A69028:1660
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.
Thirdly, did Christ suffer for us? what pattern was there ever of such leve? Consider what we were in our selves by nature: First, we were unjust, 1 Pet. 3. 18. the Just here suffers for the unjust: one will scarce die for a righteous man, but who ever was willing to die for the unrighteous, Rom. 5. 7, 8. Naboth, Zechariah the son of Jehoiada and John Baptist were just men, and yet none would die for them, and yet perhaps for some righteous man, one durst die, as it may be Jonathan durst have died for David, but yet this is without president, which here Christ doth, he suffers for the unrighteous. Secondly, we were not only unjust, but his enemies also, Rom. 5. 10. yea we were such as never sought to him for redemption, as the Scriptures and experience show.
Thirdly, did Christ suffer for vs? what patterne was there euer of such leue? Consider what we were in our selues by nature: First, we were vniust, 1 Pet. 3. 18. the Iust here suffers for the vniust: one will scarce die for a righteous man, but who euer was willing to die for the vnrighteous, Rom. 5. 7, 8. Naboath, Zacharias the sonne of Iehoiada and Iohn Baptist were iust men, and yet none would die for them, and yet perhaps for some righteous man, one durst die, as it may be Ionathan durst haue died for Dauid, but yet this is without president, which here Christ doth, he suffers for the vnrighteous. Secondly, we were not only vniust, but his enemies also, Rom. 5. 10. yea we were such as neuer sought to him for redemption, as the Scriptures and experience shew.
What hearts have we that cannot be more affected with this wonderful love of Christ! Behold here is Piety scourged for the impious mans sake: Wisdom is derided for the fools sake: Truth is denied for the liars sake: Justice is condemned for the unjust's sake: Mercy is afflicted for the cruel mans sake: Life dies for the dead mans sake, as said an ancient Father. What a suffering is this, when the Just suffers for the unjust, and with the unjust, and upon unjust causes, and under unjust Judges, and by unjust punishments.