A17384:2524
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.
Ans. Things inconvenient even in matters of Religion may be commanded in some cases: as when it is to redeem a far worse inconvenience. For of two evils of punishments, the Magistrate may take the less,1 as well as any other private man. And if that subjects, to prevent worse inconveniences, may use inconvenient ceremonies, then may the Magistrate, to prevent worse inconveniences, command inconvenient ceremonies. If the Apostles may use the inconvenient Jewish ceremonies, then the Apostles may enjoin for a time the use of inconvenient ceremonies: as they did ⟨p. 591⟩make ordinances about things which yet they called burdens, Acts 16. And Moses may make an ordinance about the use of a bill of divorcement, which yet was a grievous inconvenience, to redeem a worse inconvenience. But if Magistrates do appoint inconvenient things, and burden the Church with them, when there would be no great inconvenience to the Church, if such things were not, then such Magistrates must give their account to Christ for so doing, but yet the people are bound to obey still, because we cannot be freed from our subjection laid upon us by God, except it appear to us, that they command not only an inconvenience, but a sin, as all sound Divines confess.
Ans. Things inconuenient euen in matters of Religion may bee commanded in some cases: as when it is to redeeme a far worse inconuenience. For of two euils of punishments, the Magistrate may take the lesse,1 as wel as any other priuate man. And if that subiects, to preuent worse inconueniences, may vse inconuenient ceremonies, then may the Magistrate, to preuent worse inconueniences, command inconuenient ceremonies. If the Apostles may vse the inconuenient Iewish ceremonies, then the Apostles may inioyne for a time the vse of inconuenient ceremonies: as they did ⟨p. 591⟩make ordinances about things which yet they called burthens, Acts 16. And Moses may make an ordinance about the vse of a bill of diuourcement, which yet was a grieuous inconuenience, to redeeme a worse inconuenience. But if Magistrates doe appoint inconuenient things, and burthen the Church with them, when there would be no great inconuenience to the Church, if such things were not, then such Magistrates must giue their account to Christ for so doing, but yet the people are bound to obey still, because wee cannot bee freed from our subiection layd vpon vs by God, except it appeare to vs, that they command not onely an inconuenience, but a sinne, as all sound Diuines confesse.