A17384:722
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.
Here are many things to be noted.
Heere are many things to be noted.
The first is, that Christians are priests before God, and Jesus Christ: This is acknowledged in other Scriptures, Revel. 1.5. Exod. 19.6. The meaning is, that they are like to the Levitical priests, and that in many things.
The first is, that Christians are priests before God, and Iesus Christ: This is acknowledged in other Scriptures, Reuel. 1.5. Exod. 19.6. The meaning is, that they are like to the Leuiticall priests, and that in many things.
First,1 in respect of separation: they are Gods portion given him out of all the people: so are the godly all the portion God hath in the world. They are said to be the ransom of the children of Israel, Numbers 8.9.
First,1 in respect of separation: they are Gods portion giuen him out of all the people: so are the godly all the portion God hath in the world. They are said to bee the ransome of the children of Israel, Numbers 8.9.
Secondly, in respect of consecration. The oil of God is upon the godly: and as it was poured out upon Aaron and his Sons: The oil of grace and gladness poured out upon Christ, our true Aaron, hath run down upon his garments, so as all his members are Christians, that is, anointed with him, Psalm 133.2. Cor. 1.22.1. Joh. 2. The holy Ghost is called the anointing in this respect.
Secondly, in respect of consecration. The oile of God is vpon the godly: and as it was powred out vpon Aaron and his Sonnes: The oile of grace and gladnes powred out vpon Christ, our true Aaron, hath run downe vpon his garments, so as all his members are Christians, that is, anointed with him, Psalme 133.2. Cor. 1.22.1. Ioh. 2. The holy Ghost is called the anointing in this respect.
Thirdly, in respect of the substance of the ceremonies in their consecration: for,
First, as it was required in the Law, that the Priests should be without blemish, Levit. 21.17. so is it required of Christians, Col. 1.22.
First, as it was required in the Law, that the Priests should bee without blemish, Leuit. 21.17. so is it required of Christians, Col. 1.22.
Secondly, as the Priests were washed in the great laver of water, Exod. 29.4. Levit. 8.5.6. so must Christians be washed in the laver of Regeneration, Eph. 5.23. Titus 3.5.
Secondly, as the Priests were washed in the great lauer of water, Exod. 29.4. Leuit. 8.5.6. so must Christians be washed in the lauer of Regeneration, Eph. 5.23. Titus 3.5.
Thirdly, as the Priests had their holy garments, beautiful, and goodly ones, which they called their Ephods: so doth the Queen the Church stand at Christs right hand in a Vesture of Ophir, Psalm 45. Thus Joshua hath change of garments mystically given him, Zach. 3.4. Those garments are promised to such as have had a spirit of heaviness, Isaiah 61.3. called garments of salvation, verse 10. and royal garments, and like the new wedding garments of the Bride, Isaiah 62.5.7. ⟨p. 156⟩Those garments signified either the singular glory, and joy of Christians, Isaiah 61.3. or the righteousness of Christ imputed, Revel. 19. or the excellent divine gifts and graces bestowed upon them.
Thirdly, as the Priests had their holy garments, beautifull, and goodly ones, which they called their Ephods: so doth the Queene the Church stand at Christs right hand in a Vesture of Ophir, Psalme 45. Thus Iosuah hath change of garments mystically giuen him, Zach. 3.4. Those garments are promised to such as haue had a spirit of heauinesse, Isaiah 61.3. called garments of saluation, verse 10. and roiall garments, and like the newe wedding garments of the Bride, Isaiah 62.5.7. ⟨p. 156⟩Those garments signified either the singular glory, and ioy of Christians, Esaiah 61.3. or the righteousnes of Christ imputed, Reuel. 19. or the excellent diuine gifts and graces bestow'd vpon them.
1Fourthly, The Priest must have blood sprinkled upon his ear, and upon his thumb, and upon his toe, to signify, that our hearing, practice, and progress must be all sanctified to us by Christ, and that the main thing Christians should express and attend to, should be Christ crucified, and that Christ by his blood hath consecrated them in all these respects, so as their hearing, and practice, and progress shall all be blessed unto them.
