A69028:1694
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.
Now the contemplation of the Miseries our blessed Saviour suffered, which were positively inflicted upon him, may be divided into these parts: viz.
Now the contemplation of the Miseries our blessed Sauiour suffered, which were positiuely inflicted vpon him, may bee diuided into these parts: viz.
1. The Humiliation of his Incarnation. 2. His abasement from his Birth to his Baptism. 3. His sufferings from his Baptism to his last Supper. 4. His Arraignment. 5. The miseries he endured after his arraignment, which are comprehended in the words of the Creed, Crucified, dead, &c.
1. The Humiliation of his Incarnation. 2. His abasement from his Birth to his Baptisme. 3. His sufferings from his Baptisme to his last Supper. 4. His Araignment. 5. The miseries he endured after his araignment, which are comprehended in the words of the Creed, Crucified, dead, &c.
First for the Humility of his Incarnation. He did not only take the Nature of Man, but he took upon him the form of a servant, and was borne in a most mean and contemptible condition, of a poor Mother, not allowed the common entertainment of an lnne, but thrust out to be borne in a stable amongst the beasts, and laid in a very manger, not looked after or regarded, either by his own or by strangers, Phil. 2. Luke 2. And thus he was abased for divers reasons: For first hereby the second Adam pays for the extreme arr• gancie of the first Adam: The second Adam is thrust down below the ordinary condition of a man, because the first Adam affected a condition above the Angels, even to be like to God himself. Secondly, he thus hides the glory of his eternal Nativity in a mean and temporary birth, that he might purchase for us an heavenly and eternal birth: Our Lord takes upon him the form of a servant, that we might enjoy the states of sons. Thirdly, he refuseth the glory of greatness and pomp of entertainment at his birth, to reach the great ones of the world, not to be proud of their births in Nature, but to seek after the heavenly new birth, as the only true glory: And the poor of the world may be comforted against the meanness of their provisions for themselves and their children, by remembering that the Saviour of the world had not so good entertainment as usually the poorest of their children have.