A17384:2386
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.
Doct. 5. We may further hence note concerning the time of this visitation; that not only there is a season, but withal, that it is but a short time in comparison; therefore here called The day of visitation. Now, a day is one of the least measures of time: and this ariseth not only from the brevity of mans life, and the infinite mutations that befall the outward conditions of men, and the extreme malice the devil and the world bear to the Gospel, but also from the will of God, who will offer his grace in so special a manner, but for a short season: neither is the Lord bound to give account to us of his so doing,1 since we have more reason to admire his mercy that will offer us his grace at all, than to murmur because it is not offered always: yet this shortness of the season doth the more magnify God's power, that can so quickly conquer, and set up the Kingdom of Christ, and gather his Elect. And some cause may be taken from the rebellion of wicked men, who when they despise holy things, and use them vile; the Lord, to show the accounts he makes of those treasures, removes them from them. Thus the Jews lost their glory, Acts 13. When a people grow obstinate, and will not be wrought upon, that God, that commands us not to give holy things to dogs, doth himself ⟨p. 552⟩also many times remove his Word, for the unprofitableness and unworthiness of the people.
Doct. 5. We may further hence note concerning the time of this visitation; that not onely there is a season, but withall, that it is but a short time in comparison; therefore heer called The day of visitation. Now, a day is one of the least measures of time: and this ariseth not onely from the breuity of mans life, and the infinite mutations that befall the outward conditions of men, and the extreme malice the diuell and the world beare to the Gospell, but also from the will of God, who will offer his grace in so special a manner, but for a short season: neither is the Lord bound to giue account to vs of his so doing,1 since we haue more reason to admire his mercy that will offer vs his grace at all, than to murmure because it is not offred alwayes: yet this shortnes of the season doth the more magnifie God's power, that can so quickly conquer, and set vp the Kingdome of Christ, and gather his Elect. And some cause may bee taken from the rebellion of wicked men, who when they despise holy things, and vse them vile; the Lord, to shew the accounts hee makes of those treasures, remooues them from them. Thus the Iewes lost their glory,