A17384:3594
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, because righteousness is more proper to the soul. What is riches, or honour, or any outward thing to the soul of a man? or what shall it profit a man to provide for the whole world to be his estate, if he provide not grace for his soul? Riches profit but the outward estates of a man: whereas righteousness profits the man himself. And therefore Adam's loss was greater in losing his innocency, than in losing of Paradise. What can it profit a man to have all other things good about him, if he be not good himself?
Sixtly, because righteousnes is more proper to the soule. What is riches, or honour, or any outward thing to the soule of a man? or what shall it profit a man to prouide for the whole world to be his estate, if hee prouide not grace for his soule? Riches profit but the outward estates of a man: whereas righteousnes profits the man himselfe. And therefore Adam's losse was greater in losing his innocency, than in losing of Paradise. What can it profit a man to haue all other things good about him, if he be not good himself?
Use. The use should be, first, for trial. Men should throughly search themselves, whether they be indeed righteous men: and the more carefully ⟨p. 857⟩should they search, because the most righteous on earth have their many ignorances and frailties. There is no man but sinneth daily, and in many things: and besides, a man may attain to some kind of righteousness, and yet not enter into the Kingdom of heaven; as; there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet are not cleansed from their sins. And the Pharisees had a righteousness that had many praises: they gave alms, and fasted, and prayed long prayers, and did that which was warrantable, in respect of the Law outwardly; and yet, if our righteousness exceed not the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
Vse. The vse should bee, first, for triall. Men should throughly search themselues, whether they be indeed righteous men: and the more carefully ⟨p. 857⟩