A17384:2651
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.
Otherwise, it is lawful to seek praise: and there is an infallible sign, to know whether praise be not ill for us; and that is, if praise make us more humble, and more careful of sound holiness, and do refine us: then praise is lawful, and a great blessing, when it is like the refining pot: it melts us, and makes us better, Pro. 27.21.
Otherwise, it is lawfull to seek praise: and there is an infallible signe, to knowe whether praise bee not ill for vs; and that is, if praise make vs more humble, and more carefull of sound holinesse, and do refine vs: then praise is lawfull, and a great blessing, when it is like the refining pot: it melts vs, and makes vs better, Pro. 27.21.
Further, if praise be so great a blessing, then an evil name must needs be a great curse, when it is for evil-doing: and if it be so evil to be dispraised of men, what shall it be to be dispraised of GOD, not for one, but many sins; not before a few, but before all the world; when it shall be not to mend a man (as the Magistrate's reproof may be) but to his eternal confusion?
Further, if praise bee so great a blessing, then an euill name must needs bee a great curse, when it is for euill-doing: and if it be so euill to be dispraised of men, what shall it be to be dispraised of GOD, not for one, but many sinnes; not before a few, but before all the world; when it shall be not to mend a man (as the Magistrate's reproof may bee) but to his eternall confusion?
Thus of the third doctrine.