A69028:1646
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.
Now for the reasons why this Article of Christs active obedience was not mentioned in the Creed, I cannot well tell what they were, unless it were for brevities sake, or because it is implied in his passive obedience: for it is true that we must not divide his active and passive obedience the one from the other, because as they meet both in one Saviour, so they are both jointly imputed to us, to make up that one work of our Justification.
Now for the reasons why this Article of Christs actiue obedience was not mentioned in the Creed, I cannot well tell what they were, vnlesse it were for breuities sake, or because it is implied in his passiue obedience: for it is true that we must not diuide his actiue and passiue obedience the one from the other, because as they meet both in one Sauiour, so they are both ioyntly imputed to vs, to make vp that one worke of our Iustification.
It remains now that I enter upon the explication of the sufferings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and so there be Six things of great weight and profit to be distinctly considered of: 1. Who suffered. 2. From whom he suffered. 3. For whom he suffered. 4. Why it was needful he should suffer. 5. What he suffered. 6. How he suffered.
It remaines now that I enter vpon the explication of the sufferings of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, and so there be Six things of great weight and profit to be distinctly considered of: 1. Who suffered. 2. From whom he suffered. 3. For whom he suffered. 4. Why it was needfull he should suffer. 5. What he suffered. 6. How he suffered.
For the first, he that suffered is described in the words next before in the Creed, it was Jesus Christ, the only Son of God our Lord, who was so wonderfully conceived and borne. For the understanding whereof, we must conceive that the Passion of Christ belongs to his Person, and so is attributed in respect of the Person to both Natures, for though in his divine Nature he cannot suffer, because he is Immutable,