A17384:3558
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.
Doct. 2. Mortification is the very first step of grace, and the entrance into all power of godliness. Till our sins be soundly crucified and dead. no work of Religion, that is acceptable to God, can be done: and therefore John Baptist, and Christ, and the Apostles call for repentance, as the first thing, that opens a way into the Kingdom of heaven; because else sin unrepented, like a prison, will infect all we do, Isaiah 1.13. to 16. Besides, the heart of man being naturally like a stone or iron, till it be softened, no impression of grace can be fastened upon it: and if the ground of our hearts be not well ploughed up, the •eed of the Word cannot but be lost, Jerem. 4.4. The seed cast upon the high way, will be picked up by the fowls of the air, and not grow: or if any seed, or plant of grace did grow for a while in the heart: yet the weeds of sin would overgrow, and choke all, as is evident in seed sown in thorny ground, or plants set in ground that is not digged and weeded. And further, while the person is evil, the work will be ⟨p. 846⟩vile and abominable. An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit.
Doct. 2. Mortification is the very first step of grace, and the entrance into all power of godlines. Till our sinnes bee foundly crucifyed and dead. no work of Religion, that is acceptable to God, can be done: and therefor Iohn Baptist, and Christ, and the Apostles call for repentance, as the first thing, that opens a way into the Kingdome of heauen; because else sinne vnrepented, like a prison, will infect all wee doe, Esay 1.13. to 16. Besides, the heart of man being naturally like a stone or iron, til it bee softned, no impression of grace can bee fastned vpon it: and if the ground of our hearts be not well plowed vp, the •eed of the Word cannot but bee lost, Ierem. 4.4. The seed cast vpon the high way, will be picked vp by the fowles of the aire, and not growe: or if any seed, or plant of grace did grow for a while in the heart: yet the weedes of sinne would ouergrowe, and choake all, as is euident in seed sowne in thorny ground, or plants set in ground that is not digged and weeded. And further, while the person is euill, the work will be ⟨p. 846⟩