A69028:1705
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.
4. Ignominy and extreme disgrace. And his sufferings that belong to this head were of divers kinds: As first, vile estimation and neglect, as to be reckoned but as a Carpenter, or the son of a Carpenter, Mark. 6. 3. and to be regarded of none of the Rulers, and great men, John 7. 48, 49. Secondly, the express denial of his chief glories. Thus the Jews denied his Divinity, as is recorded in divers places of the Gospel. They likewise would never acknowledge the glory of his birth of a Virgin, but still reckoned him for Josephs son. Nor would they receive him as their Saviour and King, Joh. 1. 10. and his Miracles they said he wrought by the Devil. Thirdly, unjust accusations and vile reproaches: and thus he is charged with all sorts of vices, against God, and the Magistrates, and against his own Soul. Against God he is charged with blasphemy, and seducing the people, and to be a Samaritan: Against the Magistrate he is charged with treason and sedition: and against his own Soul▪ he is charged with gluttony, and working with a Familiar, & madness, and to be a friend of Publicans and sinners: and these Indignities were the more grievous, because he suffered them from the Priests and Scribes and Pharisees, as well as from the people, they being men that profess learning and religion: and because he suffered them also from his own, even those amongst whom he was borne and bred: and because also these things wrought such an impression in the hearts of the people, that they not only disliked him, but were scandalized and offended in him, Mark. 6. 3. and some of his Disciples fell away from him, John 6. All this shame and reproach he bare for divers reasons: First, he thereby suffers the imputation of our sins; being our surety he endures it to be charged with all sorts of crimes, because though he were innocent, yet we were guilty: and that may be the reason, why he saith so little to excuse himself against these ⟨p. 324⟩aspersions. Secondly, that thereby he might deliver us from that eternal shame was due to us, and merit for us eternal honour, and glory, and praise,