A17385:1873
A17385:1873
A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St. Peter Wherein are most judiciously and profitably handled such points of doctrine as naturally flow from the text. Together with a very useful application thereof: and many good rules for a godly life. By Nicholas Byfield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. To which is now newly added an alphabetical table, not formerly published.A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St. Peter VVherin are most judiciously and profitably handled such points of doctrine as naturally flow from the text. Together with a very usefull application thereof: and many good rules for a godly life. By Nicholas Byfield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex. To which is now newly added an alphabeticall table, not formerly published.
London: printed by Miles Flesher and Robert Young, 1637
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.
4. If shows, how careful we should be of our selves, that were bought at so precious a rate, Mat. •6.
4. If shewes, how carefull we should be of our selves, that were bought at so precious a rate, Mat. •6.
5. Let […] all then take heed of sinning against the blood of Christ (for if it be thus precious, it must needs diffuse a horrible guilt upon such as offend against it: if Abel's blood cried so, what will Christs blood do? &c.) as they do, 1. That swear by it. 2. That commit the sin against the Holy Ghost. 3. That trust to their own merits. 4. That receive the Sacrament unworthily, 1 Cor. 11.
5. Let 〈…〉 all then take heed of sinning against the blood of Christ (for if it be thus precious, it must needs diffuse a horrible guilt upon such as offend against it: if Abels blood cryed so, what will Christs blood doe? &c.) as they doe, 1. That sweare by it. 2. That commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost. 3. That trust to their owne merits. 4. That receive the Sacrament unworthily, 1 Cor. 11.
As a lamb without blemish and spot.
As a lambe without blemish and spot.
Hitherto of his passion. Now follows his obedience, or innocency both of na••re and action, and both as they commend the excellency of him, that suffered for us: His innocency is set out by comparison of a spotless lamb, in which words it is Gods purpose to lift up our hearts to an apprehension of a wonderful purity in Christ, as he is our surety and Saviour.
Hitherto of his passion. Now followes his obedience, or innocency both of na••re and action, and both as they commend the excellency of him, that suffered for us: His innocency is set out by comparison of a spotlesse lambe, in which words it is Gods purpose to lift up our hearts to an apprehension of a wonderfull purity in Christ, as he is our surety and Saviour.
The main observation is, that God would have us to know affectionately the wonderful holiness of Christ, as he is our Mediator and Redeemer: it is one chief thing we should be informed in. Hence the sacrifices still shadowed him out by the similitude of a spotless lamb, and therefore he is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world, Rev. 13.8. and the Apostles for urging this point may well be called the Apostles of the Lamb, Rev. 21.24. John calls him the Lamb of God, Joh. 1.29, 36.
The maine observation is, that God would have us to know affectionatly the wonderfull holinesse of Christ, as he is our Mediator and Redeemer: it is one chiefe thing we should be informed in. Hence the sacrifices still shadowed him out by the similitude of a spotlesse lambe, and therefore hee is called the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world, Rev. 13.8. and the Apostles for urging this point may well be called the Apostles of the Lambe, Rev. 21.24. Iohn calls him the Lambe of God, Ioh. 1.29, 36.
1. For harmlessness. 2. For patience and silence in affliction, Isaiah 53.7. Jer. 11.19. 3. For price and value: for rareness and high account: it seems lambs were of special account, Gen. 33.19. & 21.28, 30. 4. For infirmities: he took the infirmities were miserable, but not those were damnable. 5. For meekness and humility. 6. For sacrifice:1 He was the substance of all that was signified by the typical lambs: he was the substance of the paschal lamb, of the lamb for daily sacrifice, for the peace-offerings, for the trespass-offerings, for the purification of women, and of the lepers, and the lamb for the first fruits, and for the trespass-off•ing of the Nazarites, and for the free will offerings, or vows; and the lamb for the sabbaths, and new moons, and the feast of trumpets; and the lamb for the day of humiliation, and for the feast of tabernacles; the lamb for the Priests, and the Princes, and the people.
