A69028:1643
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 4 › TenetTHE CREEDE. › Article 4 › Tenet
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.
And thus of the Coherence.
Yet before I come to the explication of the Doctrine of the Passion, a question may be moved concerning something that is wanting in the words of the Creed, and that is about the active obedience of Christ: for here is mention only made of his Passion: now did Christ do nothing worthy our faith but only suffer? Or if he did, why doth not the Creed take notice of it? For answer hereunto, we must know, that besides the suffering of the punishment of our sins threatened by the Law, our Saviour did also absolutely fulfil the whole Law of God, by an exact and universal obedience: which was necessary for him to do for divers reasons. For first his holiness of Nature and life made his sufferings the more acceptable and meritorious, the lamb is not a meet sacrifice if it be not unspotted, 1 Pet. 1. 18. 19. nor the Priest fit to offer, if he be not holy and separate from sinners. Secondly, he thereby leaves us a pattern that we should follow his virtue, & strive to learn of him to obey the Law. Thirdly and chiefly, that he might bring in a righteousness that was able to justify us, that had no righteousness of out own: for by the obedience of that one Man many are justified, Rom. 5. 19. and he was the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth, Rom. 10. 4.
Yet before I come to the explication of the Doctrine of the Passion, a question may be moued concerning something that is wanting in the words of the Creed, and that is about the actiue obedience of Christ: for here is mention onely made of his Passion: now did Christ doe nothing worthy our faith but onely suffer? Or if hee did, why doth not the Creed take notice of it? For answer hereunto, we must know, that besides the suffering of the punishment of our sinnes threatned by the Law, our Sauiour did also absolutely fulfill the whole Law of God, by an exact and vniuersal obedience: which was necessary for him to doe for diuers reasons. For first his holinesse of Nature and life made his sufferings the more acceptable and meritorious, the lambe is not a meet sacrifice if it be not vnspotted,