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.

THE METAPHRASE OF THE FIRST CHAP∣ter of the first Epistle of S^T. PETER.

* 1.1PETER by immediate calling and commission from IESUS CHRIST the Embassador for the Churches to the dispersed servants of God, strangers and Pilgrims in this world, that dwell here and there in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithinia.

* 1.2Who for their spirituall estate were chosen of God from ever∣lasting, and fore-seene of God with speciall approbation above the rest of man∣kinde, and loved with a fatherly love (as appeares by the inward sanctification of their hearts, which can be found in none, but the Elect of God) separated of God to these ends, namely that both they might glorifie God by their holy conversation, and be glorified of God by the fruition of the benefits purchased by the blood of IESUS CHRIST, and now estated upon them by the appli∣cation of the merits of CHRIST: The grace of God, even his continuall free favour, and the gifts of his spirit, and peace, even tranquillitie of heart and conscience, and all comfortable and needfull prosperity be established upon you, and more and more increase in you.

* 1.3Eternall thankes bee given unto God, who is the God of our Lord Iesus Christ in respect of his humane nature, and his Father in respect of his divine nature, for all the consolations, wherein he hath given us reason of singular re∣joycing, and in particular for that he hath regenerated us and made us his chil∣dren by adoption, when we deserved nothing but his eternall wrath, meerely out of the abundance of his owne matchles mercies, and sets us in such an estate, as whatsoever our trials & affli••tions may be, yet he hath given us effectual & assured hope of full happine••se, the pledge and undoubted testimony whereof we have, in that ••esus Christ is risen from the dead, which shewes evidently, that all is discharged: For else hee could not have come out of prison, till hee had paid the uttermost farthing.

* 1.4And to shew that he will acknowledge us for sonnes, he hath reserved for us in heaven such an inheritance, as shall never bee lost, or taken from us, and shall have no fault nor defect in it, nor ever decay in the incomparable worth and glory of it.

* 1.5And that we may be sure of possession, his owne almighty power will be as a strong garrison about us to keepe us; and he hath given us also a lively faith, that well preserve us, till we be possessed of that glorious and full salvation, which he hath prepared for us, and is ready to be revealed in the full perfection of it, when the day of death, or judgement shall come.

* 1.6If you object, that you cannot take that comfort in these Arguments of con∣solation, because of the many tentations, inward and outward, with which you are daily disheartned: I answer, that for all your crosses you may have excee∣ding much joy even in the midst of your tribulations; and besides the trouble of your crosses is but for a little while, they are but short tryalls, nor are you bound alwaies to be pensive for your crosses, but onely when neede requires, namely when you neede to be humbled for some corruptions, that get too much head in you, or for other profitable ends.

* 1.7And lastly you lose nothing by your tentations, and afflictions. For your saith, which i•• a thing more precious in Gods account, than all the gold in the world (for that will perish, and come to be of no use one day) is hereby tryed; and what though the fire of the furnace of affliction bee somewhat hot, yet re∣member what wonderf••ll praise, and honour, and glory you shall have for the stedfastnesse of your faith, when Iesus Christ shall appeare, and with his owne mouth commend you, and glorifie you before all the world.

* 1.8If you object, that you doe not know, whether the former consolations doe belong unto you, or no: I will put you in minde of three infallible signes, that you are converted and shall goe to heauen. 1. The first is your unfained affe∣ction to the Lord Iesus Christ, though yee never yet saw him with your bodily eyes. 2. The second is your continuall ••aith relying upon him alone for your re∣conciliation and salvation. 3. And the third is the wonderfull, matchlesse, and unutterable, and celestiall joy, that at sometimes yee feele in the presence of God in his ordinances.

* 1.9And therefore yee neede make no doubt, but beleeve confidently, that God will reward your trust in him, by giving such an end to your course, as that your soules shall be sure to be saved.

* 1.10And that you may be the more abundantly confirmed in the former con∣solations, thinke of the Testimony of the Prophets, that were men extraordi∣narily raised up of God, and did Prophesie of this great salvation, which is now come to passe, and fulfilled in us Christians; and being appointed, and inspired of God to soretell the singular priviledges of the Christian Churches, they tooke marveilous paines about it, inquiring diligently by all the meanes they could.

* 1.11Studying to finde it out, if it were possible, what, and what manner of time the Holy Ghost, which was in them meant, when it made them foretell both that the MESSIAS should suffer so many things, and withall that after his suffering there should be wonderfull glorious times for the Church.

