A17384:831
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, it was a marvellous work, that God should give us his own Son to be our Saviour, and the fountain of life to us. Hence it is, that we may observe throughout the Scripture, that God doth set this note of attention and respect, both upon the general, and upon many particulars that concern Christ, as it were by the Word to pull us by the ears to make us attend, or to give us a sign; when we should specially listen. Thus God brings out Christ to the Church, and tells, how he loves him, and hath resolved upon it by him to save both Jews and Gentiles, and wills them to behold him, and wonder at him, Isaiah 42.1. So when he promiseth the coming of Christ,1 And of the ends of his coming, he makes a proclamation all the world over, that he hath appointed a Saviour unto Zion,2 Thus he would have us wonder at the service of the Angels about the time of his birth, Math. 1.20. Luke 2.9, 10. and at the miracle of his conception, that he should be borne of a Virgin, Mat. 1.21. and at the Wise men led by a star out of the East, Mat. 2.1, 9. and at the opening of the heavens, when the voice came down to testify, that Christ was the beloved Son of God, in whom he was well pleased, Math. 3.16, 17. and at the service, which the Angels did him, and at his wonderful abasement for our sakes,3 Math. 21.5. and especially that he should sacrifice his own body for our ⟨p. 182⟩sins, 1. John 1.29.