A17384:3229
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.
Sixthly, and the greater is the comfort of a good Conscience, because it will comfort us, and stand by us and for us, when all other comforts fail. It will never leave us in sickness, or in death; and so is better than a thousand friends, or wives, or children: yea, it will go with us to the Judgement-Seat of Christ, with this assurance, that as a good Conscience speaks to us now, so will Christ speak to us at that Day, Rom. 2.16.
Sixtly, and the greater is the comfort of a good Conscience, because it will comfort vs, and stand by vs and for vs, when all other comforts faile. It will neuer leaue vs in sicknes, or in death; and so is better than a thousand friends, or wiues, or children: yea, it will go with vs to the Iudgement-Seat of Christ, with this assurance, that as a good Conscience speaks to vs now, so will Christ speak to vs at that Day, Rom. 2.16.
Thus of the sorts or kinds of Consciences.
Thus of the sorts or kindes of Consciences.
The last point is about the bond of Conscience, what it is that can bind a mans Conscience: and the doubt ariseth from this and other Texts, because here a servant is bound in Conscience, to submit himself to a froward master, both to his command, and to his punishments; and other Scriptures speak of his obedience to Superiors, for Conscience sake. For answer hereunto, we must know,1 that God and his Law have power simply and absolutely to bind Conscience, that is, to urge it to require obedience of a man, or to accuse if he obey not, or to excuse if he obey. As for the authority of Masters or other Superiors, it cannot reach to the Conscience properly: for, they have no power to command or punish Conscience; but that which ties Conscience to submit unto them, is the commandment of God in his Word, in this and such like places. And therefore