A69028:114
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.
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. and that we keepe it there cleane from the mixtures of mens deuises: being curious in the businesses of our faith, to let in no priuate interpretations, but to resolue to beleeue onely as Gods word doth bid vs beleeue: we must take heede, and not admit carelesly any interpretations of the Articles of our faith, that any sort of men will bring to vs, but we must still haue an eye to Gods word, to see all expounded by the word, 2 Pet. 1. 20. 19. 16. we must receiue nothing here, no not in the least part of the apparrelling of these truths, which is not agreeable to some patterne in the booke of God.
Lastly, we must believe these Articles, but not all with one kind of faith: for some of these things we believe in; that is, place our trust and confidence, and all hope of happiness ⟨p. 24⟩