A17385:807
A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…
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.
Fire is sometimes taken properly, and so it may be referred to gold, and then the sense is, that faith is better than gold tried in the fire: Fire is sometimes taken metaphorically; and so there is the fire of mortification, 1 Cor. 3.13. and the fire of renovation, Mat. 3.11. and the fire of tribulation, and the fire of condemnation, &c. It is the fire of tribulation which is meant here. Sometimes by this fire is meant any tribulation; and sometimes a special, fierce, and unresistible cross is meant by it: and so I think the fiery trial, 1 Pet. 4.12. is to be taken, and so it may be understood here. It is sure, that God doth sometimes try his best servants with strange afflictions: yet here is comfort, that all this shall be for their good, which should teach us in the greatest troubles to live by faith, 1 Pet. 4.12, 13. and in lesser affliction• not to be moved, seeing we have n•t resisted unto so high a degree of affliction as many of Gods dear servants have. Again, we may hence note, that Christians are not Stoics, they have sense of their afflictions: Crosses are fire, and fire will be felt, no affliction for the present seems joyous.
Fire is sometimes taken properly, and so it may be referred to gold, and then the sense is, that faith is better than gold tryed in the fire: Fire is sometimes taken metaphorically; and so there is the fire of mortification, 1 Cor. 3.13. and the fire of renovation, Mat. 3.11. and the fire of tribulation, and the fire of condemnation, &c. It is the fire of tribulation which is meant here. Sometimes by this fire is meant any tribulation; and sometimes a speciall, fierce, and unresistible crosse is meant by it: and so I think the fiery triall, 1 Pet. 4.12. is to be taken, and so it may be understood here. It is sure, that God doth sometimes try his best servants with strange afflictions: yet here is comfort, that all this shall be for their good, which should teach us in the greatest troubles to live by faith,