A69028:113
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.
for, if he get a sound Faith it will keep, and besides, he believes with perseverance, that doth resolve for ever to rest in that Faith, simply for the evidence, worth, and use of the doctrine believed, for he that hath but a temporary faith, as he doth receive doctrine, but for certain advantages, or carnal ends, so can he not get his heart at that very time, to a resolution to cleave eternally to that doctrine of Gods grace.
for, if he get a sound Faith it will keepe, and besides, he beleeues with perseuerance, that doth resolue for euer to rest in that Faith, simply for the euidence, worth, and vse of the doctrine beleeued, for he that hath but a temporary faith, as he doth receiue doctrine, but for certaine aduantages, or carnall ends, so can he not get his heart at that very time, to a resolution to cleaue eternally to that doctrine of Gods grace.
9. It is not yet enough to resolve to keep the faith, and to preserve the doctrine, but we must look to it, that we lay it up in a clean place, which is a pure Conscience, 1 Tim. 3. 9. and that we keep it there clean from the mixtures of mens devises: being curious in the businesses of our faith, to let in no private interpretations, but to resolve to believe only as Gods word doth bid us believe: we must take heed, and not admit carelessly any interpretations of the Articles of our faith, that any sort of men will bring to us, but we must still have an eye to Gods word, to see all expounded by the word, 2 Pet. 1. 20. 19. 16. we must receive nothing here, no not in the least part of the apparelling of these truths, which is not agreeable to some pattern in the book of God.
9. It is not yet innough to resolue to keepe the faith, and to preserue the doctrine, but we must looke to it, that we lay it vp in a cleane place, which is a pure Conscience, 1 Tim. 3. 9