A69028:154
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.
1. Solid and true joy and comfort: The true believer carrieth his heaven about him, when he carrieth his Creed in his heart. These doctrines are as a daily spring of rejoicing ⟨p. 31⟩upon all occasions: and these joys are glorious and unspeakable, 1 Pet. 1. •. Phil. 1. 25. It is otherwise with the hypocrite and unbeliever: for he through unbelief carrieth his hell about him: And for want of this Sun-shine of comfort is daily and secretly affrighted, and disquieted in himself: Yea, these very doctrines of faith many times torment his soul.
1. Solid and true ioy and comfort: The true beleeuer carrieth his heauen about him, when hee carrieth his Creed in his heart. These doctrines are as a daily spring of reioycing ⟨p. 31⟩vpon all occasions: and these ioyes are glorious and vnspeakeable, 1 Pet. 1. •. Phil. 1. 25. It is otherwise with the hypocrite and vnbeleeuer: for he through vnbeliefe carrieth his hell about him: And for want of this Sun-shine of comfort is daily and secretly afrighted, and disquieted in himselfe: Yea, these very doctrines of faith many times torment his soule.
2. A combat with the unregenerate part: If these doctrines be rightly believed, a man shall find in himself, that these truths do resist and fight against the corruptions of our own nature, even the most secret evils of our hearts, and will not rest till they have mastered the flesh wih the lusts thereof, or else they cause unspeakable sighs and groans and sorrow after God, for the presence and power of rebellious corruptions: The true faith will by no means brook the polluted and evil disposition of the heart,