A17384:3359
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.
Quest. Now, the special question is, What must we distinctly learn from the sufferings of Christ?
Quest. Now, the speciall question is, What must wee distinctly learn from the sufferings of Christ?
Ans. There are many things wherein Christ hath set us an example in his sufferings, which we may and ought to learn from him; as,
Ans. There are many things wherein Christ hath set vs an example in his sufferings, which wee may and ought to learn from him; as,
1First, his sufferings should make us willing to resolve to suffer, if God call us to it: it should teach us to stand upon our guard, and look for war; as resolved, It is meet we suffer with him, if we mean to reign with him, 2. Tim. 2.11.
1First, his sufferings should make vs willing to resolue to suffer, if God call vs to it: it should teach vs to stand vpon our guard, and look for warre; as resolued, It is meet we suffer with him, if we mean to raigne with him, 2. Tim. 2.11.
Secondly, when he was tempted, or troubled in Spirit, he left us an example for the manner of the fight, and which way we should make resistance and overcome; and that is, by the Word of God and prayer: for, he beat the devil away by Scripture, ⟨p. 805⟩Mat. 4. And in all his special agonies, we still hear him praying and making his moan to his Father.
Secondly, when he was tempted, or troubled in Spirit, he left vs an example for the manner of the fight, and which way wee should make resistance and ouercome; and that is, by the Word of God and praier: for, he beat the diuell away by Scripture, ⟨p. 805⟩Mat. 4. And in all his speciall agonies, wee still heare him praying and making his mone to his Father.
Thirdly, he left us a pattern of matchless humility, and told us, if ever we would learn any thing of him, we should learn of him to be lowly and meek; who, being the Son of God, was abased to take upon him the form of a servant, and in worlds of occasions to deny himself, and his own greatness & reputation, Mat. 11.29. Phil. 2.6, 7.
Thirdly, hee left vs a pattern of matchlesse humility, and told vs, if euer wee would learne any thing of him, we should learn of him to bee lowly and meek; who, beeing the Sonne of God, was abased to take vpon him the form of a seruant, and in worlds of occasions to deny himself, and his owne greatnes & reputation, Mat. 11.29. Phil. 2.6, 7.
Fourthly, we may learn from his suffering condition, the contempt of the world. Why should we seek great things for our selves, when our Lord and Saviour was in some cases worse provided for than the birds of the air, and foxes of the field, as not having a place where to lay his head. And therefore he suffered without the City, to teach us, that we also have here no abiding City, but should cast all our cares upon providing for our eternal habitation in heaven, Heb. 13.11, 12.
Fourthly, we may learn from his suffering condition, the contempt of the world. Why should we seek great things for our selues, when our Lord and Sauiour was in some cases worse prouided for than the birds of the aire, and foxes of the field, as not hauing a place where to lay his head. And therfore he suffred without the City, to teach vs, that we also haue heer no abiding City, but should cast all our cares vpon prouiding for our eternall habitation in heauen, Heb. 13.11, 12.
Fifthly, we should learn obedience from him towards our heavenly Father. Christ obeys his Father even in hard commandments, against his credit, ease, liberty, yea, life it self: and therefore we should learn to desire to go and do likewise.
Fiftly, we should learn obedience from him towards our heauenly Father. Christ obeyes his Father euen in hard commandements, against his credit, ease, liberty, yea, life it self: and therefore we should learn to desire to go and doo likewise.
Sixthly, he left us an example of loving one another, and gave a special charge, we should prove our selves to be his, and to be like him indeed, as his true Disciples, by loving one another, John 13. Eph. 5.2.
Sixtly, hee left vs an example of louing one another, and gaue a speciall charge, we should prooue our selues to bee his, and to be like him indeed, as his true Disciples, by louing one another, Iohn 13. Eph. 5.2.
