A17384:747
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.
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⟩