A17384:2565
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.
Whether to the King.]
It may be questioned, whom the Apostle means, by the word King? Such as understand the Epistle to be written to the Jews, may perhaps conceive, that the Kings that ruled by deputation in Judea, should be meant; such as were Herod and Agrippa. But in as much as the Jews were scattered through the Provinces, and those provincial Jews were most in quiet: and in as much as for the reasons afore ⟨p. 604⟩given, it is likely, that the Epistle was written to all Christians, both Jews and Gentiles; therefore by the King he meant Caesar. And then a more scruple ariseth, for the Romans hated the name of a King, and Caesar was an Emperor: to which divers things may be answered.
It may be questioned, whom the Apostle meanes, by the word King? Such as vnderstand the Epistle to be written to the Iewes, may perhaps conceiue, that the Kings that ruled by deputation in Iudea, should be meant; such as were Herod and Agrippa. But in as much as the Iewes were scattred through the Prouinces, and those prouinciall Iewes were most in quiet: and in as much as for the reasons afore ⟨p. 604⟩giuen, it is likely, that the Epistle was written to all Christians, both Iewes and Gentiles; therefore by the King hee meant Caesar. And then a more scruple ariseth, for the Romans hated the name of a King, and Caesar was an Emperour: to which diuers things may bee answered.
First, that though the present governor was an Emperor; yet the Apostle, knowing that the most monarchies in the world would rest in the title of King in all ages, therefore he useth that title that may concern the most of the Elect in all ages.