A17384:3152
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.
I say moreover, it is in all reasonable creatures; to note, that beasts, that have only a sensitive soul, have no conscience. And whereas God also is no creature; therefore he hath not conscience. For God being holiness it self, needs no faculties to govern himself by, nor any conscience to witness, or prompt him. And I say it is in all, that none might imagine, that some men have a conscience, and some have none: For every man hath a conscience either good, or bad.
I say moreouer, it is in all reasonable creatures; to note, that beasts, that haue onely a sensitiue soule, haue no conscience. And whereas God also is no creature; therefore hee hath not conscience. For God beeing holines it selfe, needes no faculties to gouern himselfe by, nor any conscience to witnes, or prompt him. And I say it is in all, that none might imagine, that some men haue a conscience, and some haue none: For euery man hath a conscience either good, or bad.
Secondly,1 the proper work of conscience is imported in the other words of the definition, viz. applying the principles of the mind. For the understanding ⟨p. 754⟩whereof, we must know, that there are certain notions,2 or frames of truth planted in the minds of all men, being infused by God as a natural Law in their minds, showing what is good or evil, and those principles are increased in the minds of such as have the benefit of the Scripture more or less, according to the degree of their knowledge: Now that which conscience doth, is this: It repairs to these forms of truth or light in the mind, and takes such of them, as concern the business in hand, and with the force of them either comforts, or affrights men, according as the occasion is.
Secondly,1