A17384:3004
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,1 it is to be noted, that Inferiors in the family, are either only, or first, or with most words charged about their duties; as here, servants, and not masters; and servants and wives, with many words: and there may be diverse reasons assigned of it.
Secondly,1 it is to be noted, that Inferiours in the family, are either only, or first, or with most words charged about their duties; as heer, seruants, and not masters; and seruants and wiues, with many words: and there may be diuerse reasons assigned of it.
- 1Why Inferiors in a family, are first and especially charged with their duties.
1. To preserve order. God hath subjected the Inferiors to the Superiors; and the Superior in a family, is God's Image: the Lord is therefore careful to preserve his authority. The Superiors receive laws from God, but not from their Inferiors. The Inferiors are to learn their duty ⟨p. 716⟩without prescribing laws to their Superiors. 2. Because the disorders of Inferiors are, for the most part, most dangerous to the troubling of the family, because the businesses of the family are done by their hands, the Superior providing for the common good by common instruments. If the Master of the family be never so godly-wise, yet oftentimes the family may be destroyed by wicked servants, and vicious wives, Pro. 14.1. 3. Because faults in the Inferiors are most scandalous against Religion, especially where the family is unequally yoked; as, if the Head of the family be an unbeliever, and the Members believers: disorder in the believers, is most extremely scandalous. 4. Because, if the Head of the family be disordered, the orderly behaviour of the Inferiors may bring him into order, and win him both to Religion, and good order at home. A conversation with fear, in wives, may win their husbands, chap. 3.1, 2. of this Epistle. 5. Because God would hereby show, that the Inferiors must always do their duties, before they look after the duties of Superiors: they must be first served. 6. By this course, the Apostles did labour to entice the Gentiles to Religion, by letting them see how careful they were to breed goodness and love in their wives, servants, and children: and the Apostles did wisely in so doing, because it is a greater gain to Religion, to gain one master, than many servants, because such a master may do more good.