A17384:842
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.
And thus of the Author.
Thirdly, The time follows.
Thirdly, The time followes.
I lay or put.]
He speaks in the present time, yet meaneth it of a thing to be accomplished in the time to come. For God laid Christ down, as the corner stone, partly in his Incarnation, when he sent him into the world in the flesh to take our nature; and partly he is said to lay down this corner stone, when spiritually by means he forms Christ in the hearts of men in the visible Church. Now the Lord speaketh in the present time, I do lay, for divers reasons. First, To signify, that the care of that business was then in his head, he was plotting about it, & did continually mind it. Secondly, to signify, that howsoever the main work of the open restoring of the ⟨p. 185⟩world by Christ, in the calling of the Gentiles, was long after to be done, yet God did spiritually form Christ in the hearts of the remnant, so as at all times he did more or less further his building. Thirdly, to note the certainty of the accomplishment of it, he saith, he did then do it, to assure them, it should as certainly be done, as if it were then done: which should teach us to believe God, and never limit him. When we have his promise, let us reckon upon it: if God promise us any thing, it is as sure as if we had it.
Hee speakes in the present time, yet meaneth it of a thing to bee accomplished in the time to come. For God laid Christ downe, as the corner stone, partly in his Incarnation, when he sent him into the world in the flesh to take our nature; and partly he is said to lay down this corner stone, when spiritually by meanes hee formes Christ in the hearts of men in the visible Church. Now the Lord speaketh in the present time, I doo lay, for diuers reasons. First, To signify, that the care of that busines was then in his head, he was plotting about it, & did continually minde it. Secondly, to signify, that howsoeuer the maine worke of the open restoring of the ⟨p. 185⟩world by Christ, in the calling of the Gentiles, was long after to be done, yet God did spiritually forme Christ in the hearts of the remnant, so as at all times hee did more or lesse further his building. Thirdly, to note the certainty of the accomplishment of it, he saith, he did then do it, to assure them, it should as certainely be done, as if it were then done: which should teach vs to beleeue God, and neuer limit him. When we haue his promise, let vs reckon vpon it: if God promise vs any thing, it is as sure as if we had it.
Thus of the time.
Fourthly, The manner follows, noted in the word Laid.
Fourthly, The manner followes, noted in the word Laid.
I lay.
There are many things imported under this similitude, that Christ is laid, as the Mason lays the chief corner stone in the earth. For it imports,
There are many things imported vnder this similitude, that Christ is laid, as the Mason laies the chief corner stone in the earth. For it imports,
First, The divine nature of Christ, that he was before he was incarnate,1 as the corner-stone was, before it was laid for a foundation. Christ descended from heaven, Eph. 4.7, 9.
First, The diuine nature of Christ, that he was before he was incarnate,1 as the corner-stone was, before it was laid for a foundation. Christ descended from heauen, Eph. 4.7, 9.
Secondly, The unchangeableness of Gods ordinances concerning the giving of Christ. He hath laid him as a foundation, that he would not have taken up again.
Secondly, The vnchangeablenes of Gods ordinances concerning the giuing of Christ. Hee hath laid him as a foundation, that hee would not haue taken vp againe.
Thirdly, the hiding of the glory of Christ, and of his life. He is of singular use to the church, and the Frame of God's work appeareth in his members: but Christ himself is hid with God, Col. 3.3. He is like the stone hidden in the earth: he is buried in the ground: and therefore we ⟨p. 186⟩should be the more patient, if our life be hid also with God.
Thirdly, the hiding of the glory of Christ, and of his life. He is of singular vse to the church, and the Frame of God's work appeareth in his members: but Christ himself is hid with God, Col. 3.3. He is like the stone hidden in the earth: hee is buried in the ground: and therefore wee ⟨p. 186⟩should be the more patient, if our life be hid also with God.
Fourthly, it may be, by this term the mystery of the birth and conception of Christ is intimated. God digged the ground of our natures in the womb of Christ, that he might lay Christ there, &c.
Fourthly, it may be, by this tearm the mystery of the birth and conception of Christ is intimated. God digged the ground of our natures in the womb of Christ, that hee might lay Christ there, &c.
Fifthly, so it may likewise import the sanctification of the humane nature of Christ; who was qualified, as the stone is squared when it is laid down.
Fiftly, so it may likewise import the sanctification of the humane nature of Christ; who was qualified, as the stone is squared when it is laied down.
Thus of the manner. The place follows.
In Zion.]
In Sion.]
Zion, for certain, was a Fort of the Jebusites, built on a hill close to Jerusalem; which was taken by David, and called the City of David, 2. Sam. 5, 7; the Temple being afterwards built here. The Church of the Jews was called Zion, because here they assembled: and so afterwards it was the title given to the Church of God, both of Jews and Gentiles, that agree in one faith and true Religion, Zach. 10.11. And in especial, by Zion is meant the place of the assembly of the Saints, the Sanctuary. In the twelfth to the Hebrews, verse 22. it is thought to signify the saints in heaven, even the Congregation of the first-born. In this place it must needs mean the Christian Church; in which, GOD built the new world, laying the foundation in Christ incarnate, which began in Jerusalem, even at Zion in the Letter.
Sion, for certain, was a Fort of the Iebusites, built on a hill close to Ierusalem; which was taken by Dauid, and called the City of Dauid, 2. Sam. 5, 7; the Temple being afterwards built heer. The Church of the Iewes was cald Sion, because heer they assembled: and so afterwards it was the title giuen to the Church of God, both of Iewes and Gentiles, that agree in one faith and true Religion, Zach. 10.11. And in especiall, by Sion is meant the place of the assembly of the Saints, the Sanctuary. In the twelfth to the Hebrews, verse 22. it is thought to signifie the saints in heauen, euen the Congregation of the first-born. In this place it must needs mean the Christian Church; in which, GOD built the new world, laying the foundation in Christ incarnate, which began in Ierusalem, euen at Sion in the Letter.
