A69028:1633
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.
Men hath been produced four ways: First, without either man or woman, as Adam was. 2. Without woman, as Eve was. 3. Without man, as Christ was. 4. With man and woman, as all other men were.
Men hath beene produced foure wayes: First, without either man or woman, as Adam was. 2. Without woman, as Eue was. 3. Without man, as Christ was. 4. With man and woman, as all other men were.
Christ was to the Virgin a Son and her first borne. He was called her first borne, not because she had any sons afterwards, but because he was borne first, though he were her only Sonne. Christs brethren were his Kinsmen; nor doth the term first borne import any following, for the first borne in Law were so called before they knew whether they should have a second child; and it is a godly profession of Divines in all ages, that she was a Virgin before birth, and in the birth, and after the birth: though this latter be no Article of faith or principle of Religion.
Christ was to the Virgin a Sonne and her first borne. Hee was called her first borne, not because she had any sonnes afterwards, but because he was borne first, though he were her onely Sonne. Christs brethren were his Kinsmen; nor doth the terme first borne import any following, for the first borne in Law were so called before they knew whether they should haue a second childe; and it is a godly profession of Diuines in all ages, that she was a Virgin before birth, and in the birth, and after the birth: though this latter be no Article of faith or principle of Religion.
The Bread of Life was borne in the house of bread, and the most fruit-bearing Nativity was performed in Bethlehem, Ephratah, (.i.) In a most fruitful place, and he was borne in a strange place, as he might bring us banished men into our true Country.