A17384:1155
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.
Wicked men also take offence, as here in this text is manifest. Now, the offence which they call Diabolical is that, when men wilfully and perversely will provoke themselves to sin freely, because of the examples of the vices of Godly men: as when the drunkenness of Noah, the incest of Lot, the adultery and murder of David, the perjury of Peter, or the like is alleged to maintain themselves in a liberty of sinning: It is the scandal of wicked men, which is here meant.
Wicked men also take offence, as heere in this text is manifest. Now, the offence which they call Diabolicall is that, when men wilfully and peruersly will prouoke themselues to sin freely, because of the examples of the vices of Godly men: as when the drunkennes of Noah, the incest of Lot, the adultery and murther of Dauid, the periury of Peter, or the like is alledged to maintaine themselues in a liberty of sinning: It is the scandall of wicked men, which is here meant.
Now wicked men make themselves miserable in this case of scandal both ways: By giving offence, and by taking offence. By giving offence, and so Christ curseth them for offending his little ones:1 Wicked men offend them either by the subtlety of false and corrupt Doctrine, or by provocation and enticement: or by evil example, or by discouraging them with reproaches, threats or oppositions, or the like: but this kind of offence is not meant here. It is offence taken, which is noted here, as a grievous curse upon them; and amongst offences, taken, this is their misery that they gather offence, from what should have bin the cause of their holiness and happiness, even from Christ.
Now wicked men make themselues miserable in this case of scandal both waies: By giuing offence, and by taking offence. By giuing offence, and so Christ curseth them for offending his little ones:1 Wicked men offend them either by the subtilty of false and corrupt Doctrine, or by prouocation and inticement: or by euill example, or by discouraging them with reproches, threats or oppositions, or the like: but this kind of offence is not meant here. It is offence takē, which is noted heer, as a greeuous curse vpon them; and amongst offences, takē, this is their misery that they gather offence, from what should haue bin the cause of their holines and happines, euen from Christ.