A17384:633
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.
First, we must come to Christ divers ways.
First, we must come to Christ diuers waies.
Secondly, by making him our daily refuge in prayer, using him as our continual mediator, and advocate, Psa. 65.12. Jerem. 31.9. carrying all our petitions to him, in all our distresses making our moan to him, as the Client doth to the Counsellor, or as the oppressed do to the Judge.
Secondly, by making him our daily refuge in praier, vsing him as our continuall mediator, and aduocate, Psa. 65.12. Ierem. 31.9. carrying all our petitions to him, in all our distresses making our moane to him, as the Client doth to the Counsellor, or as the oppressed doe to the Iudge.
1Thirdly, by the frequenting his ordinances, ⟨p. 137⟩viz. the Word & Sacraments, thus to come to his feasts, even to his great Supper, Prou. 9. Luke, 14. 17, &c. Math. 22. Thus we come to worship.
1Thirdly, by the frequenting his ordinances, ⟨p. 137⟩viz. the Word & Sacraments, thus to come to his feasts, euen to his great Supper, Prou. 9. Luke, 14. 17, &c. Math. 22. Thus we come to worship.
Fifthly, by receiving his servants, and visiting them in their distresses: He that receiveth them, receiveth Christ, Math. 10. and to visit them in prison, is to come unto Christ, or to visit Christ, Matthew, 26.
Fiftly, by receiuing his seruants, and visiting them in their distresses: He that receiueth them, receiueth Christ, Math. 10. and to visit them in prison, is to come vnto Christ, or to visit Christ, Mathew, 26.
But the four first ways are especially meant, and the first chiefly. For the second:
But the fourefirst waies are especially meant, and the first chiefely. For the second:
We must come to Christ.
Wee must come to Christ.
First, speedily: as, the men that suffer shipwreck, quickly haste to the shore.
First, speedily: as, the men that suffer shipwrack, quickly haste to the shore.
Secondly,1 penitently: going and weeping we must go, Jerem. 50.4. He calls to him sinners, and that to repentance, Math. 9.13. we must come weary and heavy loaden, Math. 11.28. we must return and come, Isaiah 25.12. and not, as they Jer. 7.9, 10. Zachar. 14.1, &c. that came in their sins with Idols in their heart: We should come to Christ, as Benhadad did to Ahab, with ropes about our necks: that is, with all readiness to profess against our selves our own vile deserts.
Secondly,1 penitently: going and weeping we must goe, Ierem. 50.4. Hee cals to him sinners, and that to repentance, Math. 9.13. we must come weary and heauy loaden, Math. 11.28. we must returne and come, Esay 25.12. and not, as they Ier. 7.9, 10. Zachar. 14.1, &c. that came in their sinnes with Idols in their heart: Wee should come to Christ, as Benhadad did to Ahab, with ropes about our necks: that is, with all readines to professe against our selues our owne vile deserts.
Thirdly, confidently: and with persuasion of faith, •esting in his goodness, and casting out fear and doubts, Heb. 10.22. and 11.6. as the Leper came to Christ, Math. 8.2. Heb. 4.16.
Thirdly, confidently: and with perswasion of faith, •esting in his goodnes, and casting out feare and doubts, Heb. 10.22. and 11.6. as the Leper came to Christ, Math. 8.2. Heb. 4.16.
Fourthly, affectionately: we must come to him, as the Love comes to her Lover: so the ⟨p. 138⟩Church to CHRIST, Canticles 2.10, 13.
Fourthly, affectionately: wee must come to him, as the Loue comes to her Louer: so the ⟨p. 138⟩Church to CHRIST, Canticles 2.10, 13.
Fifthly, importunately, as the woman of Canaan did; so as we will be set down with no repulses or delays, Mat. 15. as they with the Palsy-man, Mat. 9. Hosh. 6.1, 2. and as he teacheth us to come to God, Luke 18.1, 2, 3, &c. and as Job resolves, chap. 27.2, 3, 7.
Fiftly, importunatly, as the woman of Canaan did; so as wee will bee set down with no repulses or delaies, Mat. 15. as they with the Palsey-man, Mat. 9. Hosh. 6.1, 2. and as he teacheth vs to come to God, Luke 18.1, 2, 3, &c. and as Iob resolues, chap. 27.2, 3, 7.
Sixthly, orderly: we should do as Job said: we should order our cause before him, and fill our mouths with arguments, Job 23.3, 4.
Sixtly, orderly: wee should doo as Iob said: wee should order our cause before him, and fill our mouthes with arguments, Iob 23.3, 4.
Seventhly, obediently. We should come to Christ, as children to their fathers, and as the people to their lawgiver, to receive commandments at his mouth; so as our harts might answer, Lo,1 I come to do thy will. If we would have God or Christ come to us, we must be such as David promiseth for himself, Psalm 101.1, 2, 3, 4.
Seuenthly, obediently. Wee should come to Christ, as children to their fathers, and as the people to their lawgiuer, to receiue commandements at his mouth; so as our harts might answer, Lo,1 I come to doo thy will. If wee would haue God or Christ come to vs, we must bee such as Dauid promiseth for himself, Psalm 101.1, 2, 3, 4.
Eighthly, sincerely. And we must show our sincerity, 1. By forsaking the way of the foolish, Pro. 9.6, 23, 4. 2. By coming in the truth of our hearts. For, an hypocrite cannot stand before him without flattering, lying, dissimulation, or wavering; not as the Israelites came to God, Psal. 78.32, 34. So as Christ may discern, that we have a true thirst, whatsoever we want, John 7.37. 3. Thirdly, by renouncing all other hopes, as they said of God, Jer. 3.22. 4. By resolving to cleave to Christ in a perpetual covenant, Jer. 50.5. 5. By coming to Christ, notwithstanding ⟨p. 139⟩dangers or difficulties: though it were with Peter to leap into the sea, Mat•. 14.29. or with the wise-men to come from the East, Math. 2. and though we find Christ in a prison, Math. 25. and though it were to deny our selves, and to take up our Cross daily, Luke 9.24.
Eightthly, sincerely. And we must shew our sincerity, 1. By forsaking the way of the foolish, Pro. 9.6, 23, 4. 2. By comming in the truth of our hearts. For, an hypocrite cannot stand before him without flattering, lying, dissimulation, or wauering; not as the Israelites came to God, Psal. 78.32, 34. So as Christ may discern, that wee haue a true thirst, whatsoeuer we want, Iohn 7.37. 3. Thirdly, by renouncing all other hopes, as they said of God,
