A17384:523
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 use may be both for information, instruction, and consolation.
The vse may be both for information, instruction, and consolation.
First, we may hence be informed, that Christ is God with the Father. For, the which the Prophet David, Psalm 34 (whence the words of the former verse are borrowed) Give to God, the Apostle applies here unto Christ: and the reason of the application may in the second place inform us, that God is gracious to men only by Jesus Christ. It is impossible ever to feel or taste of Gods graciousness, but in his Son. And, thirdly, we are here told, as it were, that Christ is God visible. God is made visible and sensible to men ⟨p. 117⟩by Jesus Christ: This is that mystery of godliness: God is manifested in the flesh.
First, we may hence be informed, that Christ is God with the Father. For, the which the Prophet Dauid, Psalme 34 (whence the words of the former verse are borrowed) Giue to God, the Apostle applies heer vnto Christ: and the reason of the application may in the second place inform vs, that God is gracious to men onely by Iesus Christ. It is impossible euer to feel or taste of Gods graciousnes, but in his Son. And, thirdly, we are heer told, as it were, that Christ is God visible. God is made visible and sensible to men ⟨p. 117⟩by Iesus Christ: This is that mystery of godlines: God is manifested in the flesh.
Secondly, Is Christ our Lord and Master? then these things will follow: 1. That we must live and die unto Christ, Rom, 14.7, 8, 9. we are not our own men; we must live to him that died for us, 2. Cor. 5. ult. The love of Christ must constrain us, and all old things must be passed, and all things must become new unto us. If Christ be our Lord, where is his service? he must rule us, and rule over us. If we walk in the vanity of our minds, according to the deceivable lusts of our old conversation; we have not yet learned Christ, nor the truth that is in Jesus, Eph. 4. And therefore let us every one look to his ways, as he that must one day give account of himself unto Christ, which will be Judge both of quick and dead, Rom. 14. 2. That every knee must bow at the name of Christ, and every tongue must confess his sovereignty, to the glory of God, Philip. 2.1. Rom. 14. We must all take notice of his supreme authority, and form in our hearts, all possible reverence toward him. 3. We must not judge one another. For, what have we to do to judge another mans servant? He stands or falls to his own Master, Rom. 14.4, 9.
Secondly, Is Christ our Lord and Master? then these things will follow: 1. That we must liue and die vnto Christ, Rom, 14.7, 8, 9. we are not our owne men; wee must liue to him that died for vs, 2. Cor. 5. vlt. The loue of Christ must constrayne vs, and all old things must be passed, and all things must become new vnto vs. If Christ be our Lord, where is his seruice? he must rule vs, and rule ouer vs. If we walke in the vanitie of our mindes, according to the deceiueable lusts of our old conuersation; we haue not yet learned Christ, nor the truth that is in Iesus, Eph. 4. And therefore let vs euery one looke to his waies, as he that must one day giue account of himselfe vnto Christ, which will bee Iudge both of quick and dead, Rom. 14. 2. That euery knee must bow at the name of Christ, and euery tongue must confesse his soueraignty, to the glory of God, Philip. 2.1. Rom. 14. We must all take notice of his supreme authority, and forme in our hearts, all possible reuerence toward him. 3. We must not iudge one another. For, what haue we to doe to iudge another mans seruant? He stands or falls to his owne Master, Rom. 14.4, 9.
Thirdly, it ought to be the singular joy of our harts, that we serve so glorious a Master. Never servants served such a Lord, as may appear by the ⟨p. 118⟩enumeration of divers particular differences, As:
Thirdly, it ought to be the singular ioy of our harts, that wee serue so glorious a Master. Neuer seruāts serued such a Lord, as may appear by the ⟨p. 118⟩enumeration of diuers particular differences, As:
1First, other masters are not wont to die for their vassals: Christ shed his blood for us, one drop of whose blood, was more precious then all the bloods of all the men in the World; and this he did, only to ransom and redeem us, that we might be a peculiar people unto him, Titus 2.13.
1First, other masters are not wont to die for their vassals: Christ shed his blood for vs, one drop of whose blood, was more precious then all the bloods of all the men in the World; and this he did, onely to ransome and redeeme vs, that wee might bee a peculiar people vnto him, Titus 2.13.
Fourthly, In the service of other masters, there is wonderful difference of places, and many of the servants serve in the lowest, and basest offices, without hope of any gain, or respect: But in Christ Jesus there is no difference, bond and free, male and female, Jew and Grecian, &c. in Christ are all one, Col. 3.11.
