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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	acceptable_a	special_a	zion_n	18	3	9.4410	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17384	A commentary: or, sermons vpon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter vvherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of diuinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.; Gouge, William, 1578-1653.	1623 (1623)	STC 4211; ESTC S107078	497,216	958

against malice From the causes From the effects 1. In vs. 2 In God Vses Aggrauations of malice Note Remedies for malice 1 In our selues Note 2 In others Of Guile The acceptation of the word Ob. Sol. Why Guile is to be auoided Vse 1. The miserie of deceitfull persons The aggrauations of the sin of deceit 1 The manner of deceiuing 2 The persons vpon whom it is practised 3 The time Ob. 1. Sol. Of the misery of such as thriue by deceit Note Ob. 2. Sol. Seruants must not vse lying deceit to please their masters Ob. 3. Sol. Of secret cosenage Ob. 4. Sol. Vse 2. The iniquity of the time Vse 3. Against equiuocation Vse 4. The signes of a man without guile Incouragements to such men Note that he saies all malice and all Guile How many wais men commit Hypocrisie Motiues against Hypocrisie The effects of Hypocrisie both priuatiue and positiue What may befall him What will befall them The obiection of hypocrites remoued Vses For information Note For instruction The sorts of Hypocrisie we are most in danger of Preseruatiues against hypocrisie Note Ob. Sol. About censuring other men for Hypocrisie Quest. Ans. How an open Hypocrite may be discerned Ob. Sol. What makes an Hypocrite Vse 3. Quest. Ans. How a man may knowe that he is not an hypocrite The hatefulnesse of the sin of enuy Signes of a man free ●rom enuie The aggrauation of Euill speaking Reasons to diswade from Euil● speaking Note Rules against euill speaking What we should do to auoid euill speaking in others 5 Generall doctrines Note For triall How we may discerne our desire and affection after the word Note Other signes of true desire Impediments to true desires externall Inward lets in wickedmen Le ts of affection in the godly Means to get true desires to the word Rules for the preseruing of good desires Rules for such as be afflicted with melancholy The Motiues The causes why the most are but babes in religion Note Speciall duties of such as be but new born babes Speciall praises in children by nature to be expressed by vs. Priuiledges of weake Christians How far wicked men may desire after the word Note Note Diuers kindes of growth In what graces Christians ought especially to growe Philip. 1.10 1 Thes. 3.12 Philip. 2.1 3. Ephes. 4.3.4 Rules to helpe our growth Impediments of growth Signes of growth Vnprofitableness of life aggrauated in many respects Apostasie is two fould Encouragement for weake Christians Wherein Gods graciousnes is seene What wee must do to taste the goodnes of God Doct. 2. Note A true taste is seen by the cause and effects of it Wherin the taste of wicked men and the godly differ How far the taste of wicked men may goe Vse Diuers things noted for clearing the sin against the holy Ghost 4. Doct. The causes why so many haue little or no taste of the word Christ is diuersly described by the Apostle Eph. 1.7 Christ doeth many waies excell earthly Lords towards his seruants Christ is three wayes called a stone 1 Cor. 7.8 Math. 16.18 What kind of men disalolw Christ. Christ chosen of God diuersly Christ is precious many waies Causes why Christ is no more precious with men Pro. 8.11 16 Fiue points in generall Wee come to Christ many waies Esay 9.6 In what manner wee must come to Christ. Psal. 40.7 Many are the reasons why we should come to Christ. Matth. 22. In what respcts the Godly are likened to stones Reasons why we ought to be liuely stones How we shewe our liuelinesse What wee must doe to quicken our harts Meanes to build vp a Christian. Pro. 24.27 Luke 14.28 Causes why many are so little edified Io● 13.21 Christ hath a fiue-fold Tabernacle Esay 40. ●2 A godly man like the Tabernacle in diuers respects Godly men are priests in many respects Exodus 29.21 Vses Diuers sorts of sacrifices for Christians Marke 8.34.35 1 Ioh. 2.2 Rom. 3.25 Prou. 23.26 Speciall lawes to be obserued in offering vp our sacrifices What we must do to get our works acceptable to God What is meant by Scripture and why it is so called Wherein the Scriptures exceedes all other writings Malach. 