A17384:3525
A commentary
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.
Uses. We have therefore cause to rejoice in the cross of Christ above all things: For on the tree, he freed us from the curses of the Law, and purchased for us the blessings promised to Abraham, as the father of the faithful, Gal. 3.13, 14. and besides, by suffering so shameful a death, he hath sanctified all sorts of ways of inflicting death upon the godly, so as now they may with comfort in a good cause, or after repentance for their faults, even suffer that death on a tree with joy. And we should the more praise God for his favour, if he suffer any of us to die of any other more easy, or more honourable death. And then we may again see the ⟨p. 838⟩hatefulness of sin, in that God, punishing our sins in the person of his own Son, doth not omit the very circumstances of abasement; his justice exacting not only death, but that painful and ignominious death on the tree. Lastly, hence we may see, how little cause there is for Christians to plead merit, if they think how fearfully sin hath angered God; and withal, how senseless the best of us are, when we hear, read, or think of these sufferings of Christ: they may rather see cause, for ever to abhor the doctrine of merit, seeing hereby we proclaim our selves to be worthy of the very merits of Christ, that can be so little affected with the thought of his sufferings.
Vses. We haue therefore cause to reioyce in the crosse of Christ aboue all things: For on the tre, hee freed vs from the curses of the Law, and purchased for vs the blessings promised to Abraham, as the father of the faithfull, Gal. 3.13, 14. and besides, by suffering so shamefull a death, he hath sanctified all sorts of waies of inflicting death vpon the godly, so as now they may with comfort in a good cause, or after repentance for their faults, euen suffer that death on a tree with ioy. And wee should the more praise God for his fauour, if he suffer any of vs to die of any other more easie, or more honourable death. And then wee may againe see the ⟨p. 838⟩hatefulnesse of sinne, in that God, punishing our sinnes in the person of his owne Sonne, doth not omit the very circumstances of abasement; his iustice exacting not onely death, but that painefull and ignominious death on the tree. Lastly, hence we may see, how little cause there is for Christians to plead merit, if they think how fearfully sinne hath angred God; and withall, how senselesse the best of vs are, when wee heare, read, or think of these sufferings of Christ: they may rather see cause, for euer to abhorre the doctrine of merit, seeing heerby we proclaim our selues to bee worthy of the very merits of Christ, that can be so little affected with the thought of his suffrings.