A17384:3335
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, it should work in us sorrow and hearty grief for our sins: we should now mourn as heartily for piercing Christ by our sins, as if we had lost an only child, &c. We complain of the Jews, and Judas, and Pilate for abusing him: But the truth is, it was thy sins, and my sins, that brought him to suffer for them, our debt was laid upon him: We that are principals, are escaped; and he that was our surety, hath payed for it, even to the uttermost farthing. And if there were no other reason to show, how little reason Christ had to suffer for us; even this were sufficient, that our hearts are so hard, as we cannot be grieved to remember his sorrows for our sins.
Secondly, it should work in vs sorrow and harty griefe for our sinnes: wee should now mourne as heartily for piercing Christ by our sinnes, as if wee had lost an onely child, &c. We complaine of the Iewes, and Iudas, and Pilate for abusing him: But the truth is, it was thy sinnes, and my sinnes, that brought him to suffer for them, our debt was laid vpon him: We that are principals, are escaped; and he that was our surety, hath paied for it, euen to the vttermost farthing. And if there were no other reason to shew, how little reason Christ had to suffer for vs; euen this were sufficient, that our hearts are so hard, as we cannot bee grieued to remember his sorrowes for our sinnes.
Thirdly, it should especially work in us a hatred of our sins, and a full and final resolution to sin no more, but to consecrate our whole life unto him, and to his service, that hath suffered for us, and by suffering, paid so dear a price. Shall we not live to him that died for us? Or do we so little care for his sorrow, as by new sins we would, as much as in us lieth, crucify again the Son of ⟨p. 799⟩God? Take heed of despising the blood of Christ, lest you sin so long, till there be no more Sacrifice for sin, 2. Cor. 5.15. Heb. 6.
Thirdly, it should especially work in vs a hatred of our sinnes, and a full and finall resolution to sin no more, but to consecrate our whole life vnto him, and to his seruice, that hath suffered for vs, and by suffering, paid so dear a price. Shall we not liue to him that died for vs? Or doe wee so little care for his sorrow, as by newe sinnes wee would, as much as in vs lieth, crucify againe the Sonne of ⟨p. 799⟩God? Take heed of despising the blood of Christ, lest you sinne so long, till there bee no more Sacrifice for sinne, 2. Cor. 5.15. Heb. 6.
Fourthly, we should strive to be disposed, as the Apostle Paul was, to glory in the cross and sufferings of Christ above all things, seeing his sufferings were for us, to satisfy and merit for us. It must needs be an estate of wonderful safety and felicity, that is purchased by such variety of sufferings of the Son of God. As the world despiseth us: so we should with singular and secret rejoicing despise and contemn the world, having such interest in the cross of Christ, Gal. 6.14.
Fourthly, wee should striue to bee disposed, as the Apostle Paul was, to glory in the crosse and suffrings of Christ aboue all things, seeing his sufferings were for vs, to satisfy and merit for vs. It must needs be an estate of wonderfull safety and felicity, that is purchased by such variety of sufferings of the Sonne of God. As the world despiseth vs: so wee should with singular and secret reioycing despise and contemne the world, hauing such interest in the crosse of Christ, Gal. 6.14.
Lastly, it should work in us a most hearty willingness to suffer any thing for Christ and the Gospel, that hath suffered such extreme things for us: it should not be grievous to us to forsake father, or mother, or wife, or children, or house, or lands, or our own lives for his sake, or for the Gospel, Mark 10.29.
Lastly, it should work in vs a most harty willingnesse to suffer any thing for Christ and the Gospel, that hath suffered such extreme things for vs: it should not bee grieuous to vs to forsake father, or mother, or wife, or children, or house, or lands, or our owne liues for his sake, or for the Gospel, Mark 10.29.
Thus of the second thing in the doctrine of the passion of Christ.
The third thing is the use of it, and that is, to be an example unto us, that we might walk in his steps.
The third thing is the vse of it, and that is, to bee an example vnto vs, that wee might walk in his steps.
Leaving us an example.]
Leauing vs an example.]
The end then of the sufferings of Christ, is to be an example to us to learn by. The word rendered an example, is a metaphor taken from Scriveners, or Painters, and signifies properly a copy or pattern, or portraiture of a thing exactly drawn out: we are then set to school to learn by example: ⟨p. 800⟩Christs sufferings are as a Writing-school, where the Copies are most exactly drawn.
The end then of the sufferings of Christ, is to be an example to vs to learne by. The word rendred an example, is a metaphor taken from Scriueners, or Painters, and signifies properly a copy or patterne, or portraiture of a thing exactly drawne out: wee are then set to schoole to learne by example: ⟨p. 800⟩Christs suffrings are as a Writing-schoole, where the Copies are most exactly drawne.
Before I come to the particulars we should bear for Christ in his suffering, divers things may be briefly noted out of the words, especially about examples.
Before I come to the particulars wee should beare for Christ in his suffering, diuers things may bee briefely noted out of the words, especially about examples.
Doct. 1. God would have us learn by examples, as well as by precept: and thence it is, the Scripture is so stored with all sorts of examples.
