A17384:2418
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, in respect of the Magistrate: he shall have the better subjects by it: good Christians are the best Subjects: and the knowledge of Religion and God's Word, makes men obey, not for fear or custom, but for conscience sake, and for fear of God's displeasure. And besides, it makes men humble and charitable: humble, not to think themselves too good to obey; and charitable, in not suspecting the meaning of Princes further than they must needs. And it restrains the excessive proneness of mens natures, that are (without Religion) apt to speak evil of those that are in authority; and chiefly, because true Religion will make men pray heartily to God for their Governors: and GOD himself doth spare, or bless them the rather, for the prayers of the righteous.
Thirdly, in respect of the Magistrate: hee shall haue the better subiects by it: good Christians are the best Subiects: and the knowledge of Religion and God's Word, makes men obey, not for feare or custome, but for conscience sake, and for feare of God's displeasure. And besides, it makes men humble and charitable: humble, not to think themselues too good to obey; and charitable, in not suspecting the meaning of Princes further than they must needs. And it restraines the excessiue pronenesse of mens natures, that are (without Religion) apt to speak euil of those that are in authority; and chiefly, because true Religion will make men pray heartily to God for their Gouerners: and GOD himselfe doth spare, or blesse them the rather, for the praiers of the righteous.
The use should be to inform and teach all sorts of men to take heed of separating what God hath joined together. It is an extreme folly to give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, and not to give unto God what is due to God: and so it were to give unto God what is due to God (if men could do it) and not to give to Caesar what is due to Caesar. The respect of God's Laws should make us more careful to observe mans laws. And contrariwise, it is a fearful case that many live in, that think they have done enough, if they live in obedience in respect of the authority that rules them in the places they live in: they would be much troubled, if the Magistrate should be offended with them; but are ⟨p. 564⟩