A17384:1167
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.
Thirdly, such taking offence is a judgement. Weak Christians should be warned and temper themselves so, as to refrain that weakness of being so apt to be offended at the liberty of strong Christians; and to this end they should take heed of doubtful disputations, or ensnaring themselves about the use of indifferent things. For though God pities them, yet they are much plagued by their opinions, and entanglements herein. For first, they sin against their brethren by rash censure, and despising them: and secondly, they wrong their own souls: for sometimes they are hindered in the Word, and sometimes lose the benefit of the Sacraments by their ignorant scruples, and sometimes they draw much trouble and molestation upon them; and lastly they many times open the mouths of wicked men to revile them, and exasperate them against the good way of God. To conclude therefore this use: Since offence is the rod of the wicked, let not godly men suffer it to rest on their lot.
Thirdly, such taking offence is a iudgement. Weake Christians should bee warned and temper themselues so, as to refraine that weaknes of being so apt to bee offended at the liberty of strong Christians; and to this end they should take heed of doubtfull disputations, or ensnaring themselues about the vse of indifferent things. For though God pities them, yet they are much plagued by their opinions, and intanglements heerein. For first, they sinne against their brethren by rash censure, and despising them: and secondly, they wrong their owne soules: for sometimes they are hindred in the Word, and sometimes lose the benefit of the Sacraments by their ignorant scruples, and sometimes they draw much trouble and molestation vpon them; and lastly they many times open the mouthes of wicked men to reuile them, and exasperate them against the good way of God. To conclude therefore this vse: Since offence is the rod of the wicked, let not godly men suffer it to rest on their lot.
Fourthly, since wicked men, by the judgement of God, and their own frowardness, are so apt to receive offence, it should teach the godly to order themselves so towards them, that they give no offence unto them, I say, give no offence, so as the fault should be in the godly, but rather they should strive to overcome this frowardness of wicked men, by all possible care, both to put them to silence, and by keeping them silent. Now, because there be some things, wherein