A69028:1980
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.
5. We should hence learn to pity poor Christians that are afflicted in conscience: no torments of the body are like the trouble of the conscience, which our Saviour shows here in his own case. And withal we may hence learn to judge charitably of such as say they are damned or forsaken of God, for we see it may be found in Gods dear children: though it be true that in some men these ⟨p. 398⟩words are the fruits of hellish despair.
5. We should hence learne to pitie poore Christians that are afflicted in conscience: no torments of the body are like the trouble of the conscience, which our Sauiour shewes here in his owne case. And withall we may hence learne to iudge charitably of such as say they are damned or forsaken of God, for we see it may be found in Gods deare children: though it be true that in some men these ⟨p. 398⟩words are the fruits of hellish despaire.
Lastly, note in the words of Christ, that he expresseth his faith in the middest of his conflict: My God, my God, are words of hope, as why hast thou forsaken me, are words of fear. Whence we should learn to esteem assurance, and to make use of it, as the only thing will be left to us to hold by, if great extremities come upon us. To know that God is our God, if the chief support of our spiritual life.
Lastly, note in the words of Christ, that he expresseth his faith in the middest of his conflict: My God, my God, are words of hope, as why hast thou forsaken me, are words of feare. Whence we should learne to esteeme assurance, and to make vse of it, as the only thing will be left to vs to hold by, if great extremities come vpon vs. To know that God is our God, if the chiefe support of our spirituall life.