* 1.12Now they were answered by revelation, that they themselves must never see those glorious daies on earth: but that they were used only as Gods ser∣vants to signifie to the Church, what should be the estate of Christians after the sufferings of Christ; according also to the doctrine of the Apostles, who have published the same things to you in the preaching of the gospell, being men inspired by the Holy Ghost from heaven, and assisted with the visible gifts of the Holy Ghost: and your happinesse is so great, that the Angells ••f heaven (like the Cherubins, that stood looking into the Arke) doe with singular ad∣miration stand and wonder at, and search into the manifold wisedome of God in the happinesse, to which you are brought by Christ. And as you neede to be comforted, so have I thought it fit to exhort you, and first in things that are generall to you all, both concerning the matter of holinesse, and concerning the meanes of it.

* 1.13There are three things you should labour after. 1. The first is the restrai∣ning and resisting of all l••ts of godlinesse, which within from corruption of na∣ture are wont like long garments to hinder you in the labour and race of a ho∣ly life. 2. The second is the moderation of your selves, and that right temper in your hearts and lives, especially in the use of the outward things of this world. 3. The third is, the perfecting of the assurance of your hope concerning the glory of heaven, which God hath given of his free grace, and shall be fully brought upon you at the last day, when Christ shall bee shewed in his glory to the world.

* 1.14Now there are six reasons, which may induce you to the care of a holy con∣versation intended in the former dutyes. 1. The first concernes the image of God: ye are the children of God, and therefore you should live so, as becomes

Gods children, and expresse in your cariage the resemblance of the nature of God, not given your selves over, on•• of the liking of sinne, to the service and o∣bedience of any of those corruptions, which either your selves lived in before your calling, or are usually found in such onely, as know not GOD.

* 1.15But as God, who by the power of his word hath converted you, is holy; so should you strive with respect of all his commandements to resemble the prai∣ses of God in all your car••age, striving in every duty to follow your patterne.

* 1.16And the rather, because this hath beene anciently required in the old Testa∣ment of Gods people, to propound unto themselves the imitation of Gods holi∣nesse, and to detest sinne, because they would not be unlike to God.

* 1.172. A second reason may be taken from the judgment of God. For the time must certainly come, when God, whom we call a Father, and call upon as a Fa∣ther in this life, will summon us before his Tribunall certainly, and speedily, and then no man shall escape, but shalt be dealt with without partiality, or any corrupt respect, according as mens workes have beene either good or evill: and therefore it behoves us, that are in this world but as sojourners for a time, to spend our daies in all carefulnesse, and godly feare.

* 1.183. A third reason may be taken from the consideration of our redemption, which hath many important motives in it: For it cannot bee, but yee all know, that your misery by nature was so great, that yee could not be ransomed, if all the treasures of gold and silver in the world had been given for you; and when you were redeemed, a chiefe respect was had to the freeing of you from the vi∣ciousnesse of your conversation, in which vainely yee spent your times, and which corruption in many things yee sucked in from the sinfull examples, and precepts, and ill education of your Parents, and ancestors.

* 1.19But especially, if yee consider, what a matchlesse price was given for your ransome, even the pretious blood of Christ, who as a most absolute sacrifice for our sinnes, was without all soule of nature, or life, and so the full substance of all the ceremoniall sacrifices, and in particular was the true lambe without blemish, or spot, that makes attonement for the sinnes of the world.

* 1.20And the rather, if yee consider, that from all eternity God had ordained, that Christ should dye for you, and when the fulnesse of time came, that God was to reveale his Sonne, as the Saviour of the world, hee shewed him in the flesh, and caused him to be preached unto you, and for your sakes with far more evidence and clearnesse, than in for••er ages.

* 1.21To you, and for your sakes I say, that doe constantly put your trust in Gods mercy through his merits: that God, that to shew he was fully paid the utter∣most farthing of our debts, came to the prison doore, and let him out, which he did, when he raised him from the dead; and besides exalted him to wonderfull glory, when hee ascended up into heaven, that so for the time to come, you might beleeve and trust upon Gods goodnesse and favour to you without all feare or doubting.

* 1.224. And the rather in the fourth place should you be carefull of the former exhortation, if you consider your relation to the godly, to whom ye are 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ For seeing that by the spirit of God your soules are purified from the leprosie of inward evills, by the holy course you have held in clensing your hearts of those evills, which might hinder your internall sanctification, in that obedience you yeeld to the truth of God: and inasmuch as the end of all this reformation was, that there might be a holy communion and affection without hypocrisie and dissembling among such as feare God, who are all the children of one Father: therefore see to it by any meanes, that yee order your lives and hearts so, that you may love one another both with ardent affection, & pure & sincere hearts, which you never doe, unlesse you gird up the loines of your mindes, and live so∣berly, & be setled in the assurance, that yee shall altogether one day raigne in heaven.