3.1 Esay 55.4 Esay 62.11 Mat. 4.11 Vse That Christ is laid as a foundation-stone imparts many things The Church is like Mount Sion in diuers respects Marks of such as are true members of Sion 1 Kings 19.1 21. Reuel 14.5 Psal. 65.1 Speciall prerogatiues of Sion and the true members of it Esay 4.5 Esay 33.20 Vse 8. Esay 49.15 Note How we may get an esteeme of Christ aboue all things How we manifest our account of Christ as precious Note Note Psal. 127.5 Meanes by which God keepes the beleeuer from being confounded In what things the beleeuer shal not be confounded Rom. 3.25 How far the godly may be confounded Conditions of such as will not be confounded What sorts of men shall suffer shame and confusion Rules for the applying of the Word aright Rules for meditation What it is to beleeue and in how many things it is seen Marks of a true sauing ●aith Signes of a weak but yet a true faith in weak Christians Vse Vnbeleeuers are guilty of disobedience in diuers respects Disobedience aggrauated How far wicked men may be cald Builders How it comes to passe that many great and learned men oppose the truth of the Gospell By what means an ignorant and simple man may stay his heart notwithstanding the oppositions of learned wise men Mat. 11.15 1. Cor. 1.28 Christ is many waies refused How Church-men viz. builders may refuse Christ. Note Vses Iudgements inflicted on some particular offenders belong to all for diuerse reasons Spirituall plagues are worse than temporall crosses for diuers reasons Note Scandall defined and distinguished Math. 18. Ans. Wicked men were offended at Christ in many things Esay 53.2 Ioh. 18.36 Math. 9 10. Ob. Sol. Note Wherein we are not to regard the offence of wicked men In what things we may be guilty of giuing offence to wicked men Rules for the preuenting of scandall 1 Pet. 3.16 Deut. 28.96.67 How many waies wicked men may despaire Reu. 1.7 6.16 Preseruatiues against despair Speciall differences between the despair of the Godly and the Wicked How wherein men take offence at the Word Vses Proofes of Reprobation Certaine obseruations for the quieting of our mindes in the doctrine of reprobation The specialties of Election Rom. 9. Vses Signes of Election Markes of such as truely suffer with Christ. Ioh. 15.18 19. Rules to liue so as becoms the assurance of Election Godly Christians come of the best kinred which appears by many reasons Godly men are Royall many waeies Differences between spirituall and earthly Kings Vses Mat. 11.12 Christians are holy many waies Speciall rules for the right ordering of vs in an holy conuersation Meanes for obtayning an holy conuersation Differences betweene the holines of conuersation in ciuill honest men and Gods elect Differences betweene the Hypocrite

readines to professe against our selues our owne vile deserts Thirdly confidently and with perswasion of faith ●esting in his goodnes and casting out feare and doubts Heb. 10.22 and 11.6 as the Leper came to Christ Math. 8.2 Heb. 4.16 Fourthly affectionately wee must come to him as the Loue comes to her Louer so the Church to CHRIST Canticles 2.10 13. Fiftly importunatly as the woman of Canaan did so as wee will bee set down with no repulses or delaies Mat. 15. as they with the Palsey-man Mat. 9. Hosh. 6.1 2. and as he teacheth vs to come to God Luke 18.1 2 3 c. and as Iob resolues chap. 27.2 3 7. Sixtly orderly wee should doo as Iob said wee should order our cause before him and fill our mouthes with arguments Iob 23.3 4. Seuenthly obediently Wee should come to Christ as children to their fathers and as the people to their lawgiuer to receiue commandements at his mouth so as our harts might answer Lo I come to doo thy will If wee would haue God or Christ come to vs we must bee such as Dauid promiseth for himself Psalm 101.1 2 3 4. Eightthly sincerely And we must shew our sincerity 1. By forsaking the way of the foolish Pro. 9.6 23 4. 