A17384:2587
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.
Secondly, it must needs appear, that Kings are of all men most excellent,1 in respect of their outward condition and calling; 1. Because God himself was a King, and is delighted to rank himself among men of that degree. 2. Because their creation is from God: they are a special sort of men, raised in a peculiar manner to their places by God; who pleads it as his glory, that Kings reign by him, Pro. 8. Romans 13. 3. Because God hath communicated to kings the Image of his own Majesty, and printed in the natures of men a natural form of Kings, as the Vice-gerents to God himself. 4. Because a divine sentence is in the mouth of the King, as Solomon saith: their judgement is God's judgement: and God would have the people to believe, that what they say in judgement, God himself saith it. 5. Because they have a power above all other men; of which, when I come to treat of the word Superior. 6. Because they take accounts of all other men, but give accounts only to God. 7. Because they have the treasure of honour: they give all the honour which is possessed by any of their Subjects, and so do they all offices of honour and government in their Dominions. 8. Because they are the Basis, or the foundation, or stay of all their Subjects; who are maintained in Religion, Justice and Peace, by their means.
Secondly, it must needs appear, that Kings are of all men most excellent,1 in respect of their outward condition and calling; 1. Because God himself was a King, and is delighted to rank himself among men of that degree. 2. Because their creation is from God: they are a speciall sort of men, raised in a peculiar manner to their places by God; who pleads it as his glory, that Kings raign by him, Pro. 8. Romans 13. 3. Because God hath communicated to kings the Image of his owne Maiesty, and printed in the natures of men a naturall forme of Kings, as the Vice-gerents to God himself. 4. Because a diuine sentence is in the mouth of the King, as Salomon saith: their iudgement is God's iudgement: and God would haue the people to beleeue, that what they say in iudgement, God himself saith it. 5. Because they haue a power aboue all other men; of which, when I come to treat of the word Superiour. 6. Because they take accounts of all other men, but giue accounts onely to God. 7. Because they haue the treasure of honor: they giue all the honour which is possessed by any of their Subiects, and so doo they all offices of honour and gouernment in their Dominions. 8. Because they are the Basis, or the foundation, or stay of all their Subiects; who are maintained in Religion, Iustice and Peace, by their means.