* 1.235. And fiftly, the immortality of your soules should perswade with you: you were made new men, not as you were made men by a naturall propagation, but inspired with a life, that should never cease, having the seed of this eternall life cast into your hearts by the word of God, which in it selfe, and by effect in you, liveth and abideth for ever.

* 1.24And lastly, if you consider the mortality of your bodies: All in a mans outward estate is but vaine and transitory, the bodies of all men are but as the grasse, which is to day, and tomorrow is cut downe, and cast into the oven: Man is quickly and suddenly gone, nor is the glory of mens outward estate better than their bodies. For all the riches, pleasures, &c. of this life, in which men glory most, they are but as the 'flower of grasse: His body withereth like the grasse, decaying in a short time, till he have nothing left but the very roote of life; and as for his riches and pleasures, they like the flower fall off so, as they are never recovered againe, many times in this life, but alwaies in death.

* 1.25But on the other side; the word of God, upon which men should set their hearts, continueth in the efficacie of it, in the sense of it, and in the fruit of it for ever; and that you may not be mistaken, this is that word of God, which is daily preached unto you.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse 1.

  PETER an Apo∣stle of Iesus Chr: to the strangers scat∣tred throughout Pon∣tus, Galatia, Capado∣cia, Asia, & Bithinia.
• * 1.2

  Verse 2.

  Elect accor∣ding to the foreknow∣ledge of God the Fa∣ther through sanctifi∣cation of the spirit un∣to obedience and sprinckling of the blood of Iesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.
• * 1.3

  Verse 3.

  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which according to his aboundant me••cy hath begotten us a∣••aine unto a lively hope by the resurre∣cti••n of Jesus Christ from the dead.
• * 1.4

  Verse 4.

  To an inhe∣••••••ance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.
• * 1.5

  Verse 5.

  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.
• * 1.6

  Verse 6.

  Wherein yee greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if neede be) you are in heavinesse through manifold tentations.
• * 1.7

  Verse 7.

  That the try∣all of your faith being much more precious, then of gold that pe∣risheth, though it be tryed by the fire, might be sound unto praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ.
• * 1.8

  Verse 8

  Whom ha∣ving not seene yee love, in whom (though now yee see him not) yet beleeving yee re∣joyce with joy un∣speakable, and full of glory.
• * 1.9

  Verse 9.

  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soules.
• * 1.10

  Verse 10.

  Of which salvation the Pro∣phets have inquired and searched diligent∣ly, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.
• * 1.11

  Verse 11.

  Searching what or what manner of time the spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie, when it testified be∣fore hand the suffe∣rings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
• * 1.12

  Ver 12.

  Vnto whom it was revealed, th•••• not unto themselves, but unto us they did the things, which are now reported unto you by them, which have preached the gos¦pel unto you with the holy ghost sent down from heaven, which things th: Angels de∣sire to looke into.
• * 1.13

  Verse 13.

  Wherefore gird up the loynes of your minde: be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Iesus Christ.
• * 1.14

  Ver. 14.

  As obedient children, not fashio∣ning your selves accor∣ding to the former. lu••••s in your ignorāce.
• * 1.15

  Verse 15.

  But as hee which hath called you is holy, so be yee holy in all manner of con∣versation.
• * 1.16

  Verse 16.

  Because it is written, Be yee holy, for I am holy.
• * 1.17

  Verse 17.

  And if yee call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth ac∣cording unto every mans worke, passe the time of your sojour∣ning here in feare.
• * 1.18

  Verse 18.

  Forasmuch as yee know that yee were not redee∣med with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vaine conversation recei∣ved by tradition from your fathers.
• * 1.19

  Verse 19.

  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish, and without spot.
• * 1.20

  Verse 20.

  Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundati∣on of the world, but was manifest in these last time•• for you.
• * 1.21

  Verse 21.

  Who by him doe beleeve in God, that raised him vp frō the dead, and gave him glory, that you•• faith and hope might be in God.
• * 1.22

  Verse 22.

  Seeing you have purified your soules in obeying the truth through the spi∣ri••, unto unfained love of the brethren; see that yee love one an∣other with a pure heart fervently.
• * 1.23

  Verse 23.

  Being borne againe not of corrup∣tible seed, but of in∣corruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
• * 1.24

  Verse 24.

  For all flesh is as grasse, and all the glory of man, as the flower of grasse: the grasse wi••hereth, and the flower there∣of falleth away.
• * 1.25

  Verse 25.

  But the word of the Lord en∣dureth for ever; and this is the wor▪, which by the Gospell is preached unto you.