2. By comming in the truth of our hearts For an hypocrite cannot stand before him without flattering lying dissimulation or wauering not as the Israelites came to God Psal. 78.32 34. So as Christ may discern that wee haue a true thirst whatsoeuer we want Iohn 7.37 3. Thirdly by renouncing all other hopes as they said of God Ier. 3.22 4. By resoluing to cleaue to Christ in a perpetuall couenant Ier. 50.5 5. By comming to Christ notwithstanding dangers or difficulties though it were with Peter to leap into the sea Mat● 14.29 or with the wise-men to come from the East Math. 2. and though we finde Christ in a prison Math. 25. and though it were to denie our selues and to take vp our Crosse daily Luke 9.24 Vse The vse of all this should be chiefly to perswade with euerie one of vs to make conscience of this dutie to come vnto Christ and the rather considering First the necessitie of it here imported in that without comming to Christ we cannot possibly attaine vnto sound reformation of life without Christ we can doe nothing Secondly the incouragements wee haue to come to him and these are many For 1. If we consider the inuitation of Christ he calls vs to come vnto him we cannot displease him by comming but by not comming and neglecting him Matth. 11.29 Canticles 2.10 13. Math. 22.3 Ioh. 5.40 2. If we consider the persons inuited or who may come The simple may come Prou. 9.3 The strangers may come euen men from afarre Esay 49.12 56.4 Any that are athirst may come Ioh. 7.37 Yea the basest and meanest may come which is signified by that of the Parable that they by the hedges and high-way side are compelled to come in nor is there any exceptions at mens sinnes but sinners may come Math. 9.13 Yea such as are wounded and smitten for their sinnes may come Hos. 6.2 c. Thirdly if wee consider our entertainment when we come He adopts all that come to him Iohn 1.12 Hee is rauished with affection towards them we cannot more please him than by comming to him Cant. 4.8 9. They are sure they shall not be reiected Iohn 6.37 Christ will ease them in all their sorrows Mat. 11.29 He wil heal them of all their diseases of which the bodily cures were pledges in the Gospell He will be as Manna from heauen to them they shall neuer hunger Iohn 6. yea he will be life to them the life of their present liues and eternall life they shall liue for euer Iohn 5.40 Thus of the first things required in Christians The second is They must be liuely stones Verse 5. Ye also as liuely stones be made a spirituall house an holy Priest-hood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ. As liuely stones IT is not vnusuall in Scripture to compare men to stones and so both wicked men and godly men Wicked men are likened to stones first for their insensiblenesse and so the heart of Nabal was like a stone Secondly for their silent amazement when iniquity shall stop their mouth thus they were still as a stone Ex. 15.16 Thirdly for their sinking down vnder Gods iudgements so the Egyptians sunk into the sea like a stone Exod. 15.6 And thus the wicked sink into hell like a stone But chiefly in the first sense for hardnes of heart their hearts by nature are like a stone And in the comparison of a building if they be in the Church they are like the stones of the house that had the leprosie or like Ierusalem when it was made a heap of stones Godly men are like stones too they are like the stones of Bethel that were anointed God is the God of Bethel and the Godly are as those anointed pillars consecrated to God and qualified with the gifts of the holy Ghost They are like the Onyx stones giuen by the Princes and set on the brest of the High-Priest in the Ephod The High-Priest is Christ. The Onyx stones are Christians The Princes of the Congregation are the Ministers that consecrate the soules of men which they haue conuerted to Christ who wears them on his brest and hath them alwayes in his heart and eye They are like to the rich stones of a Crown lifted vp Zach. 9.16 They are like the stone with the Book bound to it Ier. 51. 63. They are neuer without the Word of God But in this place they are likened to the stones of the Temple which in the Letter are described 1. Kings 6.7 36. and 7.9 10. and in the Allegorie Esay 54.11 12 13. Sure it is that the stones of this spirituall Temple are the place of Saphyres as is said in Iob in another sense 28.6 Now the godly are likened to stones in diuers respects First they are like stones to graue vpon and so they are like those stones which must haue the law graued vpon set vp in mount Ebal Deut. 27 2 3 4. What is the mount but the world and what is Ebal but vanity or sorrow and what are those graued stones but the godly with the law of God written in their hearts the light whereof shineth on the hill of the vanity of this world and lasteth in the midst of all the sorrowes of this world Secondly they are like stones for strength and vnmouednes in all the stormes of life The raine pierceth not the stones nor doe afflictions batter the hearts of Gods seruants strength is attributed to stones in that speech of Iob 6.12 Thirdly They are like stones for continuance and durablenes they will last for euer so will their persons and so ought the affections of their hearts Lastly they are like stones for a building and that in two respects First

