's people: and as the Apostle saith, he was delivered to death for our sins, and rose again for our justification, Rom. 4.25. He was sacrificed for us, 1. Cor. 5.7. He gave himself for us, Ephes. 5.2.
The sufferings of Christ were not casuall, such as befell him for no vse: nor were they deserued by himselfe. For hee neuer offended God, nor did hee seeke his owne peculiar good in them, but hee suffered all hee did, for our sakes, Esay 53▪5. Hee was wounded for our transgressions: the chasticement of our peace was laid vpon him: and verse 8. Hee was plagued for the transgression of God's people: and as the Apostle saith, hee was deliuered to death for our sinnes, and rose againe for our iustification, Rom. 4.25. Hee was sacrificed for vs, 1. Cor. 5.7. Hee gaue himselfe for vs, Ephes. 5.2.
Now he suffered for us in divers respects, as,
Now hee suffered for vs in diuers respects, as,
1First, to make satisfaction unto the Justice of God for our sins, and to appease the wrath of God toward us, as the former places show: His sufferings were a sacrifice for sin: He bare the curses of the Law, which were due to us, Gal. 3.10. And thus he payed our ransom, and pacified God, especially in his death and burial: He nailed the hand-writing that was against us, to his cross, Col. 2.15. And as Jonah was cast into the bowels of the sea, to still the raging of it, so was Christ cast into the bowels of the earth, to make the seas of Gods wrath quiet for us.
1First, to make satisfaction vnto the Iustice of God for our sinnes, and to appease the wrath of God toward vs, as the former places shew: His sufferings were a sacrifice for sinne: Hee bare the curses of the Law, which were due to vs, Gal. 3.10. And thus he paied our ransome, and pacified God, especially in his death and buriall: He nayled the hand-writing that was against vs, to his crosse, Col. 2.15. And as Ionas was cast into the bowels of the sea, to still the raging of it, so was Christ cast into the bowels of the earth, to make the seas of Gods wrath quiet for vs.
Secondly, he suffered, as to make satisfaction for our sins, so, together with that satisfaction, to remove from us the many miseries might have fallen upon us for our sins. Thus he was judged and condemned at the bar of Pilate, that we might be acquitted at the bar of God: He endured ⟨p. 797⟩all sorts of pains and torments in soul and body, that we might be delivered from eternal torments in hell: He died, that he might deliver us from death and the fear of it, and from him, which had the power of death, which is the devil, Rom. 6.10. Heb. 2.13. He was crucified, that he might abolish the power of sin in us, Rom. 6.10.
Secondly, hee suffered, as to make satisfaction for our sinnes, so, together with that satisfaction, to remoue from vs the many miseries might haue falne vpon vs for our sinnes. Thus hee was iudged and condemned at the barre of Pilate, that we might bee acquitted at the barre of God: Hee endured ⟨p. 797⟩all sorts of paines and torments in soule and body, that wee might bee deliuered from eternall torments in hell: Hee died, that hee might deliuer vs from death and the feare of it, and from him, which had the power of death, which is the diuel, Rom. 6.10. Heb. 2.13. Hee was crucified, that hee might abolish the power of sinne in vs, Rom. 6.10.
Thirdly, He suffered for us, that so by his sufferings He might merit the supply of our wants, and the possession of happiness: He suffered, to make us blessed. Thus he died, to ratify the eternal counsel, Heb. 9.15, 16, 17. He was poor, to make us rich, 2. Cor. 8.9. He was bound, to make us free: He was unclothed, to cover our nakedness: He was forsaken of God for a time, that we might be received to everlasting mercy: He was crowned with a crown of thorns, that He might merit for us a crown of glory: He found no mercy from the Priests and Jews, that we might find sure mercy with God; He was cast out of the earthly Jerusalem▪ and suffered without the gates, that He might provide a place for us in the heavenly Jerusalem.
Thirdly, He suffered for vs, that so by his sufferings He might merit the supply of our wants, and the possession of happines: He suffered, to make vs blessed. Thus hee died, to ratifie the eternall counsell, Heb. 9.15, 16, 17. Hee was poore, to make vs rich, 2. Cor. 8.9. Hee was bound, to make vs free: Hee was vnclothed, to couer our nakednes: Hee was forsaken of God for a time, that we might be receiued to euerlasting mercy: Hee was crowned with a crowne of thornes, that He might merit for vs a crowne of glory: Hee found no mercy from the Priests and Iewes, that wee might finde sure mercy with God; He was cast out of the earthly Ierusalem▪ and suffered without the gates, that He might prouide a place for vs in the heauenly Ierusalem.
Fourthly, He suffered for us in this, that he suffered, that so he might have a sympathy of our sufferings, and have a feeling of our miseries: He suffered being tempted▪ that he might be able to secure us being tempted, Heb. 2.17, 18. and 4.15.
Fourthly, He suffered for vs in this, that he suffered, that so hee might haue a sympathy of our sufferings, and haue a feeling of our miseries: Hee suffered being tempted▪ that hee might bee able to secure vs being tempted, Heb. 2.17, 18. and 4.15.
The consideration hereof may serve for divers uses.
The consideration heerof may serue for diuers vses.
Uses. First, it should breed in us an admiration of the love of Christ to us, that could ever be willing ⟨p. 798⟩to become surety for us, and suffer for us, especially considering what we were, viz. unjust men, 1. Pet. 3.18. wicked men, Rom. 5.6. enemies to him, Rom. Chap. 5.8, 10. That one should dye for a good or righteous man, or for one that is a common good for, or to other men, is very rare: But it might be, Jonathan might die for David, or a subject be willing to die for a good Prince: but no man would die for his enemies, as CHRIST died for us.
Vses. First, it should breed in vs an admiration of the loue of Christ to vs, that could euer be willing ⟨p. 798⟩to become surety for vs, and suffer for vs, especially considering what wee were, viz. vniust men, 1. Pet. 3.18. wicked men, Rom. 5.6. enemies to him, Rom. Chap. 5.8, 10. That one should dye for a good or righteous man, or for one that is a common good for, or to other men, is very rare: But it might bee, Ionathan might die for Dauid, or a subiect bee willing to die for a good Prince: but no man would die for his enemies, as CHRIST died for vs.
