A17384:789
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,1 that the person be sanctified. None but Priests must approach to offer sacrifice to God. They that are in the flesh, cannot please GOD, Rom. 8.8. The sons of Levi must be purified and refined, as the silver is refined, before their offering will be pleasing, Mal. 3.3▪ 4. When the Lord rejected, with so much disdain, the sacrifices of the Jews, he shows what they should have done to please him: they should have washed themselves by true repentance, and put away the evil of their works, Isaiah 1.11, 16. Only ⟨p. 172⟩the works of the penitent cannot be accepted: if the person be not in favour, the works are hated. For, they are sanctified by the holy Ghost, Rom. 15.16.
First,1 that the person be sanctified. None but Priests must approach to offer sacrifice to God. They that are in the flesh, cannot please GOD, Rom. 8.8. The sonnes of Leui must bee purified and refined, as the siluer is refined, before their offring will bee pleasing, Mal. 3.3▪ 4. When the Lord reiected, with so much disdain, the sacrifices of the Iewes, hee shewes what they should haue done to please him: they should haue washed themselues by true repentance, and put away the euill of their works, Esay 1.11, 16. Onely ⟨p. 172⟩the works of the penitent cannot bee accepted: if the person be not in fauour, the works are hated. For, they are sanctified by the holy Ghost, Rom. 15.16.
Secondly, that the manner of performing our service be right: there are divers things in the manner are hateful; and divers things pleasing. The things specially hateful, are, first, beloved sins: secondly, hypocrisy: thirdly, malice: and fourthly, luke-warmness. The sacrifice is loathsome, if it be blind, or lame, or blemished: that is, if men bring to Gods service the love of any foul sin, the service is loathsome, Malach. 1. So, if mens hearts be carried away with continual distractions, that service is lost: this is, To come near to God with our lips, when our harts are far from him. Hypocrisy is leaven, as beloved sin is honey; both forbidden. Again, when a man comes to God's work, and hath not forgiven his brother, he keeps the Feast with some leaven: his Passover is defiled; nor can his own sins be forgiven, because he forgives not, Mat. 6. 1. Cor. 5.8. Finally, luke-warmness is like a vomit to God, when we are neither hot nor cold. They are loathed like the Laodiceans, Revel. 3.
Secondly, that the manner of performing our seruice bee right: there are diuers things in the manner are hatefull; and diuers things pleasing. The things specially hatefull, are, first, beloued sinnes: secondly, hypocrisie: thirdly, malice: and fourthly, luke-warmnesse. The sacrifice is lothsome, if it be blinde, or lame, or blemished: that is, if men bring to Gods seruice the loue of any foule sinne, the seruice is lothsome, Malach. 1. So, if mens hearts be carried away with continuall distractions, that seruice is lost: this is, To come neer to God with our lips, when our harts are farre from him. Hypocrisie is leauen, as beloued sin is hony; both forbidden. Again, when a man comes to God's work, and hath not forgiuen his brother, hee keeps the Feast with some leauen: his Passeouer is defiled; nor can his own sinnes be forgiuen, because he forgiues not, Mat. 6. 1. Cor. 5.8. Finally, luke-warmnesse is like a vomit to God, when wee are neither hot nor cold. They are lothed like the Laodiceans,
There are other things wonderful pleasing to God: as,
There are other things wonderfull pleasing to God: as,
First, when a man doth whatsoever he doth, in the Name of Christ: this is the Altar that sanctifieth the gift, and the sacrifices are here acceptable through Jesus Christ, Heb. 13.15. Col. 3.17.
First, when a man doth whatsoeuer he doth, in the Name of Christ: this is the Altar that sanctifieth the gift, and the sacrifices are heer acceptable through Iesus Christ, Heb. 13.15. Col. 3.17.
Secondly, when our works are soundly powdered, with salt, that is, when we soundly confess our own unworthiness, and give all glory to God in Jesus Christ.