sacrifice their owne affections which resemble those sweet odors with which the Tabernacle was perfumed The outward couerings of the Tabernacle do assure safety and preseruation to the Godly and the rather because the cloud rested vpon them as is affirmed Esay 4.5 6. Besides the double couering of slain beasts may signifie that God hath two waies to prouide for the Church The red skinnes of Rammes may note Christ crucified which is that which on the inside of the Tabernacle was onely sewed The couering of Badgers skinnes may note that God will serue himself of the wicked their skins shall protect the Church If Israel want room Canaan must dy for it Now thirdly the Tabernacle was a type of euery beleeuer if we respect the end of it For the Tabernacle was erected of purpose as the place of the presence of God God's visible House such are the hearts of Christians they are prepared of purpose for the entertainment of Iesus Christ that by his Spirit he may liue and dwell therein Gal. 2.20 Col. 1.27 2. Cor. 12.9 2. Cor. 13.5 Vse The vse of all may be both for instruction and consolation For instruction and so it should teach vs diuers things First to abhor fornication seeing our bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 6.21 Secondly to keepe our selues for being vnequally yoked Because there can bee no communion betweene light and darknes the Temple of God and Idols Thirdly to looke to our harts in respect of inward sinnes and to keepe the roome cleane for the Lord to dwell in 2. Cor. 7.1 Fourthly to stir vp our selues to much praier if our hearts be the house of God let them bee a house of praier also Fiftly let vs still lift vp our harts as euerlasting dores for the Lord of Glorie to come in Psalme 24.7 For consolation Shall wee not say as Paul doth We will reioice in our infirmities that the power of Christ may dwell in vs How should wee hold vp our head against all tentations and afflictions Is not the grace of Christ sufficient for vs 2. Cor. 12.9 And shal we not be confident that through Christ we can doe all things Will he forsake the house vpon which his Name is called Will hee not perfect his owne work and repaire his owne dwelling place Was the tabernacle safe in the wildernes while the cloud was vpon it and are not our hearts safe while Christ is in them How are the abiect Gentiles honored Col. 1.27 whose hearts are so enriched by Christ that dwels in them If the outward Sanctuary were like high palaces Psal. 78.69 what is the hart of man the true tabernacle and if he established it as the earth how much more hath he established vs in his fauour and grace so that it may comfort vs in respect of honor done to our harts and against tentations and afflictions and in respect of hope of perseuerance and also in respect of increase of power and wel-doing Hee will work our works for vs. And it shewes vs also the honor cast vpon our good works they haue a noble beginning in respect of Christ and as they come from him Howsoeuer wee ought to be abased for our owne corruptions that cleaue vnto them Yea how should it wonderfully establish our hearts in all estates to think that Christ is with vs wheresoeuer we goe not only as our witnes but as our guide and our protector If God be with vs who can bee against vs. As also it is comfortable if wee consider the comparisons imported in the furniture of the outward tabernacle And thus much of the fourth thing The fift thing is Wee must bee a holy priest-hood vnto Christ which is amplified both by the labour of it To offer sacrifice and by the honor of it acceptable to God through Iesus Christ. Heere are many things to be noted The first is that Christians are priests before God and Iesus Christ This is acknowledged in other Scriptures Reuel 1.5 Exod. 19.6 The meaning is that they are like to the Leuiticall priests and that in many things First in respect of separation they are Gods portion giuen him out of all the people so are the godly all the portion God hath in the world They are said to bee the ransome of the children of Israel Numbers 8.9 Secondly in respect of consecration The oile of God is vpon the godly and as it was powred out vpon Aaron and his Sonnes The oile of grace and gladnes powred out vpon Christ our true Aaron hath run downe vpon his garments so as all his members are Christians that is anointed with him Psalme 133.2 Cor. 1.22.1 Ioh. 2. The holy Ghost is called the anointing in this respect Thirdly in respect of the substance of the ceremonies in their consecration for First as it was required in the Law that the Priests should bee without blemish Leuit. 