A17384:870
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, Zion is a Virgin, and all the Godly are the Daughters of Zion, and so the chief Daughter of a chief mother.1 Now this is a true virtue of a true member of the Church, that his love is undefiled towards Christ; He is not enamoured with other things: He will have no other God, but one: He accounts all things but dross and dung in comparison of Christ: He harbours no beloved sin, but denieth the enticements of it with detestation, and grief, that he should ever be so assaulted.
First, Sion is a Virgin, and all the Godly are the Daughters of Sion, and so the chiefe Daughter of a chiefe mother.1 Now this is a true vertue of a true member of the Church, that his loue is vndefiled towards Christ; Hee is not enamored with other things: Hee will haue no other God, but one: Hee accounts all things but drosse and dung in comparison of Christ: Hee harbours no beloued sinne, but denieth the inticements of it with detestation, and griefe, that hee should euer be so assaulted.
Secondly, God knoweth his own in Zion by this sign, that they are they, that mourn in Zion, that are far from making a mock of sin: The Lord himself is their witness, that their hearts are heavy by reason of their sins, and they know no grief like to the grief for their sins, Isaiah 61.2.