A69028:1213
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
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.
Thirdly, there is matter to humble us from the very consideration of the Beasts: for first, in many things the very beasts excel man, as the Horse and the Elephant do in strength, Job 39. & 40. and in skill, some of the vilest of them go beyond man: I will instance only in the Spider, no man can build so curiously, nor woman weave so small a thread as the Spider doth: and experience showeth, that in senses divers creatures do excel man. Secondly, the more sorts of creatures there are, the greater is Gods Army to fight against us, if we provoke him, and he can do strange things by weak instruments, he conquered a mighty Prince, even by Frogs, Locusts, and Vermin: and to show his power, God hath given such a dominion and Empire to the very small Vermin, as Lice, Worms, Gnats, that they inevitably assault not only the poor but ⟨p. 193⟩the rich, yea, the Kings of the earth are subject to their assaults; which hath a secret demonstration in it of Gods power and Justice.
Thirdly, there is matter to humble vs from the very consideration of the Beasts: for first, in many things the very beasts excell man, as the Horse and the Elephant doe in strength, Iob 39. & 40. and in skill, some of the vilest of them goe beyond man: I will instance onely in the Spider, no man can build so curiously, nor woman weaue so small a threed as the Spider doth: and experience sheweth, that in senses diuers creatures do excell man. Secondly, the more sorts of creatures there are, the greater is Gods Army to fight against vs, if wee prouoke him, and he can doe strange things by weake instruments, he conquered a mighty Prince, euen by Frogs, Locusts, and Vermine: and to shew his power, God hath giuen such a dominion and Empire to the very small Vermine, as Lice, Wormes, Gnats, that they ineuitably assault not onely the poore but ⟨p. 193⟩the rich, yea, the Kings of the earth are subiect to their assaults; which hath a secret demonstration in it of Gods power and Iustice.