A17384:43
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.
First,1 if we respect the causes of this evil. For malice comes, first, from an ill nature; it cannot be in a good nature: secondly, It comes from the Devil the first deviser of this abominable poison: thirdly, It comes from anger, as the next usual immediate cause. The infirmities, or wrongs of others may be the occasions, but they cannot be the causes of malice. Now we should be ashamed to father any of the former three evils.
First,1 if we respect the causes of this euill. For malice comes, first, from an ill nature; it cannot be in a good nature: secondly, It comes from the Diuell the first deuiser of this abhominable poison: thirdly, It comes from anger, as the next vsuall immediate cause. The infirmities, or wrongs of others may be the occasions, but they cannot be the causes of malice. Now we should be ashamed to father any of the former three euills.
- 1From the causes
Secondly, if we respect the effects of malice: and that either in our selves, 1or in God. In our selves, malice will work, first, a conformity to the nature of the Devil. For it was used to be noted, that to be angry was humane, but to persevere in anger (which is this malice), was devilish: Secondly, It will plead forcibly mans unregeneration. Malice is noted as a mark of the unregenerate man: Tit. 3.3. 1. Joh. 2.9. Thirdly, If we have any gifts, it is certain malice is like leaven, it will ⟨p. 8⟩sour them, and spoil the praise, and acceptation of them: