A17384:3142
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.
1There are many reasons may be assigned, why men should be carefully instructed about Conscience: it is a necessary doctrine: for first, we see by experience, that of most things that concern us, men know least about Conscience; many men knowing little more of it, than the bare use of the word Conscience. Secondly, men through this ignorance do many notorious injuries and abuses to their conscience, by resisting the motions of conscience, not knowing what to make of them, and by smothering the scruples of conscience, and by deading the conscience, or else by vexing them, and many other ways. Thirdly, God hath given men a great charge about the keeping of their consciences, which he placed in their souls as a great treasure; and God would have it respected and looked to with as much care as any thing he hath given us, 1. Tim. 1.19. Fourthly, God doth require, that men should get grace and goodness into their consciences, as well as into their hearts, or words, or lives; which they can never do, if they be not taught. Fifthly, God's Word, in all the directions and precepts of it, doth bind & oblige mens consciences to see to the obedience of them: now, what can conscience do, if men know not what belongs to their consciences, and the natures and works of conscience? But, above all things, it ⟨p. 751⟩should awaken men to study the knowledge of conscience, yea, of their own consciences, if they consider, that the conscience of every man is one of the principal books shall be opened at the last Day, for evidence, before the Tribunal Seat of Christ: and therefore men were best to look about them in this world, to see to it, what is written in this book; for, it is indelible, and will stand upon record, either for them or against them, at that Day.
1There are many reasons may bee assigned, why men should be carefully instructed about Conscience: it is a necessary doctrine: for first, we see by experience, that of most things that concerne vs, men knowe least about Conscience; many men knowing little more of it, than the bare vse of the word Conscience. Secondly, men through this ignorance doo many notorious iniuries and abuses to their conscience, by resisting the motions of conscience, not knowing what to make of them, and by smothering the scruples of conscience, and by deading the conscience, or else by vexing them, and many other waies. Thirdly, God hath giuen men a great charge about the keeping of their consciences, which he placed in their soules as a great treasure; and God would haue it respected and looked to with as much care as any thing hee hath giuen vs,