A17384:3070
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.
Thirdly, they must often meditate on the motives that may persuade them to subjection. And so there are five things that might bow their harts, and breed in them a conscience of their duties. First, the Commandment of God: it is GOD's will, they should bear themselves thus humbly and obediently toward their masters. Secondly, the promise annexed to God's Commandment, should move them: God will reward their work, Eph 6.8. Col. 3.24. And, in particular, inasmuch as their service is required in the fifth Commandment, therefore, if they be good servants, God will bless them with long life. Thirdly, the threatening, if they be not good servants, but bear themselves naughtily and stubbornly; they shall not only receive shame and punishment from men, but God will plague them for the wrongs they do to their masters, even for all the grief wherewith they have vexed them, and for all the losses they have brought to their masters, Col. 3. ult. Fourthly, the examples of such as have born themselves full well in Scripture, should much move them; the piety of Abraham's servant, Gen. 24. and the painfulness and faithfulness of Jacob, Gen. 31.38, &c. and the readiness of the Centurion's servant, Mat. 8. Yea, it should much move them, that Christ Jesus himself was in the form of a servant, Phil. 2. Fifthly, the care of the Religion they profess, should much ⟨p. 730⟩move them: if they be careless, and proud, and stubborn, the Name of God, and the doctrine of Religion, may be blasphemed, 1. Tim. 6.1. And if they be humble, and careful, and faithful, they may adorn the doctrine of the Gospel, as the Apostle shows, Tit. 2.9, 10.
Thirdly, they must often meditate on the motiues that may perswade them to subiection. And so there are fiue things that might bow their harts, and breed in them a conscience of their duties. First, the Commandement of God: it is GOD's will, they should beare themselues thus humbly and obediently toward their masters. Secondly, the promise annexed to God's Commandement, should moue them: God will reward their work, Eph 6.8.