Seventhly, we should learn patience of him when we do suffer, though strange things should ⟨p. 806⟩befall us. What though we should be betrayed or forsaken of our friends in our just cause, or suffer injuries, or be falsely accused even of heinous crimes, or most basely used, even to be buffeted, derided, spitted on, or to see vile wretches, and gross offenders preferred before us, or lose all we have, to our very garments, &c. yet none of these things should be grievous to us, because all these things befell our Lord and Master in a worse measure and manner, than they can befall us: yea, we should be patient, though it were to lose our lives, as he did.
Seuenthly, wee should learn patience of him when we doo suffer, though strange things should ⟨p. 806⟩befall vs. What though we should be betraied or forsaken of our friends in our iust cause, or suffer iniuries, or bee falsely accused euen of hainous crimes, or most basely vsed, euen to bee buffetted, derided, spetted on, or to see vile wretches, and grosse offenders preferred before vs, or lose all we haue, to our very garments, &c. yet none of these things should bee grieuous to vs, because all these things befell our Lord and Master in a worse measure and manner, than they can befall vs: yea, wee should be patient, though it were to lose our liues, as he did.
Eighthly, he left us also an example of hope in suffering: for, when he suffered shame and misery in this life, he looked upon the joy and crown in another world; thereby teaching us, with whole arguments to fence our selves against all the scorns and miseries of this world, Heb. 12.3.
Eightthly, he left vs also an example of hope in suffering: for, when he suffred shame and misery in this life, hee looked vpon the ioy and crown in another world; thereby teaching vs, with whole arguments to fense our selues against all the scorns and miseries of this world, Heb. 12.3.
Ninthly, he left us a pattern of mercy; who made himself poor, to make us rich: and therefore how much more should we, out of our abundance, yield some supply to others wants? 2. Cor. 8, &c.
Ninthly, hee left vs a patterne of mercy; who made himself poor, to make vs rich: and therefore how much more should we, out of our abundance, yeeld some supply to others wants? 2. Cor. 8, &c.
Lastly, the mortification and crucifying of the old man, is to be learned from the Passion of Christ, Rom. 6. For, look how Christ was used, so should we use our sins: he was crucified; and so should we crucify our sins, piercing the heart of them by confession and godly sorrow, and so hanging them up upon the Cross, till they be dead.
Lastly, the mortification and crucifying of the ould man, is to bee learned from the Passion of Christ, Rom. 6. For, look how Christ was vsed, so should we vse our sinnes: he was crucified; and so should we crucifie our sinnes, piercing the heart of them by confession and godly sorrow, and so hanging them vp vpon the Crosse, till they be dead.
Thus we see, that Christ hath set us a large copy, and that many things are to be learned from his example.
Thus we see, that Christ hath set vs a large copy, and that many things are to bee learned from his example.
Quest. But doth Christ's example bind us to imitation in all things?
Quest. But doth Christ's example binde vs to imitation in all things?
Answ. In many things it doth bind, but in all things it doth not bind. There are divers things that Christ did, which to leave undone by us, is no sin:1 as, the works of his Power and Omnipotency are not imitable; and so also the works of his Office, as Mediator, are peculiar to himself, and cannot be done by us. Besides, a world of indifferent actions of his, divers of which are recorded; yet all men grant, they do not bind us to exact imitation, though they be things we have power to do. He sate and preached: he received the Sacrament in a private chamber at night, and gave it only to Clergy-men, and used unleavened bread, &c.
Answ. In many things it doth binde, but in all things it doth not binde. There are diuers things that Christ did, which to leaue vndone by vs, is no sinne:1 as, the works of his Power and Omnipotency are not imitable; and so also the works of his Office, as Mediator, are peculiar to himselfe, and cannot be done by vs. Besides, a world of indifferent actions of his, diuers of which are recorded; yet all men grant, they doo not binde vs to exact imitation, though they be things wee haue power to doo. He sate and preached: he receiued the Sacrament in a priuate chamber at night, and gaue it onely to Clergy-men, and vsed vnleauened bread, &c.
Quest. But what rules are then left to ground our practice upon▪ and how far are our consciences bound by examples, and so by the example of Christ?
Quest. But what rules are then left to ground our practice vpon▪ and how far are our consciences bound by examples, and so by the example of Christ?
