A17384:880
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.
Secondly, the favour of God shines there: He delights in his people, and joys in all the members of Zion: He rejoiceth over them with joy, Zeph. 3.15, 16, 17. Psal. 86.2.
Secondly, the fauor of God shines there: Hee delightes in his people, and ioyes in all the members of Sion: He reioiceth ouer them with ioy, Zeph. 3.15, 16, 17. Psal. 86.2.
Thirdly, in Zion we are loosed from our fetters and bonds. It is a place, where the Captives go free: The Lord turns back the captivity of his people, Psal. 14.7.
Thirdly, in Sion we are loosed from our fetters and bonds. It is a place, where the Captiues goe free: The Lord turnes back the captiuitie of his people, Psal. 14.7.
Fourthly, in her Palaces God is known for a refuge in all distresses, Psal. 48.3. There is wonderful safety there: The Lord doth mightily preserve and defend his people; we are safe, if we be members of the true Church, and have true grace: the greatest adversaries labour in vain, and seeking see, and marvel, and haste away, Psal. 48.11, 12. They shall certainly be confounded, and turned back, that hate, Zion, Psal. 129.5. Upon every place of mount Zion shall be defence.1 Zion is a quiet habitation. God hath his year of recompense for the controversies of Zion, and his day of Vengeance, Isaiah 34.8.
Fourthly, in her Palaces God is knowne for a refuge in all distresses, Psal. 48.3. There is wonderfull safetie there: The Lord doth mightily preserue and defend his people; wee are safe, if wee be members of the true Church, and haue true grace: the greatest aduersaries labour in vaine, and seeking see, and maruell, and haste away, Psal. 48.11, 12. They shall certainly be confounded, and turned back, that hate, Sion, Psal. 129.5. Vpon euery place of mount Sion shall be defence.1 Sion is a quiet habitation. God hath his yeere of recompence for the controuersies of Sion, and his day of Vengance, Esay 34.8.
Fifthly, the Law comes out of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem: There we have directions for our life and for eternal life, Isaiah 2.3. It is Gods foddering place, there he gives us shepherds to feed us, Jerem. 3.14.
Fiftly, the Lawe comes out of Sion, and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem: There we haue directions for our life and for eternall life, Esay 2.3. It is Gods foddering place, there hee giues vs shepheards to feed vs, Ierem. 3.14.
Sixthly, the inhabitants of Zion have all remission of sins, and the healing of their infirmities, ⟨p. 194⟩as the Prophet shows in these words excellently. The inhabitant thereof shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity, Isaiah 33.24.
Sixtly, the inhabitants of Sion haue all remission of sinnes, and the healing of their infirmities, ⟨p. 194⟩as the Prophet shews in these words excellently. The inhabitant thereof shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall bee forgiuen their iniquitie, Esay 33.24.
Seventhly, all the good news is there to be had: we are naturally Athenians, we love to tell, and hear news: if we were spiritually so, Oh! how would we rejoice in Zion! whose spiritual glory is to bring good tidings, Isaiah 40.9. and 41, 27. and 52.7, &c.
Seuenthly, all the good newes is there to bee had: we are naturally Athenians, we loue to tell, and heare newes: if we were spiritually so, Oh! how would we reioice in Sion! whose spirituall glory is to bring good tidings, Esay 40.9. and 41, 27. and 52.7, &c.
Eighthly, If the Lord be displeased with Zion, yet it is but for a moment, he will return in everlasting compassion: It is a sure thing, The Lord will yet have mercy upon Zion, Psal. 102.14. He will again comfort Zion, and make his wilderness like Eden, and his Desert like the garden of the Lord, Isaiah 51.3.
Eightthly, If the Lord bee displeased with Sion, yet it is but for a moment, hee will returne in euerlasting compassion: It is a sure thing, The Lord will yet haue mercy vpon Sion, Psal. 102.14. Hee will againe comfort Sion, and make his wildernes like Eden, and his Desart like the garden of the Lord, Esay 51.3.
Lastly, and specially we should rejoice in Zion because the Redeemer comes to Zion, and to them that turn from their transgressions in Jacob, Isaiah 59.20. Yea salvation only comes out of Zion, Psal. 14.7. In Zion only hath God placed salvation for Israel his glory, Isaiah 46. ult.
Lastly, and specially we should reioice in Sion because the Redeemer comes to Sion, and to them that turne from their transgressions in Iacob, Esay 59.20. Yea saluation only comes out of Sion, Psal. 14.7. In Sion onely hath God placed saluation for Israel his glory, Esay 46. vlt.
