A17384:2553
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, there are divers things in God, which should move Christians to all possible care of pleasing, and obeying their Magistrates: as, First, Gods and mens Magistrates were ordained of God, and therefore for his sake, that set them up, we should obey them. Secondly, Gods commandments: God hath required our submission, and therefore for the respect of the duty we owe to God, we should obey them. Thirdly, Gods Image: Magistrates are little Gods in the world, they resemble Gods sovereignty, or Majesty, and therefore because they are like God, we should obey them even for so much of the similitude of God, as we may behold in them, or their authority. Fourthly, Gods mercies: we are infinitely bound unto God, and therefore for his sake, even for the love we bear to him, we should do this, which he requireth. Fifthly, Gods glory, God shall get much honour, and his religion will be well-spoken of, if Christians live obediently: and contrariwise, if Christians be not obedient, God may be much dishonoured thereby, and great storms of affliction may be brought upon the Church by the wrath of Princes. Sixthly, the judgements of God, because they must give account to God for their behaviour toward Magistrates, aswell as for their behaviour towards God himself.
First, there are diuers things in God, which should moue Christians to all possible care of pleasing, and obeying their Magistrates: as, First, Gods and mens Magistrates were ordained of God, and therefore for his sake, that set them vp, we should obey them. Secondly, Gods commandements: God hath required our submission, and therefore for the respect of the duty wee owe to God, wee should obey them. Thirdly, Gods Image: Magistrates are little Gods in the world, they resemble Gods soueraignty, or Maiesty, and therefore because they are like God, wee should obey them euen for so much of the similitude of God, as wee may behold in them, or their authority. Fourthly, Gods mercies: wee are infinitely bound vnto God, and therefore for his sake, euen for the loue wee beare to him, wee should doe this, which hee requireth. Fiftly, Gods glory, God shall get much honour, and his religion will bee well-spoken of, if Christians liue obediently: and contrariwise, if Christians bee not obedient, God may bee much dishonored thereby, and great stormes of affliction may bee brought vpon the Church by the wrath of Princes. Sixtly, the iudgements of God, because they must giue account to God for their behauiour toward Magistrates, aswell as for their behauiour towards God himselfe.