A17384:922
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.
Fifthly, observe here the nature of true faith. To believe God in any thing, he saith, will not save us, if we believe not in Christ. The object of faith is Christ: for, though we believe other things, yet either they are not things that directly concern salvation, or else they are founded upon Christ: nor is it enough to believe Christ, or to believe that he is sent of God, but we must believe in him, that is, out of sound judgement we must with all our hearts embrace the happy news of salvation by Christ, and rely upon him and his merits only for our own particular salvation. The very comparison here imported, shows us the nature of faith. Christ is like the foundation of a house: now, to believe in Christ, is, to fasten our selves in our confidence upon Christ, as the stone lieth upon the foundation. To believe in Christ, is, to lie upon Christ unmoveably, and not flee out of the Building. And it is to be noted here, that the apostle adds these words, in him, to the Text in Isaiah, of purpose to explain the Prophets meaning, and to show what kind of believing the Prophet intended. Therefore it is apparent, that Pagans cannot be saved, ⟨p. 205⟩because they believe neither God nor Christ: no Jews and Turks, because they believe God, but not Christ; nor the common Protestant, because he only saith he believeth, but doth not believe indeed; nor the Papist, because he believes not in Christ, nor placeth his confidence in him alone, but in his own works, or in Saints, or Angels, or in Popes pardons and indulgences.
Fiftly, obserue heer the nature of true faith. To beleeue God in any thing, hee saith, will not saue vs, if we beleeue not in Christ. The obiect of faith is Christ: for, though we beleeue other things, yet either they are not things that directly concern saluation, or else they are founded vpon Christ: nor is it enough to beleeue Christ, or to beleeue that he is sent of God, but we must beleeue in him, that is, out of sound iudgement wee must with all our hearts imbrace the happy newes of saluation by Christ, and relie vpon him and his merits onely for our owne particular saluation. The very comparison heer imported, shewes vs the nature of faith. Christ is like the foundation of a house: now, to beleeue in Christ, is, to fasten our selues in our confidence vpon Christ, as the stone lieth vpon the foundation. To beleeue in Christ, is, to lie vpon Christ vnmoueably, and not flee out of the Building. And it is to be noted heer, that the apostle addes these words, in him, to the Text in Esay, of purpose to explain the Prophets meaning, and to shew what kinde of beleeuing the Prophet intended. Therfore it is apparant, that Pagans cannot bee saued,