And therefore we should labour to walk worthy of so great mercies of God, and live with all contentment, whatsoever our outward estate be: Every poor Christian should think themselves abundantly happy: What shall one answer the messengers of the nations, saith the Prophet! Why thus: That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it, Isaiah 14.32. Especially, if we consider that of the ⟨p. 195⟩Psalm, that the Lord hath there commanded the blessing, even life for evermore, Psal. 133.3.
And therefore we should labour to walk worthie of so great mercies of God, and liue with all contentment, whatsoeuer our outward estate be: Euery poore Christian should think themselues aboundantly happie: What shall one answer the messengers of the nations, saith the Prophet! Why thus: That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poore of his people shall trust in it, Esay 14.32. Especially, if wee consider that of the ⟨p. 195⟩Psalme, that the Lord hath there commanded the blessing, euen life for euermore, Psal. 133.3.
Thus it should serve for consolation.
Thus it should serue for consolation.
First, to the godly themselves, that live not comfortably, and are daily distressed with unbelief, shall any distresses now make Zion droop? The Lord takes it wonderfully unkindly, that Zion said, God hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me, and pleads earnestly to prove, that it was false. What, says the Prophet Micah, 1is there no King in thee? why doest thou cry out? Mic. 4.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And the Prophet Jeremiah notes it with indignation: Behold, saith he, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people, because of them that dwell n far countries: Is not the Lord in Zion? Is not her King in her? Jerem. 8.19.
First, to the godly themselues, that liue not comfortably, and are dailie distressed with vnbelief, shal any distresses now make Sion droop? The Lord takes it wonderfully vnkindly, that Sion said, God hath forsaken mee, and my God hath forgotten mee, and pleades earnestly to proue, that it was false. What, saies the Prophet Micah, 1is there no King in thee? why doest thou crie out? Mic. 4.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. And the Prophet Ieremie notes it with indignation: Behold, saith he, the voice of the crie of the daughter of my people, because of them that dwell n farre countries: Is not the Lord in Sion? Is not her King in her? Ierem. 8.19.
Secondly, to careless and carnal Christians. Is the Lord about so great a work, as founding of Zion, and forming Christ in the harts of men? Then woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and can sit still, and securely neglect so great salvation brought unto them, Amos 6.1.
Secondly, to carelesse and carnall Christians. Is the Lord about so great a work, as founding of Sion, and forming Christ in the harts of men? Then wo to them that are at ease in Sion, and can sit still, and securely neglect so great saluation brought vnto them, Amos 6.1.
A corner stone.]
Christ is described by these words: A corner stone, elect and precious ▪ He is likened to the foundation stone in the corner of the building, by which similitude divers Doctrines are imported, as,
Christ is described by these words: A corner stone, elect and precious ▪ He is likened to the foundation stone in the corner of the building, by which similitude diuers Doctrines are imported, as,
First, that Christ is the foundation of all the ⟨p. 196⟩building of grace and godliness in the Church, and the only corner stone, Hebr. 1.3. Joh▪ 5.39. Other foundation can no man lay, then that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ, 1. Cor. 3. which should both teach us, and inform us: it should teach us, where to begin, when we go about the work of godliness, and eternal life: We must begin at Christ: All the building of true grace must begin at Christ, and our redemption in him: till we have learned Christ, we have learned nothing: and it should teach us also to stay our hearts in all estates upon Christ; we should rest in him, as the building doth upon the foundation: And further it should teach us to ascribe all the praise of the grace or hope we have received, unto Christ, and the support we have from him: And it may inform us, concerning the dotage of the Papists, who make Peter the rock and foundation of the Church: and yet here we have the testimony and Doctrine of Peter himself to the contrary, teaching us to acknowledge no other rock of foundation, but Christ himself.
First, that Christ is the foundation of all the ⟨p. 196⟩building of grace and godlines in the Church, and the onely corner stone, Hebr. 1.3. Ioh▪ 5.39. Other foundation can no man lay, then that which is laid, which is Iesus Christ, 1. Cor. 3. which should both teach vs, and informe vs: it should teach vs, where to begin, when wee goe about the work of godlines, and eternall life: Wee must begin at Christ: All the building of true grace must begin at Christ, and our redemption in him: till wee haue learned Christ, wee haue learned nothing: and it should teach vs also to stay our hearts in all estates vpon Christ; wee should rest in him, as the building doth vpon the foundation: And further it should teach vs to ascribe all the praise of the grace or hope wee haue receiued, vnto Christ, and the support wee haue from him: And it may informe vs, concerning the dotage of the Papists, who make Peter the rock and foundation of the Church: and yet heere wee haue the testimonie and Doctrine of Peter himselfe to the contrarie, teaching vs to acknowledge no other rock of foundation, but Christ himselfe.
