A17384:762
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.
Thus of the kinds of sacrifices, which remain unto Christians:1 The laws about those sacrifices follow: For there be many things to to be observed by Christians in their sacrifices, if they would ever have them acceptable to God, which the shadows in the old law did evidently signify, as,
Thus of the kindes of sacrifices, which remaine vnto Christians:1 The lawes about those sacrifices follow: For there bee many things to to be obserued by Christians in their sacrifices, if they would euer haue them acceptable to God, which the shadowes in the old law did euidently signify, as,
First, the sacrifice must be without blemish, Malach. 1.7. which the same Prophet expounds, Malach. 3.11. Our offerings must be pure offerings, we must tender them in the sincerity of our hearts: Our sacrifices are without fault, when we judge our selves for the faultiness of them, and desire they might have no fault.
First, the sacrifice must bee without blemish, Malach. 1.7. which the same Prophet expounds, Malach. 3.11. Our offrings must be pure offerings, wee must tender them in the sincerity of our hearts: Our sacrifices are without fault, when wee iudge our selues for the faultinesse of them, and desire they might haue no fault.
Secondly, it must be presented before the Lord, and consecrated to him: which signified, that we must walk in Gods presence, and do all in the sight of God, devoting all to his glory, Genes. 17.1. Mic. 6.8.
Secondly, it must bee presented before the Lord, and consecrated to him: which signified, that we must walk in Gods presence, and doe all in the sight of God, deuoting all to his glory, Genes. 17.1. Mic. 6.8.
Thirdly, our sacrifices must be daily, some ⟨p. 166⟩kinds of them: There were sacrifices every day in the Temple, and it was an extreme desolation, when the sacrifices ceased: so it must be our every days work to employ our selves in some of those spiritual sacrifices, Heb. 13.15.
Thirdly, our sacrifices must bee daily, some ⟨p. 166⟩kindes of them: There were sacrifices euery day in the Temple, and it was an extreme desolation, when the sacrifices ceased: so it must bee our euery daies worke to imploy our selues in some of those spirituall sacrifices, Heb. 13.15.
Fourthly, There must be an Altar to consecrate the gifts, Math. 23.19. This Altar is Christ, who is the only Altar of Christians, Heb. 13.10. Revel. 8.3. No service can be acceptable to God, but as the Apostle here saith, by Jesus Christ: We must do all in the name of Christ, Col. 3.17.
Fourthly, There must bee an Altar to consecrate the gifts, Math. 23.19. This Altar is Christ, who is the onely Altar of Christians, Heb. 13.10. Reuel. 8.3. No seruice can be acceptable to God, but as the Apostle heere saith, by Iesus Christ: We must doe all in the name of Christ, Col. 3.17.
Fifthly, there must be fire to burn the sacrifice: This fire is holy zeal, and the power and fervency of the spirit in doing good duties: The fire on the Altar first came down from heaven, to signify, that true zeal is kindled in heaven, and comes down from above: It is no ordinary humour, nor a rash fury: It is no wild fire: And it was required about this fire, that they should preserve it, and never let it go out, but put fuel still to it; and so it was kept for many years: so must we do with our zeal, we must labour by all means to preserve the fervency of our hearts, that we never want fire to burn our sacrifices: Our zeal should be, as the love mentioned, Can. 7.10. that much water could not quench it: Every sacrifice must have fire, Mark 9.
Fiftly, there must bee fire to burne the sacrifice: This fire is holy zeale, and the power and feruencie of the spirit in doing good duties: The fire on the Altar first came downe from heauen, to signify, that true zeale is kindled in heauen, and comes down from aboue: It is no ordinarie humor, nor a rash fury: It is no wilde fire: And it was required about this fire, that they should preserue it, and neuer let it goe out, but put fuell still to it; and so it was kept for many yeeres: so must wee doe with our zeale, wee must labour by all meanes to preserue the feruencie of our hearts, that wee neuer want fire to burne our sacrifices: Our zeale should bee, as the loue mentioned, Can. 7.10. that much water could not quench it: Euery sacrifice must haue fire, Marke 9.
Sixthly, The sacrifices must be salted with salt: so must our Christian sacrifices, as our Saviour Christ shows, Mark 9.49, 50. And thus we must have the salt of mortification, and the salt of discretion, ⟨p. 167⟩and we must look to it, that our salt lose not his saltness, but that it have a draining power in it, to extract corruption out of our sacrifices: our words to God and men must be powdered with salt, Col. 4.6. and so must all our actions.
Sixtly, The sacrifices must be salted with salt: so must our Christian sacrifices, as our Sauiour Christ shewes, Marke 9.49, 50. And thus we must haue the salt of mortification, and the salt of discretion, ⟨p. 167⟩and we must looke to it, that our salt lose not his saltnes, but that it haue a draining power in it, to extract corruption out of our sacrifices: our words to God and men must bee powdred with salt, Col. 4.6. and so must all our actions.
Seventhly, the sacrifices must be without leaven, Levit. 2.11. Leaven is wickedness, or malice, or sourness, or deadness of heart, or worldly grief: even whatsoever leaveneth, that is, infecteth or maketh the meat offering to be heavy, or sour, 1 Cor. 5.8.
Seuenthly, the sacrifices must be without leauen, Leuit. 2.11. Leauen is wickednes, or malice, or sowrenes, or deadnes of heart, or worldly griefe: euen whatsoeuer leaueneth, that is, infecteth or maketh the meate offring to be heauie, or sowre, 1 Cor. 5.8.
