A69028:126
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.
4. That all this profession is undertaken for carnal and corrupt ends: as either to get credit with religious persons, or to avoid the penal Laws of Princes, or to cover some vices they are prone to, or guilty of, or to advantage their estates in worldly things, or out of desire to excel others in gifts or the like.
4. That all this profession is vndertaken for carnall and corrupt ends: as either to get credit with religious persons, or to auoid the penall Lawes of Princes, or to couer some vices they are prone to, or guilty of, or to aduantage their estates in worldly things, or out of desire to excell others in gifts or the like.
5. That the joy which they feel is but a false joy and unsound: which appears both by the causes of it, and by the effects. By the causes, for they joy in hearing the Word for these or the like reasons: because the doctrine is new, or because it is handled with unexpected learning or wit, or because it fits their humours or affections, or because it is doctrine that is generally comfortable, and sets out the happiness of such as are of their Religion, or because the things spoken of ⟨p. 27⟩are admirable in themselves, or because the doctrine makes against such and such as he likes not. And such as are the causes, such are the effects. For this joy makes them more proud, and careless, and conceited, and contemptuous many times of others. Whereas the true joy ariseth from the solid application of the things heard to himself, and from the persuasion of his right unto these comforts by and through Jesus Christ. And withal this joy doth soften the heart, as the dew from Heaven doth the ground, and makes the true Christian more humble and mortified, and more desirous to be rid of sin, and more to love God, and goodness, and godly men.
5. That the ioy which they feele is but a false ioy and vnsound: which appeares both by the causes of it, and by the effects. By the causes, for they ioy in hearing the Word for these or the like reasons: because the doctrine is new, or because it is handled with vnexpected learning or wit, or because it fits their humors or affections, or because it is doctrine that is generally comfortable, and sets out the happinesse of such as are of their Religion, or because the things spoken of