A17384:1068
A commentary
A commentary: or, sermons upon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter wherein method, sense, doctrine, and use, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.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.
London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Secondly, that God will acknowledge freely any good he finds in his very enemies; as here the Pharisees are not denied the title of Builders, for that general work they did in encountering the Sadducees and Essenes. And as they are called Builders: so are the devils called Principalities and Powers, to import what is any way of praise in them, notwithstanding their horrible fall. Which should teach us to learn of God, to do likewise towards all our enemies: and withal it may much comfort us. If God will do thus with his enemies, what will he do with his own children and servants! how will he honour and reward them! and if the notorious oppositions of the Pharisees cannot hinder God's acknowledging of that little goodness was in them, how much less shall the mere frailties of the Godly (that will do nothing against the truth, though they cannot do for the truth what they would) hinder the glorious recompense of reward and acceptation with God!
Secondly, that God will acknowledge freely any good hee findes in his very enemies; as heer the Pharises are not denied the title of Builders, for that generall work they did in encountring the Sadduces and Essenes. And as they are called Builders: so are the diuels called Principalities and Powers, to import what is any way of praise in them, notwithstanding their horrible fall. Which should teach vs to learn of God, to doo likewise towards all our enemies: and withall it may much comfort vs. If God will do thus with his enemies, what will he do with his owne children and seruants! how will hee honour and reward them! and if the notorious oppositions of the Pharises cannot hinder God's acknowledging of that little goodnes was in them, how much lesse shall the meer frailties of the Godly (that will doo nothing against the truth, though they cannot doo for the truth what they would) hinder the glorious recompense of reward and acceptation with God!
Thirdly, we may hence note, that Christ and Religion, and the sincerity of the Gospel, may be disallowed & opposed by great learned men, by such as are of great mark in the Church, even by such as were Governors of the Church in name and title.
Thirdly, we may hence note, that Christ and Religion, and the sincerity of the Gospell, may bee disallowed & opposed by great learned men, by such as are of great mark in the Church, euen by such as were Gouerners of the Church in name and title.