Doct. 1. God would haue vs learne by examples, as well as by precept: and thence it is, the Scripture is so stored with all sorts of examples.
Doct. 2. Such as give good example of well-doing, are as a common treasure; many may learn good by them. Good examples are like common schools, and the better, because they are Free-schools, we may learn from example without cost. Though thou couldst not show all the means thou desirest, yet to give a good example of sound life and holiness, is a great treasure in the Church: It doth not only make Religion well spoken of, but it profits many, to teach their well-doing: And therefore such as shine by the light of good example, should be much made of in every place: and they sin fearfully, that wrong them, &c.
Doct. 2. Such as giue good example of well-doing, are as a common treasure; many may learne good by them. Good examples are like common schooles, and the better, because they are Free-schooles, wee may learne from example without cost. Though thou couldst not shew all the meanes thou desirest, yet to giue a good example of sound life and holines, is a great treasure in the Church: It doth not only make Religion wel spoken of, but it profits many, to teach their wel-doing: And therefore such as shine by the light of good example, should bee much made of in euery place: and they sinne fearefully, that wrong them, &c.
Doct. 3. It requires a special goodness, to be fit to be an example to others, which the metaphor imports: For every man that can write, yet cannot set Copies for other men to write by: so every good Christian is not able to teach by example to the life, but with great imperfection: some had more need to be learners, then to be teachers, and therefore should not be over-hasty to show their gifts.
Doct. 3. It requires a speciall goodnes, to be fit to be an example to others, which the metaphor imports: For euery man that can write, yet cannot set Copies for other men to write by: so euery good Christian is not able to teach by example to the life, but with great imperfection: some had more need to bee learners, then to bee teachers, and therefore should not bee ouer-hasty to shew their gifts.
Doct. 4. Good examples are very scarce in the ⟨p. 801⟩world, & therefore Christ is fain to leave us one of his own: the skilful practice of Gods Word is so rare, that it is very hard to find a man whom we would set before us, as a pattern to imitate.
Doct. 4. Good examples are very scarce in the ⟨p. 801⟩world, & therfore Christ is faine to leaue vs one of his owne: the skilfull practice of Gods Word is so rare, that it is very hard to finde a man whom wee would set before vs, as a pattern to imitate.
Doct. 5. There was very great need of Christs example to teach us by. The world is so generally fallen away from the care of obedience, and the doctrine of well-doing is entertained so dully, as a very matter of form and for outward show, and the examples of the godly are so imperfect, that it was necessary, after so many hundreds of years, in which sound practice was neglected, that the Christian world should be fired with the incitations of so exquisite a pattern of obedience, as Christs was.
Doct. 5. There was very great need of Christs example to teach vs by. The world is so generally falne away from the care of obedience, and the doctrine of well-doing is intertayned so dully, as a very matter of forme and for outward shew, and the examples of the godly are so imperfect, that it was necessary, after so many hundreds of yeers, in which sound practice was neglected, that the Christian world should bee fired with the incitations of so exquisite a patterne of obedience, as Christs was.
Doct. 6. Christs example is to be imitated by degrees. God doth not look we should follow the copy exactly at the first: which similitude imports a great deal of encouragement to the weak, but willing Christian, and withal shows the doubtful estate of such Christians, as in a short time and with little labour think they have learned the substance of all Christianity.
Doct. 6. Christs example is to bee imitated by degrees. God doth not looke we should follow the copy exactly at the first: which similitude imports a great deale of incouragement to the weak, but willing Christian, and withall shewes the doubtful estate of such Christians, as in a short time and with little labour think they haue learned the substance of all Christianity.
Doct. 7. In that he saith, Leaving us an example, it imports, that many good works tarry behind the godly in the world. For though it be true, that their works follow them to heaven, yet it is true also, they are left behind. They follow them to heaven, in respect of GODs remembrance and acknowledgement of them, and they tarry behind them, in respect of the example of them, and the praiseful memory of them amongst men. Welldoing ⟨p. 802⟩cannot be lost, which withal imports, that it is a great honour and comfort, when a man goes out of the world, to leave the memory and pattern of good works behind him: and it is a fearful thing for such men as go out of the world, to leave an ill report behind them, and die an example of evil doers: though those could leave a great estate in worldly things, yet are they most accursed, because they leave behind them such an ill sent and savour, by reason of their filthy, or vain, or worldly kind of living.
Doct. 7. In that hee saith, Leauing vs an example, it imports, that many good works tarry behind the godly in the world. For though it bee true, that their works follow them to heauen, yet it is true also, they are left behind. They follow them to heauen, in respect of GODs remembrance and acknowledgement of them, and they tarry behind them, in respect of the example of them, and the praisefull memory of them amongst men. Weldoing ⟨p. 802⟩cannot bee lost, which withall imports, that it is a great honour and comfort, when a man goes out of the world, to leaue the memory and patterne of good works behinde him: and it is a fearefull thing for such men as goe out of the world, to leaue an ill report behind them, and die an example of euill doers: though those could leaue a great estate in worldly things, yet are they most accursed, because they leaue behind them such an ill sent and sauour, by reason of their filthy, or vaine, or worldly kind of liuing.
