A17384:709
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.
For the second, which is the furniture of the Tabernacle, it must be considered two ways: either on the inside, or on the outside. First, for the inside: there were curtains of fine linen, and blue silk, and scarlet, &c. and it was furnished with admirable household-stuff, as I may so call it. Within it was the Mercy-seat, the Table of show-bread, the Manna, the Altar of incense, and for burnt offerings, the Candlestick, and such like. Secondly, without it was all covered with Rams skins died red, and Badgers skins upon them: and what doth all this signify in general, but that the Godly, though they be outwardly black and tanned with sin and affliction, yet they are glorious within, and have curtains like the curtains of Solomon; all richly hanged, as the chambers of Princes, with spiritual tapestry? Cant. 1.5. And in particular, for the inside of Christians, how glorious is the place of Christs Tabernacle in them! There is the Propitiate, Gods true seat of mercy: whence also he uttereth his Oracles, even his divine answers. There is the heavenly Manna that is hid, Reu. 2. There doth Christ spiritually feast-it: there he dines and sups on the table of their hearts: and upon that table stands the show-bread, inasmuch as the heart of a Christian doth preserve a standing manner of affection to the Saints. There are also both sorts of altars accordingly; as, faith offereth up to God either the redemption or th' intercession of Christ. ⟨p. 152⟩There also is the great Laver to wash-in, called the sea, because in the heart of every Christian, is opened the fountain of grace; able, like the sea, to wash them from all their filthiness. There are the golden Candlesticks, with the lamps of saving knowledge continually burning in them: and upon the Altar of Christ crucified, and now making intercession, do they daily sacrifice their own affections; which resemble those sweet odours with which the Tabernacle was perfumed.
For the second, which is the furniture of the Tabernacle, it must bee considered two waies: either on the inside, or on the outside. First, for the inside: there were curtains of fine linnen, and blue silk, and scarlet, &c. and it was furnisht with admirable houshold-stuffe, as I may so call it. Within it was the Merci-seat, the Table of shew-bread, the Manna, the Altar of incense, and for burnt offrings, the Candlestick, and such like. Secondly, without it was all couered with Rams skinnes died red, and Badgers skins vpon them: and what doth all this signifie in general, but that the Godly, though they be outwardly black and tanned with sinne and affliction, yet they are glorious within, and haue curtains like the curtains of Salomon; all richly hanged, as the chambers of Princes, with spirituall tapestry?