A17384:2191
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.
1. That he render not reviling for reviling; but, if he find himself stirred, with David to go to God, and betake himself to prayer, Psalm 109.4. 1. Pet. 3.9. 2. That he strive to confute them by real apologies: and so he doth, if he endeavour to put them to silence by his good works, and a careful course of conversation.
1. That hee render not reuiling for reuiling; but, if he finde himself stirred, with Dauid to go to God, and betake himself to praier, Psalm 109.4. 1. Pet. 3.9. 2. That he striue to confute them by reall apologies: and so he doth, if hee endeauour to put them to silence by his good works, and a carefull course of conuersation.
Thirdly, because the godliest men may have their passions, and may be stirred up with such indignations (as appears, Jer. 8.18, 21.) he must labour to fence his own heart with store of arguments, that may make him patient and comfortable under this cross: and thus it should comfort him to consider, 1. That no reproaches can make him vile in ⟨p. 494⟩God's sight: how vile soever he seem to be unto men, yet in God's eyes he is honourable, Isaiah 43.4. 2. That thou art but as an evil doer, not an evil doer. It is not miserable, To be as an evil doer: but it is miserable, To be an evil doer, 2. Cor. 6.8, 9. 3. This is not to resist unto blood, Heb. 12.3. This is a far less cross than hath been laid upon many of the best servants of God: they have lost their lives in the defence of pure Religion. 4. That howsoever it go with thee in this life, yet in the Day of Jesus Christ thy innocency shall be cleared, and thy faith and sincerity shall be found unto praise, and honour, and glory: thou shalt have abundant praise in that Day,