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.

VERSE 9.

Hitherto of the workes of the first day. Now in this verse is set downe what he must doe on the seventh day, which was to shave his haire, and wash his clothes, and so to be cleane.

Quest. But what might this repetition import? For these things were done before.

Answ. It noted, that mortification must be renued, and that wee must even long after our first conversion, be truly humbled for our evill thoughts, and grieved for that corruption of nature, that still sweats out of us, and bee very fearefull and watchfull against the occasion of evill.

Yea it imports, that after calling, there may arise new thoughts of evill in the minde, as this haire growes though it were shaven seven dayes before, and that there may be corruption left behinde, that though wee have done much in mortification, the leprosie may be in the clothes, though they have beene washed, &c.

Yea we may note here, that the more a sinner is exercised in mortificati∣on, the more he searcheth out his corruptions: Now he shaveth off the hair of his beard and eye-browes.

Note also, that such is the successe of mortification sometimes, that for the present it seemes to cleanse the soule of all corruption, that there dares not stir as it were one evill thought, or passion, or lust; I say for a time: for like the haire they will grow againe.

Quest. But what is meant, that he saith, he shall be cleane? Did not the Priest pronounce him cleane before?

Answ. Two things may be intended hereby:

1. That though Gods Ministers doe comfort and acquit penitent sin∣ners, yet many times till they be more exercised in mortification, they will hardly be perswaded of their owne conversion.

2. That our every daies corruptions even after first repentance, doe make us uncleane of our selves, and therefore by renuing our repentance, we must be made clean again: There are some seeds or roots of leprosie yet be∣hind in us: though we be clensed truely, yet we are not clensed fully.