A69028:169
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 1 › I Believe.THE CREEDE. › Article 1 › I Beleeue.
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.
3. That it is given to all the Elect at one time or other: It is not given only to Abraham or David or the like Eminent men: but is common to all sorts of true Christians, Tit. 1. 4.
3. That it is giuen to all the Elect at one time or other: It is not giuen onely to Abraham or Dauid or the like Eminent men: but is common to all sorts of true Christians, Tit. 1. 4.
4. That it is a most precious gift: A gift which doth wonderfully enrich a Christian, and exalt him above all other men that have not Faith: as Reason makes us to excel beasts, so doth Faith make us excel men. And this will the more manifestly appear, if we consider the singular effects of Faith.
4. That it is a most precious gift: A gift which doth wonderfully enrich a Christian, and exalt him aboue all other men that haue not Faith: as Reason makes vs to excell beasts, so doth Faith make vs excell men. And this will the more manifestly appeare, if wee consider the singular effects of Faith.
The effects wrought by Faith have bin either extraordinary in some men, or ordinary in every true believer. It hath done extraordinary things in some men: as it hath carried some men to Heaven alive without dying: as Enoch & Elijah, Heb. 11. 5. Some men that had it could have removed mountains, and did miraculously heal diseases, and raise dead men: but because these effects are ceased, I pass from them, and consider only of the ordinary effects such as are wrought by it in every believer: and these I call ordinary effects, not to abase their singular glory but to distinguish them from the former effects.