A69028:1773
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.
1. The Titles are recorded by Saint Mark: and we shall find them given to God in three places of the new Testament: viz. in this prayer of Christs, and Rom. 8. 15. and Galat. 4. 7. The term Abba, is an Hebrew or Syriac word: and the other word Pater, is both a Greek and Latin word: Now in that Christ calling upon his Father gives him his title in divers languages, it is thought, that thereby Christ would intimate that he was the God of both Jews & Gentiles, and in as much as the time drew on in which the partition wall was to be broken down, and God was to be believed on, and called upon by both sorts of people, Christ himself first begins to treat with God in both languages. And it may well be, that being now in infinite torment he would intimate by these terms, that he suffered them both for Jews and Gentiles.
1. The Titles are recorded by Saint Marke: and wee shall finde them giuen to God in three places of the new Testament: viz. in this prayer of Christs, and Rom. 8. 15. and Galat. 4. 7. The tearme Abba, is an Hebrew or Syriacke word: and the other word Pater, is both a Greeke and Latine word: Now in that Christ calling vpon his Father giues him his title in diuers languages, it is thought, that thereby Christ would intimate that he was the God of both Iewes & Gentiles, and in as much as the time drew on in which the partition wall was to be broken downe, and God was to bee beleeued on, and called vpon by both sorts of people, Christ himselfe first beginnes to treat with God in both languages. And it may well be, that being now in infinite torment he would intimate by these tearmes, that he suffered them both for Iewes and Gentiles.
2. As for the substance of the petition, a great doubt may arise in a mans mind how this could be in Christ without sin, or contradiction to himself. He that had foretold his death, and professed so often to be willing to die, and was sent into the world for this purpose, and if he died not all the Elect were undone: how can it be that now he prays that if it be possible he may not die? I answer this objection two ways: first, that he doth not expressly pray against his death, but his words may be understood as well (as I conceive) of the Agony he was in, in his soul: and so what inconvenience can follow, if we grant that he desired of God that it might pass from him, or be quickly removed, if it were possible and might stand with Gods will: there