A69028:1027
The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…
The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as it affordeth both milk for babes, and strong meat for such as are at full age / by ... Nicholas Bifield ; ... now published ... by his son, Adoniram Bifield.The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as it affordeth both milke for babes, and strong meat for such as are at full age / by ... Nicholas Bifield ; ... now published ... by his sonne, Adoniram Bifield.
London: printed by G.M. for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith, 1626
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.
5 The marvellous order and relation of the creatures in their kinds and respect one to another, in regard whereof ⟨p. 163⟩the Psalmist magnifies the wisdom of God, Psal. 136. 5. and this order is admirable if we consider the different degrees of creatures, serving one to another in their kinds: as some things God made to have being only, as the Heavens, Elements, Meteors, and Minerals. Some things have being and life also: as the herbs and trees: some things having being, life, and sense also, as the beasts & fowls: some things have being, sense, life & reason also, as men; and these degrees so connected, that the latter includes always the former, & the inferior degrees serve the higher: as the Heavens and Elements adorn & feed the Plants, the Plants feed the Beasts, the Beasts feed and serve men, and men serve God. Again the order is wonderful in the placing of these bodies so, as with unspeakable nearness, each creature fills his place so, as there is no vacuum or emptiness between; and besides, are so set, as though they be divers of them directly contrary one to another, yet are so set, as they destroy not one another, but preserve the whole Frame. I omit many other things for brevities sake.
5 The maruellous order and relation of the creatures in their kindes and respect one to another, in regard whereof ⟨p. 163⟩the Psalmist magnifies the wisdom of God, Psal. 136. 5. and this order is admirable if we consider the different degrees of creatures, seruing one to another in their kinds: as some things God made to haue being only, as the Heauens, Elements, Meteors, and Minerals. Some things haue being and life also: as the herbes and trees: some things hauing being, life, and sense also, as the beasts & fowles: some things haue being, sense, life & reason also, as men; and these degrees so connexed, that the latter includes alwaies the former, & the inferior degrees serue the higher: as the Heauens and Elements adorne & feed the Plants, the Plants feed the Beasts, the Beasts feede and serue men, and men serue God. Againe the order is wonderfull in the placing of these bodies so, as with vnspeakable neerenesse, each creature fils his place so, as there is no vacuum or emptinesse betweene; and besides, are so set, as though they be diuers of them directly contrary one to another, yet are so set, as they destroy not one another, but preserue the whole Frame. I omit many other things for breuities sake.