21.17 so is it required of Christians Col. 1.22 Secondly as the Priests were washed in the great lauer of water Exod. 29.4 Leuit. 8.5.6 so must Christians be washed in the lauer of Regeneration Eph. 5.23 Titus 3.5 Thirdly as the Priests had their holy garments beautifull and goodly ones which they called their Ephods so doth the Queene the Church stand at Christs right hand in a Vesture of Ophir Psalme 45. Thus Iosuah hath change of garments mystically giuen him Zach. 3.4 Those garments are promised to such as haue had a spirit of heauinesse Isaiah 61.3 called garments of saluation verse 10. and roiall garments and like the newe wedding garments of the Bride Isaiah 62.5.7 Those garments signified either the singular glory and ioy of Christians Esaiah 61.3 or the righteousnes of Christ imputed Reuel 19. or the excellent diuine gifts and graces bestow'd vpon them Fourthly The Priest must haue blood sprinkled vpon his eare and vpon his thombe and vpon his toe to signify that our hearing practice and progresse must bee all sanctified to vs by Christ and that the maine thing Christians should expresse and attend to should be Christ crucified and that Christ by his blood hath consecrated them in all these respects so as their hearing and practice and progresse shall all bee blessed vnto them And thus of the ceremonies of their consecration Fourthly Wee should bee like the Leuiticall Priests for knowledge the Priests lips should preserue knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth Malac. 2. And it is true of Christians that they are a people in whose heart is Gods law Esay 57.7 Hebr. 8. Ierem. 31. Fiftly We should be like the Priests in respect of the work they did For First It was the Priests office to carry about the Arke of the Lord when it was remoued vpon their shoulders What is the Arke to be carried but the doctrine of Christ and the Church Christians must carry about the Word of God and hold it forth in the light and life of it as lights that shine in the darke places of the

deuote our selues vnto godlinesse that thereby we may proue what this good and acceptable will of God is Let vs try Gods acceptation and wee shall certainly finde it shall go well with the iust Rom. 12.1 2. Yea wee should from hence gather much encouragement to imploy our selues in piety and mercy It is enough if God accept of vs. Quest. But what should we doo that we may be sure our sacrifices be accepted of God How shall we knowe when God doth accept our seruice in any holy duty Ans. That a mans conscience may be soundly established in this point of God's acceptation we must look to three things First that the person be sanctified None but Priests must approach to offer sacrifice to God They that are in the flesh cannot please GOD Rom. 8.8 The sonnes of Leui must bee purified and refined as the siluer is refined before their offring will bee pleasing Mal. 3.3 4. When the Lord reiected with so much disdain the sacrifices of the Iewes hee shewes what they should haue done to please him they should haue washed themselues by true repentance and put away the euill of their works Esay 1.11 16. Onely the works of the penitent cannot bee accepted if the person be not in fauour the works are hated For they are sanctified by the holy Ghost Rom. 15.16 Secondly that the manner of performing our seruice bee right there are diuers things in the manner are hatefull and diuers things pleasing The things specially hatefull are first beloued sinnes secondly hypocrisie thirdly malice and fourthly luke-warmnesse The sacrifice is lothsome if it be blinde or lame or blemished that is if men bring to Gods seruice the loue of any foule sinne the seruice is lothsome Malach. 1. So if mens hearts be carried away with continuall distractions that seruice is lost this is To come neer to God with our lips when our harts are farre from him Hypocrisie is leauen as beloued sin is hony both forbidden Again when a man comes to God's work and hath not forgiuen his brother hee keeps the Feast with some leauen his Passeouer is defiled nor can his own sinnes be forgiuen because he forgiues not Mat. 6. 