A17384:2626
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, that in all Common-wealths in the world, there will be evil doers: though there be a King & governors, and Gods commandments lye hard upon mens consciences, yet there will be evil doers. And the point shows the horrible strength of the poison of natural corruption, which no Laws of God nor man, nor experience of evil, nor example can restrain, or dry up: and withal it shows their folly and weakness, that will forsake Christian assemblies for the wickeds sakes; whereas the Apostle improves, that even in Christian Common-wealths, there will be this part of a Magistrates virtue to punish the evil doers, such as are known to be so: and therefore such curious persons must go out of the world, if they will go from evil doers. And withal it should breed in men a greater care to look to themselves, that they be not infected by them: since there is no society of men, in which this plague-sore of sin runneth not, we must redeem the time, because ⟨p. 618⟩the days are evil. And further, it should breed in us a loathing of this wicked world, of this present evil world, and a desire of heaven; since we shall never live in a place where the people will be all righteous, till we come to heaven. And finally, it confutes their folly, that from the viciousness of some men, conclude the faultiness either of the doctrine, laws, or government.
First, that in all Common-wealths in the world, there will be euill doers: though there be a King & gouernours, and Gods commandements lye hard vpon mens consciences, yet there will bee euill doers. And the point shewes the horrible strength of the poison of naturall corruption, which no Lawes of God nor man, nor experience of euill, nor example can restraine, or dry vp: and withall it shewes their folly and weakenes, that will forsake Christian assemblies for the wickeds sakes; whereas the Apostle improues, that euen in Christian Common-wealths, there will bee this part of a Magistrates vertue to punish the euill doers, such as are knowne to bee so: and therefore such curious persons must goe out of the world, if they will goe from euill doers. And withall it should breed in men a greater care to look to themselues, that they bee not infected by them: since there is no society of men, in which this plague-sore of sinne runneth not, we must redeeme the time, because ⟨p. 618⟩the daies are euill. And further, it should breed in vs a loathing of this wicked world, of this present euill world, and a desire of heauen; since we shall neuer liue in a place where the people wil bee all righteous, till we come to heauen. And finally, it confutes their folly, that from the vitiousnes of some men, conclude the faultinesse either of the doctrine, lawes, or gouernment.