A69028:1741
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.
2. He made his will and last Testament, and therein he appoints a solemn assembly to be yearly and oft in the year observed in commemoration of his Passion, by all that love him to the worlds end: and further grants a general pardon of all sins, to all that shall worthily partake of that solemnity at all times till his coming again: and besides, bequeaths unto godly Christians all the merits and benefits of his Passion, and all the good things contained in Gods Covenant made with the Church in Christ, and all this is comprehended in the institution of his last Supper.
2. He made his will and last Testament, and therein he appoints a solemne assembly to bee yearely and oft in the yeare obserued in commemoration of his Passion, by all that loue him to the worlds end: and further grants a generall pardon of all sinnes, to all that shall worthily partake of that solemnitie at all times till his comming againe: and besides, bequeathes vnto godly Christians all the merits and benefits of his Passion, and all the good things contained in Gods Couenant made with the Church in Christ, and all this is comprehended in the institution of his last Supper.
3. He took his leave of his Disciples, and made an admirable speech to them, recorded in the 13. 14. 15. and 16. Chapters of John: which speech may be all referred to three heads, Prediction, Exhortation, and Promise: By way of Prediction we shall find in that speech, that he tells them before hand of the things he shall suffer, and the glory he shall have after his sufferings, and withal the glorious provision he will make for them in heaven after his Ascension, & comforteth them against his departure from them. Secondly, by way of Exhortation he earnestly persuades them by these his last words, to look to their carriage in the world after he was gone, in these points especially; namely, that they show forth the continual proof of their unfeigned and fervent love one to another, and that they arm themselves with all patience, to suffer all the indignities and troubles should befall them from the Devil, and the world: and chiefly that they abide in him, as the branch doth in the Vine, bearing good fruits to the glory and honour of his Name. Thirdly, By way of promise, he labours to fill them with comfort, by assuring to them three singular favours: First, that he would send them the Holy Ghost to be their Comforter all their days. Secondly,