A17385:329
A17385:329
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.
Thus of obedience in general:
Thus of obedience in generall:
External obedience which is here entreated of, is distinguished by the Apostle: Rom. 15.18. into two kinds.1 For either it is obedience in word, or obedience in deed.
Externall obedience which is here entreated of, is distinguished by the Apostle: Rom. 15.18. into two kindes.1 For either it is obedience in word, or obedience in deed.
Quest. Here might some one say, what need the obedience of the tongue, our tongues are free?
Answ. It seems some men think so: Those hypocritical, flattering, and wicked men mentioned Psal. 12.3. say their tongues are their own, and yet it is certain, the Lord will have the tongue bound to the good behaviour, Jam. 3.3.
Answ. It seemes some men thinke so: Those hypocriticall, flattering, and wicked men mentioned Psal. 12.3. say their tongues are their owne, and yet it is certaine, the Lord will have the tongue bound to the good behaviour, Iam. 3.3.
Quest. What great hurt can there be in the tongue, if men live honestly otherwise? It seems there can be no great offence in the tongue.
Quest. What great hurt can there be in the tongue, if men live honestly otherwise? It seemes there can be no great offence in the tongue.
Answ. Men are extremely deceived that think they cannot commit dishonesty & impiety by their words. There is a world of wickedness in the tongue, Jam. 3.6. There are many sins which are most vile and hateful, which have their principal seat in the tongue, or are practised in words, as blasphemy, murmuring, desperation, lip-service, swearing, cursing, perjury, charming, reproaching, persecution by the mocking of the godly, bitter words, filthy speaking, lying, backbiting, slandering, flattery, and false witness bearing, together with divers sins of deceit, hypocrisy, heresy, &c.
Answ. Men are extreamely deceived that think they cannot commit dishonesty & impiety by their words. There is a world of wickednes in the tongue, Jam. 3.6. There are many sins which are most vile and hatefull, which have their principall seat in the tongue, or are practised in words, as blasphemy, murmuring, desperation, lip-service, swearing, cursing, perjury, charming, reproaching, persecution by the mocking of the godly, bitter words, silthy speaking, lying, backbiting, slandering, flattery, and false witnesse bearing, together with divers sinnes of deceit, hypocrisie, heresie, &c.
And on the other side excellent graces, and duties depend much upon the service of the tongue: Gods glory; our own Callings, and other mens good are much furthered by the tongue. By the tongue men preach, pray, confess their sins, give thanks, comfort, exhort, rebuke, swear, vow, &c. and therefore great reason, we should show our obedience even in the tongue.
And on the other side excellent graces, and duties depend much upon the service of the tongue: Gods glory; our owne Callings, and other mens good are much furthered by the tongue. By the tongue men preach, pray, confesse their sins, give thankes, comfort, exhort, rebuke, sweare, vow, &c. and therefore great reason, wee should shew our obedience even in the tongue.
Under the obedience of conversation are comprehended duties of piety to God, of mercy to the distressed, of justice to all men, of temperance to our selves. The catalogues of the sins we should avoid in our conversation, or of duties we should do, I omit here, having some purpose, if God ⟨p. 21⟩will, to handle them more largely in Treatises by themselves.
Under the obedience of conversation are comprehended duties of piety to God, of mercy to the distressed, of justice to all men, of temperance to our selves. The catalogues of the sinnes we should avoid in our conversation, or of duties we should doe, I omit here, having some purpose, if God ⟨p. 21⟩will, to handle them more largely in Treatises by themselves.
And thus of obedience.
And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.]
And sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ.]
Before I come to the more particular, and full opening of these words, these things may be touched in the general.
Before I come to the more particular, and full opening of these words, these things may be touched in the generall.
1. There was blood in Christ, he took the true nature of his brethren, true flesh and blood, that he might serve and satisfy God in the same nature, that had offended.
1. There was blood in Christ, he tooke the true nature of his brethren, true flesh and blood, that he might serve and satisfie God in the same nature, that had offended.
2. This blood was shed. If you ask, who shed it? I answer: Judas by selling it: the Priests by advising it: the people by consenting to it: Pilate by decreeing it: the soldiers by effecting it: Christ himself by permitting it, and after presenting it to God: (Heb. 9.14,) our sins, that chiefly caused it. If any ask for whom it was shed? I answer briefly for the Church, Act. 20. not for himself, nor for impenitent, and obstinate sinners, that dye in their sins.
2. This blood was shed. If you aske, who shed it? I answer: Iudas by selling it: the Priests by advising it: the people by consenting to it: Pilate by decreeing it: the soldiers by effecting it: Christ himselfe by permitting it, and after presenting it to God: (Heb. 9.14,) our sinnes, that chiefly caused it. If any aske for whom it was shed? I answer briefly for the Church, Act. 20. not for himselfe, nor for impenitent, and obstinate sinners, that dye in their sins.
3. It is not enough, that the blood of Christ be shed to make us happy, unless it be applied also: which the word sprinkling notes.
3. It is not enough, that the blood of Christ bee shed to make us happy, unlesse it be applyed also: which the word sprinkling notes.
4. This effusion of blood was solemnly prefigured, or foretold by the sacraments, and sacrifices of the Law. For this word sprinkled is a Metaphor, borrowed from the legal sprinkling; which shows us two things: 1. The great account that God and good men make of it, in that it was so solemnly and anciently typed out: 2. That the ceremonies of that Law are now abolished, seeing we have here the true sprinkling of the blood fore-shadowed out.
4. This effusion of blood was solemnly prefigured, or foretold by the sacraments, and sacrifices of the Law. For this word sprinkled is a Metaphor, borowed from the legall sprinkling; which shewes us two things: 1. The great account that God and good men make of it, in that it was so solemnely and anciently typed out: 2. That the ceremonies of that Law are now abolished, seeing we have here the true sprinkling of the blood fore-shadowed out.
5. That our estate in Christ is better now, than our estate in Adam was.1