A17384:744
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.
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.
For the first. There are divers sorts of sacrifices among Christians.1 Some are proper to some Christians only: some are general to all.
For the first. There are diuers sorts of sacrifices among Christians.1 Some are proper to som Christians onely: some are generall to all.
The sacrifices that are proper to some Christians, are such as three sorts of men must offer. First, Ministers: secondly, Martyrs: thirdly, rich men.
First, Ministers have their sacrifice, which they must with all care offer to God: and their sacrifice is the souls of the hearers. Thus Paul was to offer up the Gentiles to God, Rom. 15.16. And thus it was prophesied, that, in the time of the Christian Church, the Elect should be brought in as an offering to God out of all Nations, Isaiah 66.20. Ministers sacrifice their people either in this life, or at the day of Judgement. In this life in general, when they persuade them to their attendance upon the House of God, and breed in them a care to come before the Lord in Jerusalem, Isaiah 66.20. In particular, when they work repentance and true conversion in their hearts, and when they make them go home, and mortify their sins, and tender their vowed service to God.
First, Ministers haue their sacrifice, which they must with all care offer to God: and their sacrifice is the soules of the hearers. Thus Paul was to offer vp the Gentiles to God, Rom. 15.16. And thus it was prophecied, that, in the time of the Christian Church, the Elect should be brought in as an offring to God out of all Nations, Esay 66.20. Ministers sacrifice their people either in this life, or at the day of Iudgement. In this life in generall, when they perswade them to their attendance vpon the House of God, and breed in them a care to come before the Lord in Ierusalem, Esay 66.20. In particular, when they work repentance and true conuersion in their hearts, and when they make them go home, and mortifie their sinnes, and tender their vowed seruice to God.
And thus two things are implied for our information. The one concerns Ministers: the other concerns the hearers. First, Ministers may hence take notice of it, that there can never be hope they should persuade with all their hearers: for, sacrifices were here and there once taken out of the whole herd. And besides, the hearers may hence see, that they are never so effectually ⟨p. 162⟩wrought upon, till they can give themselves over to their Teachers and to GOD, to obey in all things, though they persuade them to leave the world, and bind them to the cords of restraint in many liberties they took to themselves before; yea, though they let their hearts blood, by piercing their souls with sorrow for their sins, even to the death of their sins, 2. Cor. 8.5. and 7.15. Secondly, at the day of Judgement also, Ministers shall offer up their hearers to God, so many of them as are found chaste virgins unto Christ, to whom they had espoused them before in this life, 2. Cor. 11.3. And thus Ministers, before they die, must make ready their accounts for the souls of their people, Heb. 13.7.
And thus two things are implied for our information. The one concerns Ministers: the other concerns the hearers. First, Ministers may hence take notice of it, that there can neuer bee hope they should perswade with all their hearers: for, sacrifices were heer and there once taken out of the whole herd. And besides, the hearers may hence see, that they are neuer so effectually ⟨p. 162⟩wrought vpon, till they can giue themselues ouer to their Teachers and to GOD, to obey in all things, though they perswade them to leaue the world, and binde them to the cords of restraint in many liberties they took to themselues before; yea, though they let their hearts blood, by pearcing their soules with sorrow for their sins, euen to the death of their sinnes, 2. Cor. 8.5
And thus of the sacrifices of Ministers.
Ministers have another sacrifice too, viz. the particular texts or portions of Scripture, which they choose out and divide to the people, as consecrated for their use. For, divers think, that that phrase of cutting the Word of God aright, is borrowed from the Priests manner of dividing the sacrifices; and especially, from the Priests manner of cutting the little birds. The little birds, is his text chosen out of the rest, and separated for a sacrifice: which he must so divide, as that the wings be not cut asunder from the body, that is, he must so divide his text, that no part be separate from a meet respect of the whole, Leu. 1.17. and 5.8. 2. Tim. 1.15.
Ministers haue another sacrifice too, viz. the particular texts or portions of Scripture, which they chuse out and diuide to the people, as consecrated for their vse. For, diuers think, that that phrase of cutting the Word of God aright, is borrowed from the Priests manner of diuiding the sacrifices; and especially, from the Priests manner of cutting the little birds. The little birds, is his text chosen out of the rest, and separated for a sacrifice: which hee must so diuide, as that the wings bee not cut asunder from the body, that is, he must so diuide his text, that no part be separat from a meet respect of the whole, Leu. 1.17. and 5.8. 2. Tim. 1.15.
Secondly, the Martyrs likewise have their sacrifices; and that is, a drink-offering to the Lord, ⟨p. 163⟩even their own blood: this part is ready to be poured out as a drink offering to the Lord for the Church, Phi. 2.17. 2 Tim. 4.6. and though we cannot be all Martyrs, yet we should all deny our own lives in the vows of our hearts, to perform our covenant with God,1 if ever we be called to die for Christs sake and the Gospel.
