A69028:125
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.
3. That they are apt to fall away from the liking they have of Religion, which they may find in themselves when they are at the best, if they examine themselves in these questions. Whether for these things they would loose the favour of their carnal friends, and their credit in the world? whether they would suffer for these things if times of persecution should come? whether if they might have their hearts desire in worldly or sinful things, they would not aband on the care of these things? And they may find it by this, that if they fall out with any that are the chief for Religion in the places where they live, they meditate not only a forsaking of such as they are fallen out withal, but even a relinquishing of their forwardness or care for profession of religion it self: those that find such corruption in their hearts, had need to take heed to their standing least they fall: for though a timely reconciliation with men, restore them to their former course of profession again, yet this trial of their hearts, may tell them, that at length for such or the like occasions they will fall clean away, if they get not better footing in the Kingdom of God.
3. That they are apt to fall away from the liking they haue of Religion, which they may finde in themselues when they are at the best, if they examine themselues in these questions. Whether for these things they would loose the fauour of their carnall friends, and their credit in the world? whether they would suffer for these things if times of persecution should come? whether if they might haue their hearts desire in worldly or sinfull things, they would not aband on the care of these things? And they may finde it by this, that if they fall out with any that are the chiefe for Religion in the places where they liue, they meditate not onely a forsaking of such as they are fallen out withall, but euen a relin quishing of their forwardnesse or care for profession of religion it selfe: those that finde such corruption in their hearts, had neede to take heede to their standing least they fall: for though a timely reconciliation with men, restore them to their former course of profession againe, yet this tryall of their hearts, may tell them, that at length for such or the like occasions they will fall cleane away, if they get not better footing in the Kingdome of God.