The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

The first is: the holy Ghost shall come upon thee: the other is the power of the most high shall overshadow thee: by the first form of speech is noted the wonder of the work, that it was not done, by any natural means, but extraordinarily above the course of nature, by the holy Ghost, and that it was done after a most pure and divine manner: about which a Father saith, Oh most pure conjunction without filth, where speech is the husband, and ear is the wife, meaning that she conceived upon the speech and hearing of the promise, as soon as she had given her matrimonial consent as it were: the overshadowing by the power of the most High imports, that is was not done spermatically, but operatively, and that the holy Ghost did this by a special power of working, never any such thing having bin done before: as also ⟨p. 266⟩it imports that the work was most secret and mystical, so as the Virgin being covered as with a cloud, could not her self tell how it was done: and that though God did work this with a special excellency of glory, yet his Majesty should not overcome her, but it should be as it were clouded: and lastly, that that holy thing which was to be conceived in her, and borne by her, should be protected and kept safe, as the greatest treasure God had care of, or did give unto men.

The first is: the holy Ghost shall come vpon thee: the other is the power of the most high shall ouershadow thee: by the first forme of speech is noted the wonder of the worke, that it was not done, by any naturall meanes, but extraordinarily aboue the course of nature, by the holy Ghost, and that it was done after a most pure and diuine manner: about which a Father saith, Oh most pure coniunction without filth, where speech is the husband, and eare is the wife, meaning that shee conceiued vpon the speech and hearing of the promise, assoone as shee had giuen her matrimonial consent as it were: the ouershadowing by the power of the most High imports, that is was not done spermatically, but operatiuely, and that the holy Ghost did this by a speciall power of working, neuer any such thing hauing bin donne before: as also ⟨p. 266⟩it imports that the worke was most secret and mysticall, so as the Virgin being couered as with a cloud, could not her selfe tell how it was done: and that though God did worke this with a speciall excellencie of glory, yet his Maiesty should not ouercome her, but it should be as it were clouded: and lastly, that that holy thing which was to be conceiued in her, and borne by her, should be protected and kept safe, as the greatest treasure God had care of, or did giue vnto men.