1. For harmelesnesse. 2. For patience and silence in affliction, Esay 53.7. Ier. 11.19. 3. For price and value: for rarenesse and high account: it seemes lambes were of speciall account, Gen. 33.19. & 21.28, 30. 4. For infirmities: he tooke the infirmities were miserable, but not those were damnable. 5. For meeknesse and humility. 6. For sacrifice:1 He was the substance of all that was signified by the typicall lambes: he was the substance of the paschall lambe, of the lambe for daily sacrifice, for the peace-offrings, for the trespasse-offrings, for the purification of women, and of the lepers, and the lambe for the first fruits, and for the trespasse-off•ing of the Nazarites, and for the free will offrings, or vowes; and the lambe for the sabbaths, and new moones, and the feast of trumpets; and the lambe for the day of humiliation, and for the feast of tabernacles; the lambe for the Priests, and the Princes, and the people.
It is by the sprinkling of his blood we scape the destroying Angels: It is for his sake, that God is every day pleased in his propitiation for our sins: He is our daily sacrifice, that we must still offer to God for our selves: It is he we must offer to God for our trespasses, and no gifts we can bring to God will be acceptable without him: In him we are freed from the corruption of our natures, and from the leprosy of actual transgressions: In him we have the confirmation of all our outward blessings: The Priests, and Princes, as well as the people must ascribe all their reconciliation to him: There are no persons so devoted to religion, but they must acknowledge their needs of Christ; nor can our best actions or times be accepted without him.
It is by the sprinkling of his blood we scape the destroying Angels: It is for his sake, that God is every day pleased in his propitiation for our sinnes: He is our daily sacrifice, that we must still offer to God for our selves: It is he we must offer to God for our trespasses, and no gifts wee can bring to God will be acceptable without him: In him we are freed from the corruption of our natures, and from the leprosie of actuall transgressions: In him we have the confirmation of all our outward blessings: The Priests, and Princes, as well as the people must ascribe all their reconciliation to him: There are no persons so devoted to religion, but they must acknowledge their needs of Christ; nor can our best actions or times be accepted without him.
Whereas it is said, he was without spot or blemish, the Holy Ghost means ⟨p. 148⟩to avouch, that he was most holy both in nature and life, there could not be a spot found in his actions, nor any the least blemish in his disposition.
Whereas it is said, he was without spot or blemish, the Holy Ghost meanes ⟨p. 148⟩to avouch, that he was most holy both in nature and life, there could not be a spot found in his actions, nor any the least blemish in his disposition.
And it was needful Christ should be so pure: 1. Because else his passion could not be accepted. 2. Because he must become a righteousness to many.
And it was needfull Christ should be so pure: 1. Because else his passion could not be accepted. 2. Because he must become a righteousnesse to many.
1I answer, that he came of Adam, but not by Adam, that is, not by carnal propagation, but was conceived by the holy Ghost, and so original sin stopped: and for his infirmities, I said before, he received such infirmities, as the Fathers call miserable, that is, such as were punishments, not sins; but not such as were damnable, as all sinful infirmities are.
1I answer, that he came of Adam, but not by Adam, that is, not by carnall propagation, but was conceived by the holy Ghost, and so originall sin stopped: and for his infirmities, I said before, he received such infirmities, as the Fathers call miserable, that is, such as were punishments, not sins; but not such as were damnable, as all sinfull infirmities are.
1The Uses follow.
1. We should inform our selves by often meditation of this wonderful righteousness in Christ, beholding by our medication the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
1. We should informe our selves by often meditation of this wonderfull righteousnesse in Christ, beholding by our medication the lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world.
2. For instruction many things may be urged.
1. We should give honour to the lamb that sitteth upon the throne, whose praises fill both heaven and earth, Rev. 5.7. &c. 2. We should daily send this lamb to the ruler of the earth, daily present him to God for us, Isaiah 16.1. 3. These praises of Christ should convert us to his image: this very doctrine converted the Eunuch, Act. 8.31. we should imitate the praises of Christ, hereby imported, as these places show, Rev. 14.1. to 6. 4. Let us for his testimony resist the gates of hell, by believing in him, and love not our lives unto the death for his sake, Rev. 12.11.
1. We should give honour to the lambe that sitteth upon the throne, whose praises fill both heaven and earth, Rev. 5.7. &c. 2. We should daily send this lambe to the ruler of the earth, daily present him to God for us, Esay 16.1. 3. These praises of Christ should convert us to his image: this very doctrine converted the Eunuch, Act. 8.31. we should imitate the praises of Christ, hereby imported, as these places shew, Rev. 14.1. to 6. 4. Let us for his testimony resist the gates of hell, by beleeving in him, and love not our lives unto the death for his sake, Rev. 12.11.