A17384:3688
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. First, for information; and so it may show us the wonder of Gods working, that can do ⟨p. 881⟩great things by means, in respect of us altogether unlikely. We hold it a thing almost beyond belief, that the applying of medicines to the sword that wounded a man, shall make the wounds heal in a man. But this here is a mystery, that only the Christian Religion can tell of, of which there never was president in nature: that The wounding of one Man should heal another, or that the stripes of the Captain should cure all his diseased soldiers: and yet thus it is, even thus is the Lord pleased to glorify the power of his working. Secondly, we may hence be informed of the precious use of every part of Christs sufferings; not his dying only doth us good, but every thing he did endure: His stripes cure our wounds: his shame wrought our honour: His temptations drave the devils from us: not any thing was done to him by his adversaries, but GOD made it work for our good. Shall we then dare to take offence at the cross of Christ? Have we not reason to glory in it above all things?1 Thirdly, do we not here see, how hateful sin is in Gods sight, and how foul our diseases are, when nothing can cure us, but Christs blood, and that must be fetched out of him with the best stripes, which the hands of the wicked inflicted upon him. Oh the hardness of our hearts, that can see Christ thus used for our sins, and yet are not persuaded, that sin is hateful to God! Oh how should we be sorry for our Saviour, and mourn to think of it, as we would for our only sons! Would it not grieve us at the heart, if we should see the young Prince, the Kings ⟨p. 882⟩son basely whipped by our adversaries, only for our affairs? Oh what hearts have we, that (as bad as they are) would be melted to see this done to a Kings son, and yet are not troubled to know, it was done to Gods Son? Fourthly, we may see, what wicked malice will do, if it be not restrained: to disgrace our Saviour, to get a sentence against him, to bind him hand and foot, yea to kill him, will not serve their turns, unless they may most basely scourge him before he dies. That malicious men now do not always so, is not, because their malice doth not tend to it, but because either God, or man restrains them.