Eighthly, in the same place of Leviticus 2.11. Honey likewise is forbidden to be mingled with their sacrifices: and by honey may be meant, our beloved sins, or particular corruptions: we should especially watch against them in the time of performance of holy duties, that they mingle not themselves with our sacrifices, by infecting our cogitations.
Eightthly, in the same place of Leuiticus 2.11. Honie likewise is forbidden to be mingled with their sacrifices: and by hony may be meant, our beloued sinnes, or particular corruptions: wee should especially watch against them in the time of performance of holy duties, that they mingle not themselues with our sacrifices, by infecting our cogitations.
Ninthly, the offering must be waved, and shaken to and fro before the Lord, Levi. 7.3. And this signified the waving of our lips in prayer to God for his acceptation: our sacrifices should be soundly tossed to and fro in prayer before the Lord: Job prayed before he sacrificed, Job 42.
Ninthly, the offring must bee waued, and shaken to and fro before the Lord, Leui. 7.3. And this signified the wauing of our lips in praier to God for his acceptation: our sacrifices should bee soundly tossed to and fro in praier before the Lord: Iob prayed before he sacrificed, Iob 42.
Tenthly, on the Sabbath the sacrifices were to be doubled, to signify, that in a special manner we should consecrate our selves to piety and mercy on the Sabbath day.
Tenthly, on the Sabbath the sacrifices were to bee doubled, to signifie, that in a speciall manner wee should consecrate our selues to piety and mercy on the Sabbath day.
Eleventhly, our sacrifices must be offered up with all gladness of heart, and spiritual delight. ⟨p. 168⟩Thus Gods people were said to be a free-hearted, and willing people, Psa. 47.9. and 110.3. And this was shadowed out, partly by the oil that was poured into the meat offerings, which is expounded to be the oil of gladness, and partly by the feast they made at the end of their solemn sacrifices, unto which they invited their friends, to join with them in rejoicing before the Lord: and it is likely David alludes to this feast, when he saith, he would take the cup of salvation, and praise the name of the Lord: For as yet the Lords Supper was not instituted, nor do we read of any use of a cup in the sacrifices, or sacraments themselves, Exod. 18.12. 1. Chr. 16.1, 2, 3, 4. Psal. 116.13.
Eleuenthly, our sacrifices must bee offered vp with all gladnes of heart, and spirituall delight. ⟨p. 168⟩Thus Gods people were said to be a free-harted, and willing people, Psa. 47.9. and 110.3. And this was shadowed out, partly by the oile that was powred into the meat offerings, which is expounded to be the oile of gladnes, and partly by the feast they made at the end of their solemne sacrifices, vnto which they inuited their friends, to ioyne with them in reioicing before the Lord: and it is likely Dauid alludes to this feast, when he saith, hee would take the cup of saluation, and praise the name of the Lord: For as yet the Lords Supper was not instituted, nor doe we read of any vse of a cup in the sacrifices, or sacraments themselues, Exod. 18.12.
Twelfthly, If we be called to it, we must not deny unto God the fat of the kidneys, and the inwards. By the fat was meant the things which are dearest to us, most beloved, and that most delight us: and if the service of God, and the Church and the poor require it, we must deny our selves, and sacrifice what is most dear to us.
Twelfthly, If wee be called to it, wee must not deny vnto God the fat of the kidneies, and the inwards. By the fat was meant the things which are dearest to vs, most beloued, and that most delight vs: and if the seruice of God, and the Church and the poore require it, wee must deny our selues, and sacrifice what is most deare to vs.
Thirteenthly, the Apostle to the Hebrews, Chap. 13.13. adds, that we must not leave off welldoing for reproach sake, but be contented to be like Christ, who suffered without the gate, as scorned of men, and like the sacrifice was burnt without the camp. Though all men hate us, and speak evil of us, and cast us out of their companies, yet we must persist in our intention to sacrifice still to God.
Thirteenthly, the Apostle to the Hebrewes, Chap. 13.13. addes, that we must not leaue off weldoing for reproach sake, but be contented to bee like Christ, who suffered without the gate, as scorned of men, and like the sacrifice was burnt without the campe. Though all men hate vs, and speake euill of vs, and cast vs out of their companies, yet wee must persist in our intention to sacrifice still to God.
Fourteenthly, In the Sacrifices God had a ⟨p. 169⟩great respect of mercy, that cruelty were not showed, as Levit. 22.27. When he enjoined, that the creature must be seven days under the dam, and that no dam with the young one was to be slain the same day: Certainly, God abhorreth, that cruelty should be exercised under pretence of piety. Cursed be those long prayers, that will devour widows houses, Matth. 23.
Fourteenthly, In the Sacrifices God had a ⟨p. 169⟩great respect of mercy, that cruelty were not shewed, as Leuit. 22.27. When he enioyned, that the creature must be seuen dayes vnder the damme, and that no damme with the young one was to be slaine the same day: Certainly, God abhorreth, that cruelty should bee exercised vnder pretence of piety. Cursed be those long praiers, that will deuoure widowes houses, Matth. 23.
In one thing we differ from the sacrifices: For the sacrifices were dead, or consisted of things without life; but we must be living sacrifices; we must do what we will do while we are alive, and must do it lively, with the affections that belong to the duties to be done.
In one thing we differ from the sacrifices: For the sacrifices were dead, or consisted of things without life; but wee must be liuing sacrifices; wee must do what we will do while we are aliue, and must do it liuely, with the affections that belong to the duties to be done.
