A17384:3160
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.
But, the principal work of Conscience, whether we respect God or man, is, To keep Court in the heart of man. There is in man Forum Conscientiae, a Court of Conscience: a secret Tribunal is set up in the heart of man, and therein sits Conscience, and arraigneth, accuseth, bringeth witness, sentenceth, and doth execution. Now, concerning the judgement of Conscience, keeping an Assize in the heart of man, two things are to be considered: First, the law by which Conscience judgeth; secondly, the manner of the proceeding in judgement.
But, the principall work of Conscience, whether we respect God or man, is, To keep Court in the heart of man. There is in man Forum Conscientiae, a Court of Conscience: a secret Tribunall is set vp in the heart of man, and therein sits Conscience, and arraigneth, accuseth, bringeth witnesse, sentenceth, and doth execution. Now, concerning the iudgement of Conscience, keeping an Assise in the heart of man, two things are to be considered: First, the law by which Conscience iudgeth; secondly, the manner of the proceeding in iudgement.
For the first: Conscience judgeth of the actions of men, by virtue of certain principles (as I said before) which it findeth in the understanding, gathered either from the Law of Nature, or from experience of God's providence, or from the Scriptures.
For the first: Conscience iudgeth of the actions of men, by vertue of certain principles (as I said before) which it findeth in the vnderstanding, gathered either from the Law of Nature, or from experience of God's prouidence, or from the Scriptures.
Now, the manner how it proceeds in judgement, is, in form of reasoning, as I said before: for, in the mind the Conscience finds, as it were, a Book of Law written, which is in the keeping of