Fourthly, In the seruice of other masters, there is wonderfull difference of places, and many of the seruants serue in the lowest, and basest offices, without hope of any gaine, or respect: But in Christ Iesus there is no difference, bond and free, male and female, Iewe and Grecian, &c. in Christ are all one, Col. 3.11.
Fifthly, other Lords may advance their servants to great places, but they cannot give them gifts to discharge them: but Christ doth enrich his servants with every needful gift for the discharge of their callings, 1. Cor. 1.30. Eph. 1. ult.
Fiftly, other Lords may aduance their seruants to great places, but they cannot giue them gifts to discharge them: but Christ doth enrich his seruants with euery needfull gift for the discharge of their callings, 1. Cor. 1.30. Eph. 1. vlt.
Sixthly, other servants know, that their Lords may and do die, and so they leave their servants usually unpreferred: But Christ lives for ever, as the Authors of eternal salvation to them that obey him.
Sixtly, other seruants know, that their Lords may and doe die, and so they leaue their seruants vsually vnpreferd: But Christ liues for euer, as the Authors of eternall saluation to them that obey him.
Seventhly, other Lords may take offence, and ⟨p. 119⟩do often put away their servants: But whom Christ loves, he loves to the end, so as whether they live, or die, they are still Christs, Rom. 14.8.
Seuenthly, other Lords may take offence, and ⟨p. 119⟩doe often put away their seruants: But whom Christ loues, hee loues to the end, so as whether they liue, or die, they are still Christs, Rom. 14.8.
Eighthly, no Lord can give such sure protection to his servants, as Christ gives to his: No man shall pluck them out of his hands, Isaiah, 4.5, 6. Joh. 10. and whatsoever wrong is done unto them, he takes it as done to himself: and therefore the afflictions of his servants, are called the afflictions of Christ, 2. Cor. 1.4.
Eightthly, no Lord can giue such sure protection to his seruants, as Christ giues to his: No man shall plucke them out of his hands, Esay, 4.5, 6. Ioh. 10. and whatsoeuer wrong is done vnto them, hee takes it as done to himselfe: and therefore the afflictions of his seruants, are called the afflictions of Christ, 2. Cor. 1.4.
Ninthly, and lastly, never Lord was so boundless in his favour, Christ makes his servants his fellows, 1. Cor. 1.9. They sit with him there in heavenly places, Eph. 2.5, 6. He is not ashamed to own them as his brethren, Heb. 2. His servants he makes sons, and heirs too: yea, heirs with himself unto God, Rom. 8. Never man was so fond of his wife, as Christ is of his servants, Rom. 7.4. & all the book of Canticles shows it. Finally, they shall all reign with him, and be partners with him in his glory, after they have laboured, and suffered a little: when he appears in glory, they shall be for ever glorified with him.
Ninthly, and lastly, neuer Lord was so boundles in his fauour, Christ makes his seruants his fellowes, 1. Cor. 1.9. They sit with him there in heauenly places, Eph. 2.5, 6. Hee is not ashamed to owne them as his brethren, Heb. 2. His seruants he makes sonnes, and heires too: yea, heires with himselfe vnto God, Rom. 8. Neuer man was so fond of his wife, as Christ is of his seruants, Rom. 7.4. & all the book of Canticles shews it. Finally, they shal all raign with him, and be partners with him in his glory, after they haue laboured, and suffered a little: when he appeares in glory, they shall be for euer glorified with him.
Secondly, The second thing affirmed of Christ, is, that he is said to be a living stone.
Secondly, The second thing affirm'd of Christ, is, that he is said to be a liuing stone.
A living stone.]
A liuing stone.]
A stone, and a living stone. The holy Ghost is used in Scripture to liken God and Christ unto a stone: so Gen. 49.24. God is said to be the shepherd and stone of Israel, and Revel. 4.3. God is likened to a Jasper stone, and Psal. 118.22. Christ is said to be the stone, which the builders refused: ⟨p. 120⟩and so in many other places.
A stone, and a liuing stone. The holy Ghost is vsed in Scripture to liken God and Christ vnto a stone: so Gen. 49.24. God is said to be the shepherd and stone of Israel, and Reuel. 4.3. God is likened to a Iasper stone, and Psal. 118.22. Christ is said to be the stone, which the builders refused: ⟨p. 120⟩and so in many other places.
