A17384:1216
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.
But I rather take it as here it is translated: and so it notes the causes, why many men fall into scandal, and from thence into despair, viz. because they bring ill harts to the Word of God, they have minds that are rebellious, and will not be subject to the Gospel, but entertain it with diseased & cavilling minds. Those persons are likely not to receive any good by Christ, that quarrel at the Word of Christ. Now, that this may not be mistaken or neglected, I will show, first, what it is, not to stumble at the Word, lest some weak ones should be dismayed: Then secondly, how many ways wicked men stumble at the Word.
But I rather take it as heer it is translated: and so it notes the causes, why many men fall into scandall, and from thence into despaire, viz. because they bring ill harts to the Word of God, they haue mindes that are rebellious, and will not be subiect to the Gospell, but intertaine it with diseased & cauilling mindes. Those persōs are likely not to receiue any good by Christ, that quarrell at the Word of Christ. Now, that this may not be mistaken or neglected, I will shew, first, what it is, not to stumble at the Word, lest some weak ones should be dismaied: Then secondly, how many waies wicked men stumble at the Word.
For the first.1 To be grieved in heart for the reproofs of the Word, is not an offence, but a grace: so we are troubled not with dislike of the Word, but of our own sins. Secondly, to inquire of the truth, and that which is delivered, and to try the doctrine, by turning to the Scriptures as the Bereans did: this is not condemned here; nor is it a stumbling at the Word, to put a difference between the teaching of Christ, and the teaching of the Scribes and Pharisees.
For the first.1 To bee grieued in heart for the reproofes of the Word, is not an offence, but a grace: so we are troubled not with dislike of the Word, but of our owne sinnes. Secondly, to inquire of the truth, and that which is deliuered, and to try the doctrine, by turning to the Scriptures as the Bereans did: this is not condemned heere; nor is it a stumbling at the Word, to put a difference betweene the teaching of Christ, and the teaching of the Scribes and Pharises.