A17384:62
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.
The word here rendered Guile is diversly accepted in scripture. Sometime it is taken in good sense, and so there is a justifiable Guile: so, Paul caught the Corinthians by craft, he won them by his discretion and godly policy. 2. Cor. 12.6. So, Samuel, by a godly policy, giving it out that he came to sacrifice, did safely perform his chief business of anointing David. 1. Sam. 16. and so did Paul deal cunningly, when in the broil he cried out he was a Pharisee. But most usually this word is taken in ill sense, and so sometimes it is all one with hypocrisy: as Hosh. 11.12. Psal. 17.2. But so it is not taken here by all likelihood, because hypocrisies are mentioned in the next words: sometimes it signifieth fraud and falsehood in opinions: either in the matter, when the doctrine is strange and false: and so the false Apostles were deceitful workmen, when they put in ⟨p. 13⟩that for good stuff, which was counterfeit and devilish, 2. Cor. 11.13. Or when good doctrine is handled corruptly and deceitfully for wicked ends, 2. Cor. 42. 1. Thes. 2.3. Sometimes it signifieth deceit in words, and so flattery is Guile, Psal. 12.2, 3. And lying is Guile, Mich. 6.12. Zeph. 3.13. And so is all false Testimony. Sometimes it signifieth deceit in works; and so false weights and balances, and all fraudulent dealing, and cozenage in buying and selling is Guile, Mich. 6.10.11. So there is Guile in Tithing, Malach. 1. ult. And so all lying in wait to seek occasion against others, and all subtle dealing to oppress others, is Guile: