A17384:2496
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.
First, some are impious, and contrary to the Word of God in their own nature; such as are, The invocation of Saints, selling of Masses and Indulgences, ⟨p. 587⟩the forbidding of marriage and meats,1 making of Images, consecration of Altars, the use of holy water, prayer for the dead, monastical vows, worship of relics, the exalting of one Bishop to be over all the world, and such like: these may not be commanded: they are the leaven of Pharisees, and will spoil all, and therefore may not be brought-in by any authority.
First, some are impious, and contrary to the Word of God in their owne nature; such as are, The inuocation of Saints, selling of Masses and Indulgences, ⟨p. 587⟩the forbidding of marriage and meats,1 making of Images, consecration of Altars, the vse of holy water, praier for the dead, monasticall vowes, worship of reliques, the exalting of one Bishop to bee ouer all the world, and such like: these may not be commanded: they are the leauen of Pharises, and will spoil all, and therefore may not be brought-in by any authority.
- 1Whether any inventions of men ought to be obeyed.Whether any inuentions of men ought to be obeyed.
Secondly, other inventions of men there are that concern only things that in their own nature are indifferent, neither commanded nor forbidden of God: in these the Magistrate hath power to command, but yet not an absolute power: for, he may offend in commanding; and Subjects may offend in obeying. And therefore I distinguish thus: If the Magistrate command things indifferent in their own nature to be used, and profess, that he requires them with opinion of worship,