Secondly, the Martyrs likewise haue their sacrifices; and that is, a drink-offring to the Lord, ⟨p. 163⟩euen their owne bloud: this part is readie to bee powred out as a drink offring to the Lord for the Church, Phi. 2.17. 2 Tim. 4.6. and though we cannot bee all Martyrs, yet we should all deny our owne liues in the vowes of our hearts, to perform our couenant with God,1 if euer wee be called to die for Christs sake and the Gospel.
Thirdly, the sacrifice of rich men is alms, and well-doing, and those sacrifices they are bound unto, to offer them continually, Heb. 13.16. Philip. 4.18. Prou. 3.9. Alms is as it were the first fruits of all our increase. But then we must remember that our alms be of goods well gotten: For else God hates robbery for burnt offering, Isaiah 61.8. And in giving, we must deny our selves, and not seek our own praises, or plenary merit in it: for it is a sacrifice clean given away from us, and consecrated only to God, and the use of his spiritual house the Church.
Thirdly, the sacrifice of rich men is almes, and wel-doing, and those sacrifices they are bound vnto, to offer them continually, Heb. 13.16. Philip. 4.18. Prou. 3.9. Almes is as it were the first fruites of all our increase. But then wee must remember that our almes bee of goods well gotten: For else God hates robbery for burnt offering, Isaiah 61.8. And in giuing, wee must denie our selues, and not seeke our owne praises, or plenary merit in it: for it is a sacrifice clean giuen away from vs, and consecrated only to God, and the vse of his spirituall house the Church.
And thus of the sacrifice proper to some Christians.
There are other sacrifices in the Gospel now, that are common to all Christians. And these are divers.
There are other sacrifices in the Gospel now, that are common to all Christians. And these are diuers.
For fi•st Christ is to be offered up daily to God, as the propitiation for our sins: God hath set him forth of purpose in the Gospel, that so many as believe, may daily run unto him, and in their prayers offer him up to God, as the reconciliation for all their sins:1 and this is the continual sacrifice of all Christians: Without this, there is the abomination of desolation in the ⟨p. 164⟩temple of our hearts: This is the end of all the ceremonious sacrifices; the substance of those shadows.
For fi•st Christ is to bee offered vp daily to God, as the propitiation for our sins: God hath set him forth of purpose in the Gospel, that so many as beleeue, may daily run vnto him, and in their prayers offer him vp to God, as the reconciliation for al their sins:1 and this is the continuall sacrifice of all Christians: Without this, there is the abomination of desolation in the ⟨p. 164⟩temple of our hearts: This is the end of all the ceremonious sacrifices; the substance of those shadowes.
Those sacrifices served but as rudiments to instruct men, how to lay hold upon Christ, and to carry him into the presence of God, and laying hands upon his head to plead their interest in his death, who was offered up, as a whole burnt sacrifice for their sins. We are Christs, and Christ is given unto us as our ransom: we must every day then lay hold upon him, and see him bleed to death for our sins, and be consumed in the fire of Gods wrath for our sins.
Those sacrifices serued but as rudiments to instruct men, how to lay hold vpon Christ, and to carry him into the presence of God, and laying hands vpon his head to plead their interest in his death, who was offered vp, as a whole burnt sacrifice for their sinnes. Wee are Christs, and Christ is giuen vnto vs as our ransome: wee must euery day then lay hold vpon him, and see him bleed to death for our sinnes, and bee consumed in the fire of Gods wrath for our sinnes.
Secondly, a broken and contrite heart is a sacrifice God will not despise, yea such hearts are the sacrifices God especially calls for from men: He ever loved them better, then all the outward sacrifices in the Law, Psal. 51.17. It is the heart God calls for:1 and yet not every heart, but a heart wounded with the knife of mortification, that is, cut, and bleedeth in it self with godly sorrow for sin, and is broken and contrite with the daily confession of sin: This is required of all Christians, and this very thing makes a great deal of difference between Christian and Christian.
Secondly, a broken and contrite heart is a sacrifice God will not despise, yea such hearts are the sacrifices God especially cals for from men: Hee euer loued them better, then all the outward sacrifices in the Law, Psal. 51.17. It is the heart God cals for:1 and yet not euery heart, but a heart wounded with the knife of mortification, that is, cut, and bleedeth in it selfe with godly sorrow for sinne, and is broken and contrite with the daily confession of sinne: This is required of all Christians, and this very thing makes a great deale of difference between Christian and Christian.
Thirdly, prayer and thanksgiving to God, are Christian and holy Sacrifices, as many scriptures show, Psal. 141.2. Heb. 13.15. Hos. 14.4. Psal. 51.21.
Thirdly, praier and thanksgiuing to God, are Christian and holy Sacrifices, as many scriptures shew, Psal. 141.2. Heb. 13.15. Hos. 14.4. Psal. 51.21.
Fourthly, we must offer our selves, our souls and bodies as a living sacrifice to God, Rom. 12.2. 2. Cor. 8.5. and that,
Fourthly, we must offer our selues, our soules and bodies as a liuing sacrifice to God, Rom. 12.2. 2. Cor. 8.5. and that,
