A17384:529
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.
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.
1Christ is said to be a stone, three ways. First, For he is either a rock or stone for refuge, because in Christ, men may safely rest against all the surges, and waves of affliction in the sea of this world, Psal. 18. Secondly, Or else he is a stone of stumbling, as the Prophet Isaiah called him long since, Chap. 8.14. and the Apostle Paul acknowledgeth the same. Rom. 9.33. and this Apostle in verse. 6. following, Because wicked men take occasion from this doctrine of Christ to fall into sin, & mischief, & because if Christ may not be the means of their salvation, he will be an occasion of their falling: but in neither of these senses is it taken here. Thirdly, But Christ is here likened to a foundation stone, to signify, that it is he, upon whom all the Church must be built. This is that stone, which was cut out of the mountain without hands, Dan. 2.45. that hard stone of which the Prophet Zachery speaks. Chap. 4.7, 10.
1Christ is said to bee a stone, three waies. First, For he is either a rock or stone for refuge, because in Christ, men may safely rest against all the surges, and waues of affliction in the sea of this world, Psal. 18. Secondly, Or else hee is a stone of stumbling, as the Prophet Esaiah called him long since, Chap. 8.14. and the Apostle Paul acknowledgeth the same. Rom. 9.33. and this Apostle in verse. 6. following, Because wicked men take occasion from this doctrine of Christ to fall into sinne, & mischief, & because if Christ may not be the meanes of their saluatiton, he will be an occasion of their falling: but in neither of these sences is it taken heer. Thirdly, But Christ is heere likened to a foundation stone, to signify, that it is he, vpon whom all the Church must be built. This is that stone, which was cut out of the mountain without hāds, Dan. 2.45. that hard stone of which the Prophet Zachery speaks. Chap. 4.7, 10.
He is said to be a living stone: and some think to liken him thereby to a flint stone, which being smitten, the sparkles (as if it had fire in it) give fire and light to other things. It is true, that Christ hath life in himself, and doth give the sparkles upon the flames of life and light to other men. But I think, the stone here doth not import so much by any likeness in it, because it is a corner stone in the building, which usually neither is, nor can be of flint. But he is said to be a living stone, to distinguish him from material stones; and by that word living, to show what the metaphor ⟨p. 121⟩stone cannot resemble: For though a stone might shadow out the continuance, and eternity of Christ by the lastingness of it; yet life is given here to Christ, not only because he lives himself, and can do no more, Rom. 6.9. but because he is by effects, life, that is, he makes life in the godly, whereby they become living stones also.
He is said to be a liuing stone: and some think to liken him thereby to a flint stone, which being smitten, the sparkles (as if it had fire in it) giue fire and light to other things. It is true, that Christ hath life in himselfe, and doth giue the sparkles vpon the flames of life and light to other men. But I thinke, the stone heer doth not import so much by any likenes in it, because it is a corner stone in the building, which vsually neither is, nor can be of flint. But he is said to be a liuing stone, to distinguish him from materiall stones; and by that word liuing, to shew what the metaphor ⟨p. 121⟩stone cannot resemble: For though a stone might shadow out the continuance, and eternity of Christ by the lastingnes of it; yet life is giuen heer to Christ, not onely because hee liues himselfe, and can doe no more, Rom. 6.9. but because he is by effects, life, that is, he makes life in the godly, whereby they become liuing stones also.
Sol. David was so only by way of type, his life being somewhat like the state of Christ, in respect of the oppositions of men, and preferment from God: and that that place doth specially belong to Christ appears by the application of Christ himself, Math. 21.32.
Sol. Dauid was so onely by way of type, his life beeing somewhat like the state of Christ, in respect of the oppositions of men, and preferment from God: and that that place doth specially belong to Christ appeares by the application of Christ himselfe, Math. 21.32.
Ob. But the Apostles are said to be the foundation of the Church, Eph. 2.20.
