A17384:358
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.
Fifthly, to stick to the word of God, without going to the right hand or the left. There can be no sin but what is condemned in the word: nor can there be duty not commanded therein: nor can there be matter of faith not propounded therein. Oh how happy were we if we could stick to the old foundation, even the sincere word of God, and not add nor diminish! The hatefulness of departing from the word on the left hand, is in most places discovered. But Oh the deceitfulness of mens hearts; and the wretched proneness of men to sin, by finding out many inventions! Men run out, and that very fast on the right hand: we have new opinions & strange fancies coined every day. Little do the better sort of people (many of them) think of traditions on the right hand. Their faith is led into bondage, when they can yield no better reason, than It is such a mans judgement, or else he thinketh so himself:1 or the reasons brought are urged without any demonstration from the ⟨p. 77⟩word of God, and Scripture. Happy, above the most Churches under heaven, were this nation, if this point were understood and carefully observed, if we could stick to our first grounds in parting from the Church of Rome; viz. to admit no opinions, nor charge our conscience with more obligations, but out of the word of God.
Fiftly, to stick to the word of God, without going to the right hand or the left. There can be no sinne but what is condemned in the word: nor can there be duty not commanded therein: nor can there be matter of faith not propounded therein. Oh how happy were wee if wee could stick to the ould foundation, euen the sincere word of God, and not adde nor diminish! The hatefulnesse of departing from the word on the left hand, is in most places discouered. But Oh the deceitfulnes of mens hearts; and the wretched pronenesse of men to sinne, by finding out many inuentions! Men runne out, and that very fast on the right hand: we haue new opinions & strange fansies coined euery day. Little doo the better sort of people (many of them) think of traditions on the right hand. Their faith is led into bondage, when they can yield no better reason, than It is such a mans judgement, or else hee thinketh so himself:1 or the reasons brought are vrged without any demonstration from the ⟨p. 77⟩