But least he shoulde offend the Iewes with the asperitie of the word, if hee had said that the lawe was dead, hee vsed a digression, or deflection, saying, we are dead to the law.

The subject of a passive verb is usually a patient.

the distrust with which they felt themselves to be regarded by their compatriots in America

Even the best weatherman can't tell if it's going to rain or shine a week from next Tuesday. With the stars it is different. We can always tell in advance...