A17384:3034
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, 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.
Thirdly, because God hath bound Masters by his Word to use them well, & the Laws of Princes provide punishments for unreasonable Masters.
Thirdly, because God hath bound Masters by his Word to vse them wel, & the Lawes of Princes prouide punishments for vnreasonable Masters.
Fourthly, because Christ hath redeemed them from the spiritual bondage of serving the Law, and the devil, and Gods Justice: so as he is Christs free-man.
Fourthly, because Christ hath redeemed them from the spirituall bondage of seruing the Law, and the diuell, and Gods Iustice: so as he is Christs free-man.
Fifthly, because though his body be subject, yet his soul is free, and not subject to any mortal creature.
Fiftly, because though his body bee subiect, yet his soule is free, and not subiect to any mortall creature.
Sixthly, because their Masters are their brethren in Religion.
Sixtly, because their Masters are their brethren in Religion.
Seventhly, because God hath provided by his unchangeable Law, that one day in seven they shall rest from their labour.
Seuenthly, because God hath prouided by his vnchangeable Law, that one day in seuen they shall rest from their labour.
Ninthly, because all the benefits by Religion, whether inward or outward, belong to servants, as well as Masters, 1. Cor. 12.13.
Ninthly, because all the benefits by Religion, whether inward or outward, belong to seruants, as well as Masters, 1. Cor. 12.13.
Tenthly, because the very work that servants ⟨p. 724⟩do in their particular calling, is accepted of God, as obedience to him, as well as the performing of the duties of Religion; God accepts their daily labour, as well as he doth praying, hearing the Word, receiving the Sacraments, reading the Scriptures, fasting, or the like, Eph. 6.6.
Tenthly, because the very work that seruants ⟨p. 724⟩doe in their particular calling, is accepted of God, as obedience to him, as well as the performing of the duties of Religion; God accepts their daily labor, as well as he doth praying, hearing the Word, receiuing the Sacraments, reading the Scriptures, fasting, or the like, Eph. 6.6.
