A17384:3235
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, the best laws of men, where they bind most, bind not by any immediate power of their own, but by fear of God's Word, that enjoins us to obey their lawful authority.
Fourthly, the best laws of men, where they bind most, binde not by any immediate power of their owne, but by fear of God's Word, that enioyns vs to obey their lawfull authority.
Fifthly, mens laws ever bind with limitation, that is, with respect of the end of the law, and the person of the law-maker, and the offence of others: and hereupon Divines say, If mens laws be omitted, so as the end of the laws be not hindered, that is, that the Common-wealth be not damnified, or other particular ends crossed; or offence be not given, ⟨p. 781⟩as much as in us lieth; or the Law-giver be not despised or contemned; the Conscience may not accuse a man of sin.
Fiftly, mens lawes euer binde with limitation, that is, with respect of the end of the law, and the person of the law-maker, and the offense of others: and heerupon Diuines say, If mens lawes be omitted, so as the end of the lawes be not hindred, that is, that the Common-wealth be not damnified, or other particular ends crossed; or offense be not giuen, ⟨p. 781⟩as much as in vs lieth; or the Law-giuer bee not despised or contemned; the Conscience may not accuse a man of sinne.
Sixthly, some Laws of men are merely penal; note, that I say, merely penal, that is, they are made about matters of less importance, and not uttered precisely in commanding terms, or so uttered, that the Common-wealth is accounted by the Lawgiver to be sufficiently provided for, if the penalty be inflicted. Now, he that is ready to pay the fine, or the penalty, and doth not transgress, but in some case of necessary respect, he is not to be charged with sin before God.