A17384:3199
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.
The second is pain and anguish of heart, arising from the gnawing and stings of Conscience mentioned before; which so continually burdens the heart, that it takes away all contentment in any thing, and keeps the heart in an habitual disconsolation: and though the disease of melancholy may ⟨p. 770⟩breed a sadness like unto it, yet is here manifest difference betwixt this affliction of spirit, and melancholy; for the melancholic person usually can assign no certain reason of that sadness: whereas Conscience, when it stings, assigns the cause of it to be such and such things, which bring not only the shame of men, but the wrath of God. Besides, melancholic sadness may be eased by physic: but this sorrow is not cured by any means, but such as are spiritual.
The second is pain and anguish of heart, arising from the gnawing and stings of Conscience mentioned before; which so continually burdens the heart, that it takes away all contentment in any thing, and keeps the heart in an habituall disconsolation: and though the disease of melancholy may ⟨p. 770⟩breed a sadnes like vnto it, yet is heer manifest difference betwixt this affliction of spirit, and melancholy; for the melancholick person vsually can assigne no certain reason of that sadnes: whereas Conscience, when it stings, assignes the cause of it to be such and such things, which bring not only the shame of men, but the wrath of God. Besides, melancholick sadnes may bee eased by physick: but this sorrow is not cured by any meanes, but such as are spirituall.
The third is a strange kind of fear, breaking the heart of a man, & so subduing his courage, that he is not able to sustain himself against the impressions of vain causes of fear. A trembling hart is the effect of an ill conscience, Deut. 28.65. Thus wicked men are said in Scripture to fear, when no man pursueth them,