A17384:3026
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.
Thirdly, in other nations many men become servants, not by nature, but by necessity, as being taken in mercy: and thus among the Latins came up the name of servants, being serui, because they were seruati, preserved from slaughter in war: and mancipia, because they were manu capta, things taken by force of arms.
Thirdly, in other nations many men become seruants, not by nature, but by necessity, as being taken in mercy: and thus among the Latines came vp the name of seruants, being serui, because they were seruati, preserued from slaughter in war: and mancipia, because they were manu capta, things taken by force of armes.
Fourthly, the horrible sins sometimes of the Ancestors brings beggary, and so servitude upon their posterity; as the sin of Cam made Canaan a servant of servants, Gen. 9.25. So doth treason, whoredom, riotousness, and prodigality of many parents, undo their whole posterity, and leave them in a necessity of serving.
Fourthly, the horrible sinnes sometimes of the Ancestors brings beggery, and so seruitude vpon their posterity; as the sin of Cam made Canaan a seruant of seruants, Gen. 9.25. So doth treason, whoredome, riotousnes, and prodigality of many parents, vndoe their whole posterity, and leaue them in a necessity of seruing.
Fifthly, wicked children, for their disobedience to their parents, are many times brought not only to be servants, but as was noted before of Cam, to be servant of servants, Prou. 17.2.
Fiftly, wicked children, for their disobedience to their parents, are many times brought not onely to bee seruants, but as was noted before of Cam, to bee seruant of seruants, Prou. 17.2.
Sixthly, many men are brought to a morsel of bread by their own disorder and wickedness of life; sometimes open sins, sometimes secret sins bringing this curse of God upon them: For men became servants, only to gain by their service the knowledge, or state of some science, art, or trade as many apprentices do.
Sixtly, many men are brought to a morsell of bread by their owne disorder and wickednes of life; sometimes open sins, sometimes secret sinnes bringing this curse of God vpon them: For men became seruants, onely to gayne by their seruice the knowledge, or state of som science, art, or trade as many apprentices doe.
Seventhly, sometimes God by his hand doth ⟨p. 721⟩abase some men only, as a trial, if they fall into poverty, and so to the necessity of working for others by no sinful courses of their own: but by the inevitable hand of God, as by piracy, shipwreck, fire, thieves, or the like: and these are so humbled, either to warn others, and show the power of God, or to bring them to repentance, or else for trial of God's grace in them.
Seuenthly, sometimes God by his hand doth ⟨p. 721⟩abase some men onely, as a triall, if they fall into pouerty, and so to the necessity of working for others by no sinfull courses of their owne: but by the ineuitable hand of God, as by pyracy, shipwrack, fire, theeues, or the like: and these are so humbled, either to warne others, and shew the power of God, or to bring them to repentance, or else for triall of God's grace in them.
Eighthly, some men are brought to this misery by the cruelty, and unjust dealing of other men: and so that power the Masters took over their bondmen to dispose of their very lives, was not of God or nature, but merely an oppression. For why should they have power to take away life, that could not give it? And so, many a man is brought to poverty and servitude, by oppression and cruel Landlords, or by the fraudulent dealings of other men, that falsify their trust, or cozen them in bargaining.
Eightthly, some men are brought to this misery by the cruelty, and vniust dealing of other men: and so that power the Masters tooke ouer their bondmen to dispose of their very liues, was not of God or nature, but meerely an oppression. For why shold they haue power to take away life, that could not giue it? And so, many a man is brought to pouerty and seruitude, by oppression and cruell Landlords, or by the fraudulent dealings of other men, that falsify their trust, or coozen them in bargaining.
Now, the servants brought to this condition by any of these means, must be subject to their Masters: and this is of divine institution. For God him self hath bound them to it by the first commandment; and so the subjection of servants is a moral, and perpetual ordinance.
Now, the seruants brought to this condition by any of these meanes, must bee subiect to their Masters: and this is of diuine institution. For God him selfe hath bound them to it by the first commandement; and so the subiection of seruants is a morall, and perpetuall ordinance.
Uses. The use of all this may be divers: For,
Vses. The vse of all this may bee diuers: For,
First, it should teach all sorts of men, the more to hate and flee from sin, which hath brought these miseries upon such multitudes of men.
First, it should teach all sorts of men, the more to hate and flee from sinne, which hath brought these miseries vpon such multitudes of men.
Secondly, it should teach Masters to use their servants respectively: For tho they be servants, yet they are men made after the Image of God, and ⟨p. 722⟩they are the best part of their possession. For other things they possess, are without life, and servants are the living instruments of their commodities. Thus wise and godly men in Scripture,1 were wont to account it the best part of their possessions, that they had men servants, or maid servants.
Secondly, it should teach Masters to vse their seruants respectiuely: For tho they be seruants, yet they are men made after the Image of God, and ⟨p. 722⟩they are the best part of their possession. For other things they possesse, are without life, and seruants are the liuing instruments of their commodities. Thus wise and godly men in Scripture,1 were wont to account it the best part of their possessions, that they had men seruants, or maid seruants.
Thirdly, it should teach servants especially two things; the one is humility: they should run a race fitted to their condition, they should conquer pride and aspiring, remembering that God hath abased them. The other is, they should keep themselves in their places and callings, and not shake off the yoke by running away, &c. seeing God hath taken them bound to serve: But the former is most proper to this place; seeing they are but servants, they should be content with such diet, apparel, labour, & usage, as is convenient to their condition.
Thirdly, it should teach seruants especially two things; the one is humility: they should run a race fitted to their condition, they should conquer pride and aspiring, remembring that God hath abased them. The other is, they should keep themselues in their places and callings, and not shake off the yoake by running away, &c. seeing God hath taken them bound to serue: But the former is most proper to this place; seeing they are but seruants, they should be content with such diet, apparell, labour, & vsage, as is conuenient to their condition.
Fourthly, it may serve for great humiliation to such servants, as are wicked men: These are of three sorts: some of them are brought to this condition by their own wickedness of life: some of them are wicked servants too, as well as wicked men: some are tolerable, and sometimes profitable servants, though evil men: all are in ill case. For this is but the beginning of evil to them, if they repent not; For if they live in their sins, as they serve men now, they shall serve devils hereafter; and so their bondage shall be invested upon them without end.
Fourthly, it may serue for great humiliation to such seruants, as are wicked men: These are of three sorts: some of them are brought to this condition by their owne wickednes of life: some of them are wicked seruants too, as well as wicked men: some are tolerable, and sometimes profitable seruants, though euill men: all are in ill case. For this is but the beginning of euill to them, if they repent not; For if they liue in their sinnes, as they serue men now, they shall serue diuels hereafter; and so their bondage shall be inuested vpon them without end.
Quest. But seeing many godly men and women may be servants; how may a godly Christian comfort himself in this estate of abasement?
Quest. But seeing many godly men and women may bee seruants; how may a godly Christian comfort himselfe in this estate of abasement?
Ans. Though it be an outward misery to be a servant: yet there are many consolations to sweeten the bitterness of this abasement.
Ans. Though it bee an outward misery to be a seruant: yet there are many consolations to sweeten the bitternes of this abasement.
First,1 because extremities of bondage are removed from servants with us for the most part, so as their service is but for a time, and voluntary too, to hire themselves to whom they will, and Masters have not power of their lives.
First,1 because extremities of bondage are remoued from seruants with vs for the most part, so as their seruice is but for a time, and voluntary too, to hire themselues to whom they will, and Masters haue not power of their liues.
Secondly, because their calling is acknowledged for a lawful calling by God.
Secondly, because their calling is acknowledged for a lawfull calling by God.
