A17384:2711
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.
Doct. 2. God would have good men, that are full of good fruits, to enter into the lists against wicked ⟨p. 640⟩men, to vanquish and silence them: which implies, that God would not have formal Christians or hypocrites to meddle with the quarrel of Religion: for, they will spoil all in the end, when their hollowness and hypocrisy is discovered: they will make foolish men rail and blaspheme worse than before. Such are fit to plead for, and defend Religion, as be manful, and full of good works. And therefore the weak Christians should not be overbusy and fiery in meddling with wicked men, or putting themselves forward to defend sincerity, till their works could plead for them: before we set-on to be great talkers for Religion, we should provide good store of good works, by which we might demonstrate the truth and power of godliness in us.
Doct. 2. God would haue good men, that are full of good fruits, to enter into the lists against wicked ⟨p. 640⟩men, to vanquish and silence them: which implies, that God would not haue formal Christians or hypocrites to meddle with the quarrell of Religion: for, they will spoil all in the end, when their hollownesse and hypocrisie is discouered: they will make foolish men rail and blaspheme worse than before. Such are fit to plead for, and defend Religion, as be manfull, and full of good works. And therefore the weak Christians should not be ouerbusie and fiery in meddling with wicked men, or putting themselues forward to defend sincerity, til their works could plead for them: before we set-on to be great talkers for Religion, we should prouide good store of good works, by which wee might demonstrate the truth and power of godlinesse in vs.
Of well-doing in it self, I have entreated before: only, before I pass from it, me thinks it is lamentable, that our hearts can be no more fired to the care of it. Oh that we were once brought but to consent from the heart, with confirmed purpose, to set up a course by our lives to win glory to our Religion! We see how fain God would have us do so: and it would plague wicked men, that would fain rail at us: nothing would more confute them. And besides, other Scriptures show, no life aboundeth more with steadfastness and contentment, than a life fruitfully spent: especially, how can we be still thus careless, if we remember the great recompense of reward in another world? Oh this formality, and outward show, and serving God for fashion! how deeply is it seated in mens manners! It is