A17384:729
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.
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.
First, For reproof: For there are many faults in Christians, whereby they transgress against their spiritual Priest-hood: as, 1. When men are yoked with unnecessary society with the wicked: for hereby they forget their separation to God, &c. 2. When men neglect the finishing of their repentance and assurance, they look not to their anointing. 3. When men are scandalous of their indiscretions, and faults: they forget, that such as have any blemish, must not offer the bread of their God, and forget their washing from their old sins, 2 Pet. 1.7. 4. When men are barren of good works, or are uncheerful and dull: they leave off the Priests garments of innocency and gladness. 5. When the lives and behaviours of men savour of vanity and worldliness: they remember not the blood of sprinkling. 6. When men are ignorant and idle, seek not knowledge, or do not teach, and instruct, and admonish; How do the Priests lips preserve knowledge? or how do they bear about the Ark of the Lord? ⟨p. 159⟩7. When Christians are fearful, and irresolute, and cold, and not frequent in the praises of God, how do they blow in the silver trumpet? 8. When Christians are bitter-hearted, and accustomed to evil-speaking, how do they forget their duty of blessing!
First, For reproofe: For there are many faults in Christians, whereby they transgresse against their spirituall Priest-hood: as, 1. When men are yoaked with vnnecessarie society with the wicked: for heereby they forget their separation to God, &c. 2. When men neglect the finishing of their repentance and assurance, they looke not to their anointing. 3. When men are scandalous of their indiscretions, and faults: they forget, that such as haue any blemish, must not offer the bread of their God, and forget their washing from their old sinnes, 2 Pet. 1.7. 4. When men are barren of good workes, or are vncheerefull and dull: they leaue off the Priests garments of innocency and gladnes. 5. When the liues and behauiours of men sauour of vanity and worldliness: they remember not the blood of sprinkling. 6. When men are ignorant and idle, seeke not knowledge, or doe not teach, and instruct, and admonish; How doe the Priests lips preserue knowledge? or how doe they beare about the Arke of the Lord? ⟨p. 159⟩
To omit the neglect of sanctifying, till I come to handle it in the next place.
Use 2. Secondly, for consolation to all godly, and mortified, and inoffensive Christians: they should be wonderful thankful to God, that hath made them partners of this holy Calling, howsoever the world conceives of it. God promiseth it as a great mercy to his children, that they shall be called the Priests of the Lord, Isaiah 61.6. and the Church is wonderful thankful for it to God, Reu. 2.6. and 5.10. And the rather should we rejoice in it, because God hath promised to take us to himself, as his portion and peculiar treasure, Exod. 19.6. And it is his promise also to satiate the souls of his Priests with fatness, Jerem. 31.14. And what a privilege is it to have access unto the Lord, and to stand before God daily? which the Priests not only might, but were tied to it by their office. But then, for conclusion of this point, let us all be sure we have our part in the first resurrection, Reu. 20.6. and be careful to be like the Priests for obedience and sanctity, Exod. 19.5, 6. and to get knowledge plentifully into our hearts, Col. 3.16. and in the cause of God to blow the trumpets of zeal and resolution, carrying our ⟨p. 158⟩[…] ⟨p. 159⟩[…] ⟨p. 160⟩selves with all humility and readiness to do good, and so becoming instruments of blessing to the people. And, which I had almost forgotten, we must remember to be like the Priests for teaching, and confuting, and reproving, and informing our Familiars and friends, as we have fitness and occasion.
Vse 2. Secondly, for consolation to all godly, and mortified, and inoffensiue Christians: they should be wonderful thankfull to God, that hath made them partners of this holy Calling, howsoeuer the world conceiues of it. God promiseth it as a great mercy to his children, that they shall be called the Priests of the Lord, Esay 61.6. and the Church is wonderful thankful for it to God,
Thus of the Priest-hood of Christians in general. In particular, hence is further to be considered, first, their work; secondly, their honour. Their work is, To offer up spiritual sacrifices: their honour is, Acceptation and high account with God through Jesus Christ.
Thus of the Priest-hood of Christians in generall. In particular, hence is further to be considered, first, their work; secondly, their honour. Their work is, To offer vp spirituall sacrifices: their honour is, Acceptation and high account with God through Iesus Christ.
First, then, of the work of Christian Priests, which is, To offer: secondly, what they must offer, viz. sacrifices: thirdly, the difference of those sacrifices from those in the Law of Moses: they are spiritual; which word notes both the substance of Christian sacrifices, viz. that they are such sacrifices as were not according to the Letter, but according to the mystical significations of the sacrifices of Moses Law; and withal, the manner how they must be offered up, viz. spiritually, or after a spiritual manner.
First, then, of the work of Christian Priests, which is, To offer: secondly, what they must offer, viz. sacrifices: thirdly, the difference of those sacrifices from those in the Law of Moses: they are spirituall; which word notes both the substance of Christian sacrifices, viz. that they are such sacrifices as were not according to the Letter, but according to the mysticall significations of the sacrifices of Moses Law; and withall, the manner how they must be offred vp, viz. spiritually, or after a spirituall manner.
The main thing here intended, then, is, To avouch, that Christians have their sacrifices which they must offer, and that in a spiritual manner. Now, for the clearer opening of this doctrine, two things must be distinctly considered of. First, what sacrifices can remain to Christians, since the Law of Moses is abrogated: and secondly, what things are requisite to the offering up of these sacrifices.
The main thing heer intended, then, is, To auouch, that Christiās haue their sacrifices which they must offer, and that in a spirituall manner. Now, for the cleerer opening of this doctrine, two things must bee distinctly considered of. First, what sacrifices can remain to Christians, since the Law of Moses is abrogated: and secondly, what things are requisite to the offring vp of these sacrifices.