1. Cor. 5.8 Finally luke-warmnesse is like a vomit to God when wee are neither hot nor cold They are lothed like the Laodiceans Reuel 3. There are other things wonderfull pleasing to God as First when a man doth whatsoeuer he doth in the Name of Christ this is the Altar that sanctifieth the gift and the sacrifices are heer acceptable through Iesus Christ Heb. 13.15 Col. 3.17 Secondly when our works are soundly powdered with salt that is when we soundly confess our owne vnworthinesse and giue all glory to God in Iesus Christ. Thirdly when wee loue mercy and piety accounting it our delight to doo God's will and thinking our selues greatly honoured to bee admitted to doo this seruice Mic. 6.8 2. Cor. 8.5 Fourthly when we can bring faith that is a heart well perswaded of God so as wee can beleeue all good of him and his mercy Without faith no man can please God Heb. 11.6 and God takes no delight in him that withdraweth himself through vnbelief Heb. 10.36 37. Fiftly when it is our euery-daies work Sacrifice will please God if it be continuall Hebrewes 13.15 Thus of the second thing Thirdly wee may knowe that our sacrifice is accepted if the Lord burn it to ashes with fire from heauen Thus God did put a difference between the sacrifice of Cain and Abel by some visible signe and though wee may not limit God and expect he should answer vs by visible signes yet God hath not left vs without testimony of his fauour For by his word of promise and by his Spirit bearing witnes to our spirits hath hee manifested euen from heauen his acceptation and in particular when the beleeuer stands before the Lord with his sacrifice duely offered when the Lord doth ●uddenly fill his heart with the cloud of his presence or warm his soule with the ioyes of the holy Ghost what is this but the signe of his acceptation Question What if we be accepted in our seruice of God what great thing is that to vs Answ. When God accepts thine offrings thou maist be assured of three things First that all thy sins bee forgiuen thee God hath purged away thine iniquity he hath receiued an atonement in Iesus Christ Psal 65.2 3. Secondly God is exceedingly delighted in them Thy sacrifice is a sweet smell vnto God he reioyceth ouer thee with ioy Phil. 4.18 Thirdly it is a pledge vnto thee that God wil supply all thy necessities out of the riches of his glory in Iesus Christ our Sauiour Phil. 4.19 Verse 6. Wherfore also it is contained in the Scripture Behold I put in Sion a chief corner-stone elect and precious and hee that beleeueth therein shall not be ashamed HItherto of the proposition of the exhortation The confirmation follows where the Apostle giues reasons why wee should make our recourse to Christ to seek holinesse of life from him and the reasons are two The first is taken from the testimony of God verses 6 7 8. The other is taken from the consideration of the excellent priuiledges of Christians vnto which they are brought by Christ verses 9 10. The testimony of God is both cited verse 6. and expounded verses 7 8. In the testimony of God obserue first where it is to be found viz. In Scripture secondly how it is there It is contained there thirdly what is testified Now the matter testified concerns either the giuing of Christ for the good of the Church or the safety of the Christian that by faith receiueth Christ. The giuing of Christ is exprest in these words Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect precious the safety and happinesse of the Christian that receiueth Christ in these words And hee that beleeues in him shall not be confounded First of the place where this testimony is found viz. in the Scripture By the Scripture is vsually meant all the Books of the old and new Testament written after an extraordinary manner by inspiration of the holy Ghost But heer he means it of the Books of the old Testament but yet so as the word doth agree to all the Books of both Testaments Now this very word giues vs occasion to consider of the nature of these Books and of their vse and of their excellency and of their harmony These Books are called Scripture because they contain in writing the whole will of God necessary to be knowne of vs they are the Treasures of all truth The doctrine which was before deliuered by tradition for 2000 yeers was afterwards written down and explained in these Books so as nothing needfull was left out or omitted Secondly this word imports the excellency of the Bible aboue all other bookes because it is called Scripture as if no other writings were worthy to be mentioned in comparison of these The Scripture exceedes