1Fourthly, The Priest must haue blood sprinkled vpon his eare, and vpon his thombe, and vpon his toe, to signify, that our hearing, practice, and progresse must bee all sanctified to vs by Christ, and that the maine thing Christians should expresse and attend to, should be Christ crucified, and that Christ by his blood hath consecrated them in all these respects, so as their hearing, and practice, and progresse shall all bee blessed vnto them.
And thus of the ceremonies of their consecration.
Fourthly, We should be like the Levitical Priests for knowledge: the Priests lips should preserve knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth, Malac. 2. And it is true of Christians, that they are a people, in whose heart is Gods law, Isaiah. 57.7. Hebr. 8. Jerem. 31.
Fourthly, Wee should bee like the Leuiticall Priests for knowledge: the Priests lips should preserue knowledge, and they should seeke the Law at his mouth, Malac. 2. And it is true of Christians, that they are a people, in whose heart is Gods law, Esay. 57.7. Hebr. 8. Ierem. 31.
Fifthly, We should be like the Priests in respect of the work they did. For,
Fiftly, We should be like the Priests in respect of the work they did. For,
First, It was the Priests office to carry about the Ark of the Lord, when it was removed, upon their shoulders. What is the Ark to be carried, but the doctrine of Christ and the Church? Christians must carry about the Word of God, and hold it forth, in the light, and life of it, as lights that shine in the dark places of the wilderness of this world, Philip. 2.15.
First, It was the Priests office to carry about the Arke of the Lord, when it was remoued, vpon their shoulders. What is the Arke to be carried, but the doctrine of Christ and the Church? Christians must carry about the Word of God, and hold it forth, in the light, and life of it, as lights that shine in the darke places of the wildernes of this world, Philip. 2.15.
Secondly, it was their office to blow in the silver trumpets, and that upon four occasions, as you may see, Num. 10. First, The one was to assemble the congregation, or the Princes to the tabernacle. Secondly, The other was to give an alarm, when there was any remove of the camp. Thirdly, The third was in the time of War, when they mustered to battle. Fourthly, The fourth was for joys sake at the time of solemn feasts, and for thanksgiving to God: and in all these we should be like the Priests: We should be as trumpets to call one upon another to go up to the house of the Lord, Isaiah. 2.2. Secondly, We should every where proclaim mortality, and signify that the whole host must remove: we must cry, All flesh is grass, 1. Pet. 1.23. Thirdly, We should also blow the trumpet of defence, and arm our selves in the spiritual warfare, and call upon God to save us from our enemies, and stir up one another provoking to love, and good works, 1. Pet. 4.1, 2. 2 Tim. 2.3, 4. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. We should cry aloud like a trumpet, in reproving the transgressions of men, and opposing the sins of the time, Isaiah 58.1. Ephes. 5. Lastly, we should trumpet out the praises of God for all the goodness he hath showed unto us, we should blow as in the new moon, Psal. 81.3. But then in all this we must remember, that we blow with a silver trumpet, that is, with all discretion and sincerity, &c.
Secondly, it was their office to blow in the siluer trumpets, and that vpon foure occasions, as you may see, Num. 10. First, The one was to assemble the congregation, or the Princes to the tabernacle. Secondly, The other was to giue an alarum, when there was any remoue of the campe. Thirdly, The third was in the time of Warre, when they mustred to battaile. Fourthly, The fourth was for ioyes sake at the time of solemne feasts, and for thanksgiuing to God: and in all these we should be like the Priests: We should be as trumpets to call one vpon another to goe vp to the house of the Lord,
Thirdly, a special work of the Priests was to bless the people, and to put the name of God upon them. The former whereof is prescribed, ⟨p. 158⟩Nam. 6.22, 23, 24. and so should we all learn the language of Canaan, or the language of blessing: we must bless and not curse, for we are thereunto called. 1 Pet. 3.9.
Thirdly, a speciall work of the Priests was to blesse the people, and to put the name of God vpon them. The former whereof is prescribed, ⟨p. 158⟩Nam. 6.22, 23, 24. and so should we all learne the language of Canaan, or the language of blessing: we must blesse and not curse, for we are thereunto called. 1 Pet. 3.9.
Lastly, their principal work was, to offer sacrifices: of which in the next words.
Lastly, their principall work was, to offer sacrifices: of which in the next words.
