A69028:1912
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 4 › Crucified.THE CREEDE. › Article 4 › Crucified.
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.
Our Saviour carried his Cross for divers reasons. First, that thereby he might fulfil the figures of the Old Testament: for Isaac who was a type of Christ, carried the wood for the Sacrifice, when Abraham would offer him up to God, Gen. 22. 6. Secondly, that thereby he might signify that he had taken upon him the malediction of the Law due to us, and carried it upon his own shoulders.
Our Sauiour carried his Crosse for diuers reasons. First, that thereby he might fulfill the figures of the Old Testament: for Isaack who was a type of Christ, carried the wood for the Sacrifice, when Abraham would offer him vp to God, Gen. 22. 6. Secondly, that thereby he might signifie that he had taken vpon him the malediction of the Law due to vs, and carried it vpon his owne shoulders.
About Simons carrying of the Cross divers things are thought to be signified in the story. First, that when godly men faint under the burden of their crosses, God will send some help; he will provide one Simon of Cyrene or other to help us. Secondly, that there is a spiritual fellowship and consociation between Christ and the Saints in suffering: The Martyrs carried Christs cross; their afflictions are Christs afflictions, as Paul said of his sufferings, Coloss. 1. 24. Thirdly, this Simon was a Cyrenian, a stranger to Christ, and not a Jew, and is now made to bear his Cross, and in bearing it, is first discovered to be a disciple of Christ; which might signify two things: The one that the Gentiles should have their part in Christ crucified: and the other that men are strangers to Christ, till they suffer for him: if we be at peace in the world, and are not put to bear Christs cross, we are still strangers to Christ. Some conceive that the interest of the Gentiles in the Cross of Christ was intimated by that that the Evangelist saith, Simon came from the country Evilla s••a, now Pagos was the Greek term for a village, whence came up the term of Pagans, which now noted the Gentiles.