A17384:3183
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.
Fourthly, in some men there was a temporary goodness in the Conscience, of which they made shipwreck, and so utterly lost the goodness they had for a time. And thus many hypocrites do, that for a time get the form of Religion even into their Consciences, but afterward falling into the immoderate love of the world, or the lust of some particular sin, fall clean away from Religion, and so lose the goodness which they had, 1. Tim. Chap. 1. verse 19.
Fourthly, in some men there was a temporary goodnes in the Conscience, of which they made shipwrack, and so vtterly lost the goodnes they had for a time. And thus many hypocrites doe, that for a time get the forme of Religion euen into their Consciences, but afterward falling into the immoderate loue of the world, or the lust of some particular sinne, fall cleane away from Religion, and so lose the goodnes which they had, 1. Tim. Chap. 1. verse 19.
Thus of the differences of evil in the Consciences of divers men: the signs of an evil Conscience follow. But before I give the signs, we must take notice of a distinction, and that is, that the Conscience may have evil in it, and not be an evil Conscience: Conscience in this life in men regenerate is renewed and restored but in part; and so may err sometimes, and in some ⟨p. 766⟩cases,1 and yet be no evil Conscience. As for instance in certain weak Christians in the Primitive Church (who yet were godly men) the Apostle shows, Romans 14. that some Christians for Conscience sake did refuse certain meats and days: the Conscience erred, in judging those meats and days to be unlawful to be observed and used; and yet he calls them that were so led by an erring Conscience, he calls them, I say, brethren: But when we speak of an evil Conscience, we mean Conscience unregenerate. As a man may have sin in him, and yet be a good man: so may Conscience have blindness in it, and yet be a good Conscience.