A17384:3077
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, we may here inquire, how masters come by this authority over servants: by nature they have it not, and therefore must have it by law. The laws of men cannot make one man a servant, and another a master:1 therefore it is by the Law of God. Since it is by the Law of God; if we have recourse to the ten Commandments, we shall find, that it is the fifth Commandment which giveth masters this authority and honour; the exhortations of the Apostle being but interpretations of that Law. And, that this point may be cleared, two things must be searched into: First, what sorts of men are called fathers and mothers there; and secondly, why they are so called in the Commandment, seeing the most sorts of them, in the usual life of man, have other titles.
Thirdly, wee may heer inquire, how masters come by this authority ouer seruants: by nature they haue it not, and therefore must haue it by law. The lawes of men cannot make one man a seruant, and another a master:1 therefore it is by the Law of God. Since it is by the Law of God; if wee haue recourse to the tenne Commandements, wee shall finde, that it is the fift Commandement which giueth masters this authority and honor; the exhortations of the Apostle being but interpretations of that Law. And, that this point may bee cleered, two things must be searched into: First, what sorts of men are called fathers and mothers there; and secondly, why they are so called in the Commandement, seeing the most sorts of them, in the vsuall life of man, haue other titles.
- 1The original of masters.The originall of masters.
1For the first. This term Father we shall find in Scripture to be given, first, to such as begat us,