A69028:1626
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.
In the birth of Christ God was manifested in the flesh, 1. Tim. 3. 16. manifested I say three ways: as he was before three ways hid; first, from out of the bosom of his Father in whom he was covered: secondly, from under the shadows of the Law in which he was prefigured: thirdly, from the womb of his Mother in which he was formed.
In the birth of Christ God was manifested in the flesh, 1. Tim. 3. 16. manifested I say three waies: as he was before three waies hid; first, from out of the bosome of his Father in whom he was couered: secondly, from vnder the shadowes of the Law in which he was prefigured: thirdly, from the wombe of his Mother in which he was formed.
The effects of the Nativity of Christ were divers: for first, in respect of God himself, the effect was his glory, Luke 2. 14. The glory I say of his truth, wisdom, goodness, and Justice: secondly, in respect of godly men, the effect is, their Salvation, because he was borne to be a Prophet, Priest, and King, even to effect all things that might tend to their Salvation, Acts 4. 12. and in particular, peace was a special effect of his Manifestation in the flesh, Luke 2. 14. Peace I say above us with God, Peace within, with our own consciences, and peace about us with men and neighbours, and peace below us in respect of Satan and Hell, because we are delivered from their power and fury. What shall I say, he was borne into natural life, that we might be borne again into eternal life: thirdly, in respect of the wicked, the effect of his Birth was their Judgement: for he was borne for the falling of many in Israel, Luke 2. 34. and this is the condemnation of the world, that light is come into the world, and the world comprehended it not,