A17384:82
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.
Secondly, to lay to heart the consideration of the horrible inundations of deceit, that hath overflowed all states and callings of men: and so it should work in us both lamentation and supplication before the Lord. For lamentation, we may take up all the old complaints of the Prophets: Our times have reached to the measure of iniquity then reproved;1 or rather, men now overpass the deeds of those wicked men: wickedness is in the middest of us: deceit and guile depart not from our streets, Psal. 55.11. Treasures of wickedness are in the house of the wicked; wicked balances, the bag of deceitful weights and scant measures (which are an abomination to the Lord, and for which he threateneth vengeance) every where to be found, Mich. 6.10.11. Men lay wait, as they that set snares: they set traps to catch, not beasts or fowl, but men. As a cage is full of birds: so are mens houses full of deceit and deceivers. It is now the usual course for men to wax great and rich withal, Jer 5.26 27▪ yea, this sin so spreadeth, that we may truly say, From the least of them to the greatest of them they are given to deceit, and will deal falsely, Jer. 6.13. Every brother will ⟨p. 19⟩supplant, and every neighbour will walk with lies and slanders. They will deceive one another, and not speak the truth. A man can dwell no where, but his habitation is in the midst of deceit: and therefore certainly God hath a resolution to stretch out his hand still by public judgements. How can it be, but God must visit and be avenged for these great abominations? What should he else do, but melt his people in the common furnace of great judgements for such common sins? Jer. 9.3. to 10. And as it should teach us lamentation, so it should teach us supplication too; even to go to God: and that in two respects. First, to implore his help and mercy for the Church: that he would be pleased to spare his people, and keep them from the infection of these vile sins; and, if it may stand with his good pleasure, to work a repentance in mens hearts that are guilty of these crimes: and withal to beseech him for our selves, to keep us, that we fall not into the hands of deceivers (for, as it is a sin to deceive, so is it a misery to be deceived,