A69028:108
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.
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, 2. Cor. 11. 3. Yea this is the glory and triumph of faith, in these things without doubting to give glory to God. Our faith must be the substance of things hoped for, and the demonstration of things not seen. We must believe eternal life, though we must die; and a blessed resurrection, though we shall be rotten in the grave; and that we are Justified, though sin yet dwell in us; and that we are blessed, though yet exposed to much miseries, &c.
6. We must beleeue with all Christian simplicity: which should haue two things in it: first, wee must cast away all trust in our owne merits: It is a compounded and corrupted faith that beleeues any of these things vpon the perswasion of his owne merits or deserts: To beleeue 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 beleeue so, as we will giue glory to God, though the things to bee beleeued, bee neuer so vnlikely to carnall reason, or be things absent, and not yet giuen, or things aboue our vnderstanding in the full glory of them, our faith must not bee curious or vnquiet, to binde God to giue vs a reason of his promises or actions. Herein we must take heede, that the Serpent beguile vs not, nor seduce vs from the simplicity that is in Christ Iesus,