A69028:109
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.
7. We must believe with full assurance; we must not waver or doubt, but be fully resolved and established in the persuasion of these things and our right in them, Colos. 2. 2. 1. Thes. 1. 4. this we ought to labour for, and this may be had, and therefore we should give all diligence to get this full assurance of faith: I grant that a less degree of faith, may be true faith, as shall be showed afterwards, but yet this is that which we should strive for, that we may effectually glorify God by believing.
7. We must beleeue with full assurance; wee must not wauer or doubt, but bee fully resolued and established in the perswasion of these things and our right in them, Colos. 2. 2. 1. Thes. 1. 4. this we ought to labour for, and this may bee had, and therefore we should giue all diligence to get this full assurance of faith: I grant that a lesse degree of faith, may be true faith, as shall bee shewed afterwards, but yet this is that which we should striue for, that we may effectually glorifie God by beleeuing.
8. We must believe with perseverance: we must so give entertainment to these sacred truths, now, as that we also mean to live and die in this faith. The faith that is temporary will little avail us, we must so provide that our faith may last to the end. And therefore the word is I do believe, ⟨p. 22⟩in the present time, not I have believed, or I will believe, to note, that there must be no time wherein a Christian may truly say now I believe not. Now that we may not be deceived herein, we must look to three things. First, that we cast off all carnal ends in our profession of faith: and look to it that we take not up the profession of religion for sinister respects, as many have done, for such ends as these, to wit, to get credit, and the favour of men, or to make themselves capable of the preferment of this world, or to show their gifts; or, which is worse, to cover secret wicked practises, or open faults.