Secondly, when our works are soundly powdered, with salt, that is, when we soundly confess our owne vnworthinesse, and giue all glory to God in Iesus Christ.
Thirdly, when we love mercy and piety, accounting it our delight to do God's will, and thinking our selves greatly honoured, to be admitted to do this service, Mic. 6.8. 2. Cor. 8.5.
Thirdly, when wee loue mercy and piety, accounting it our delight to doo God's will, and thinking our selues greatly honoured, to bee admitted to doo this seruice, Mic. 6.8. 2. Cor. 8.5.
Fourthly, when we can bring faith, that is, a heart well persuaded of God, so as we can believe all good of him and his mercy. Without faith no man can please God, Heb. 11.6. and God takes no delight in him that withdraweth himself through unbelief, Heb. 10.36, 37.
Fourthly, when we can bring faith, that is, a heart well perswaded of God, so as wee can beleeue all good of him and his mercy. Without faith no man can please God, Heb. 11.6. and God takes no delight in him that withdraweth himself through vnbelief, Heb. 10.36, 37.
Fifthly, when it is our every-days work. Sacrifice will please God, if it be continual, Hebrews 13.15.
Fiftly, when it is our euery-daies work. Sacrifice will please God, if it be continuall, Hebrewes 13.15.
Thus of the second thing.
Thirdly, we may know, that our sacrifice is accepted, if the Lord burn it to ashes with fire from heaven. Thus God did put a difference between the sacrifice of Cain and Abel, by some visible sign: and though we may not limit God, and expect he should answer us by visible signs, yet God hath not left us without testimony of his favour. For, by his word of promise, and by his Spirit bearing witness to our spirits, hath he manifested even from heaven his acceptation: and in particular, when the believer stands before the Lord with his sacrifice duly offered; when the Lord doth suddenly fill his heart with ⟨p. 174⟩the cloud of his presence, or warm his soul with the joys of the holy Ghost; what is this but the sign of his acceptation?
Thirdly, wee may knowe, that our sacrifice is accepted, if the Lord burn it to ashes with fire from heauen. Thus God did put a difference between the sacrifice of Cain and Abel, by some visible signe: and though wee may not limit God, and expect he should answer vs by visible signes, yet God hath not left vs without testimony of his fauour. For, by his word of promise, and by his Spirit bearing witnes to our spirits, hath hee manifested euen from heauen his acceptation: and in particular, when the beleeuer stands before the Lord with his sacrifice duely offered; when the Lord doth •uddenly fill his heart with ⟨p. 174⟩the cloud of his presence, or warm his soule with the ioyes of the holy Ghost; what is this but the signe of his acceptation?
Question. What if we be accepted in our service of God? what great thing is that to us?
Question. What if we be accepted in our seruice of God? what great thing is that to vs?
Answ. When God accepts thine offerings, thou mayest be assured of three things.
Answ. When God accepts thine offrings, thou maist be assured of three things.
First, that all thy sins be forgiven thee. God hath purged away thine iniquity: he hath received an atonement in Jesus Christ, Psal 65.2, 3.
First, that all thy sins bee forgiuen thee. God hath purged away thine iniquity: he hath receiued an atonement in Iesus Christ, Psal 65.2, 3.
Secondly, God is exceedingly delighted in them. Thy sacrifice is a sweet smell unto God: he rejoiceth over thee with joy, Phil. 4.18.
Secondly, God is exceedingly delighted in them. Thy sacrifice is a sweet smell vnto God: he reioyceth ouer thee with ioy, Phil. 4.18.
Thirdly, it is a pledge unto thee, that God will supply all thy necessities out of the riches of his glory, in Jesus Christ our Saviour, Phil. 4.19.
Thirdly, it is a pledge vnto thee, that God wil supply all thy necessities out of the riches of his glory, in Iesus Christ our Sauiour, Phil. 4.19.
