A69028:107
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
THE CREED. › Article 1 › I Believe.THE CREEDE. › Article 1 › I Beleeue.
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. We must believe with application. It is not enough to believe, that these doctrines are true, or good, but we must believe that they belong to each of us in particular, or else we shall have little profit or comfort by them. What can it comfort us to believe that these things are, or that others shall have the benefit of them, if they belong not to us? Thus I must believe that I have the benefit of Gods power or providence, and of Christs Incarnation and Passion, and exaltation, and that I am a member of the Church, and have my part in his privileges. This is a main thing to be attained; for a reprobate may go so far, to believe that these doctrines are true.
5. We must beleeue with application. It is not inough to beleeue, that these doctrines are true, or good, but wee must beleeue that they belong to each of vs in particular, or else we shall haue little profit or comfort by them. What can it comfort vs to beleeue that these things are, or that others shall haue the benefit of them, if they belong not to vs? Thus I must beleeue that I haue the benefit of Gods power or prouidence, and of Christs Incarnation and Passion, and exaltation, and that I am a member of the Church, and haue my parte in his priuiledges. This is a maine thing to be attained; for a reprobate may goe so farre, to beleeue that these doctrines are true.
6. We must believe with all Christian simplicity: which should have two things in it: first, we must cast away all trust in our own merits: It is a compounded and corrupted faith that believes any of these things upon the persuasion of his own merits or deserts: To believe aright, and merit cannot stand together: true faith casteth out merit. For, if they which are of the law inherit any of these treasures, then faith is void, and the promise and gift of Gods grace of none effect, Rom. 4. 14. secondly, we must believe so, as we will give glory to God, though the things to be believed, be never so unlikely to carnal reason, or be things absent, and not yet given, or things above our understanding in the full glory of them, our faith must not be curious or unquiet, to bind God to give us a reason of his promises or actions. Herein we must take heed, that the Serpent beguile us not, nor seduce us from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus,