A17384:3710
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.
The first words, expressing our misery, are words borrowed out of the Prophet Isaiah, chapter 53.6, 7. and in the words, unregenerate men, even God's Elect among them, are likened to sheep. A sheep is a certain image to resemble a man by. And so we find in Scripture, that a sheep is the image or resemblance, first, of Christ-man: He is likened to a sheep dumb before his shearer, for his silence and patience at his arraignment, Isaiah 53.7. Secondly, of men that are true believers, for the harmlessness, tractableness, and profitableness, Mat. 25.33. Thirdly, of men that err and wander out of the way of godliness: and so wicked men, before their calling, are likened to wandering sheep; yea, godly men after their calling, in respect of their falls or failings, are likened to sheep going astray; as David saith of himself, Psalm 119. ult. But here it is understood of the Elect of GOD, before their calling.
The first words, expressing our misery, are words borrowed out of the Prophet Esay, chapter 53.6, 7. and in the words, vnregenerate men, euen God's Elect among them, are likened to sheep. A sheep is a certain image to resemble a man by. And so we finde in Scripture, that a sheep is the image or resemblance, first, of Christ-man: He is likened to a sheep dumb before his shearer, for his silence and patience at his arraignment, Esay 53.7. Secondly, of men that are true beleeuers, for the harmlessenes, tractablenesse, and profitablenesse, Mat. 25.33. Thirdly, of men that erre and wander out of the way of godlinesse: and so wicked men, before their calling, are likened to wandring sheep; yea, godly men after their calling, in respect of their falls or failings, are likened to sheep going astray; as Dauid saith of himself, Psalm 119. vlt. But heere it is vnderstood of the Elect of GOD, before their calling.
The word, here rendered Going astray, properly signifies deceived, and is so used in divers places of the new Testament: but the metaphor to the which it is joined, requires it should be expressed, Going astray, or wandering, or erring; but so, as it doth import two things. First, the evil condition of the unregenerate: they are like wandering sheep. Secondly, the curse of it; and that is, they are deceived, they are as sheep deceived.