A69028:186
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.
As the doctrine of faith is exceeding comfortable unto the 1true believer: so it imports extreme terror and misery unto all such as are destitute of true faith: for the unbeliever is no Christian; for the Christians were called believers, to show that then a man was a true Christian, when he was a true believer: By the right belief of these Articles men hold their Christendom. Besides, till faith come into a mans heart he is shut up under the arrests of the Law, and lieth in a spiritual prison, charged with all the breaches of Gods Law, which are debts impossible for him to pay, Gal. 3. 22. And further without Faith it is impossible he should please God, and all he doth is sin, Heb. 11. 6. but which is most grievous, this unbelief will be his eternal destruction: for this is the condemnation of worlds of men, that they believe not in the light, but love darkness rather then light, John 3. 16. 17. 18. Mark 16.
As the doctrine of faith is exceeding comfortable vnto the 1true beleeuer: so it imports extreame terror and miserie vnto all such as are destitute of true faith: for the vnbeleeuer is no Christian; for the Christians were called beleeuers, to shew that then a man was a true Christian, when he was a true beleeuer: By the right beliefe of these Articles men hold their Christendome. Besides, till faith come into a mans heart hee is shut vp vnder the arrests of the Lawe, and lyeth in a spirituall prison, charged with all the breaches of Gods Law, which are debts impossible for him to pay, Gal. 3. 22. And further without Faith it is impossible he should please God, and all he doth is sinne, Heb. 11. 6. but which is most grieuous, this vnbeliefe will be his eternall destruction: for this is the condemnation of worlds of men, that they beleeue not in the light, but loue darknesse rather then light,