A17384:3364
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.
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?
Ans. Examples,1 and so the example of Christ, bind us in the things he did, which were required by the moral Law, or the Word of God. For, an example is but the illustration of a precept: it is but like the seal to a blank, if there be no precept. Secondly, in other things which Christ did, not required by the Law, we are so far forth tied to follow his practice, as he hath for those specialties given himself a precept: as here we are bound to suffer from others, and for others, if need require, by the force of Christ's example; but so, as it is specified, that his example binds in this and other ⟨p. 808⟩things. But where the Scripture doth not make use of his example, there we are not bound, in things indifferent in their own nature, to follow any example out of necessity.
Ans. Examples,1 and so the example of Christ, binde vs in the things he did, which were required by the morall Law, or the Word of God. For, an example is but the illustration of a precept: it is but like the seal to a blank, if there be no precept. Secondly, in other things which Christ did, not required by the Law, wee are so farre forth tied to follow his practice, as he hath for those specialties giuen himself a precept: as heer wee are bound to suffer from others, and for others, if need require, by the force of Christ's example; but so, as it is specified, that his example bindes in this and other ⟨p. 808⟩things. But where the Scripture doth not make vse of his example, there wee are not bound, in things indifferent in their owne nature, to follow any example out of necessity.
Hitherto of the end of Christ's suffering: the manner follows, set down both negatively and affirmatively. Negatively, He suffered without sin, in this verse; and without reviling, in the next verse. Affirmatively, He committed himself and his cause to him that judgeth righteously.
HItherto of the end of Christ's suffering: the manner followes, set down both negatiuely and affirmatiuely. Negatiuely, Hee suffred without sinne, in this verse; and without reuiling, in the next verse. Affirmatiuely, Hee committed himself and his cause to him that iudgeth righteously.
He did no sin: [Greek or Hebrew].]
He did no sin: 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.]
The words of this verse do commend the innocency of this our Saviour: which doth much increase the price and value of his sufferings. He suffered for the sins of others, that never committed any sin himself, in thought, word, or deed: and as he was innocent in all the course of his life; so did he bear his sufferings without fault, and carried himself so, as no man could find any just occasion against him.
The words of this verse do commend the innocency of this our Sauiour: which doth much increase the price and value of his sufferings. He suffred for the sinnes of others, that neuer committed any sinne himself, in thought, word, or deed: and as hee was innocent in all the course of his life; so did he beare his suffrings without fault, and carried himself so, as no man could finde any iust occasion against him.
