A17384:2560
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.
Besides, it serves to inform us concerning the admirable power and wisdom of God, in effecting the subjection of man to authority of Magistrates: all men naturally affect to excel, and ⟨p. 602⟩like not superiority in other men; and besides it is needful, that one man should govern and keep in order millions of men, disposed as before. Now this well points at the cause of this order and subjection, which is the respect of God. God naturally hath planted in the hearts of men a fear to rebel or disobey, even for fear of God himself, more then Princes: and besides, God hath made man to see by experience, that he doth defend the persons and rights of Kings, by revenging the disobedience of men: this natural conscience keeps under natural men. Now though the Apostle would have godly men to obey for the same reason, yet it is upon a higher ground: for godly men are instructed by the Word of God to obey Princes; yea, herein differs the obedience of the godly from the wicked, that the godly man obeys for the mere love he bears to God; and the wicked, only for fear of vengeance from God: so both obey for a higher reason then the respect of Princes themselves, even for the Lords sake: the one for the love of God, and the care of his glory; the other, for fear of his punishments and judgements.
Besides, it serues to informe vs concerning the admirable power and wisdome of God, in effecting the subiection of man to authority of Magistrates: all men naturally affect to excell, and ⟨p. 602⟩like not superiority in other men; and besides it is needfull, that one man should gouerne and keepe in order millions of men, disposed as before. Now this well points at the cause of this order and subiection, which is the respect of God. God naturally hath planted in the hearts of men a feare to rebell or disobey, euen for fear of God himself, more then Princes: and besides, God hath made man to see by experience, that hee doth defend the persons and rights of Kings, by reuenging the disobedience of men: this naturall conscience keepes vnder naturall men. Now though the Apostle would haue godly men to obey for the same reason, yet it is vpon a higher ground: for godly men are instructed by the Word of God to obey Princes; yea, herein differs the obedience of the godly from the wicked, that the godly man obeyes for the meere loue hee beares to God; and the wicked, onely for feare of vengeance from God: so both obey for a higher reason then the respect of Princes themselues, euen for the Lords sake: the one for the loue of God, and the care of his glory; the other, for feare of his punishments and iudgements.