A69028:1998
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.
Thus of the first testimony given to our Saviour upon the Cross.
Thus of the first testimonie giuen to our Sauiour vpon the Crosse.
The second testimony was given by the darkness that fell out from the sixth hour to the ninth. About this darkness two things are to be inquired after: First, the manner of it, and then what it might signify.
The second testimonie was giuen by the darknesse that fell out from the sixth houre to the ninth. About this darknesse two things are to be inquired after: First, the manner of it, and then what it might signifie.
For the manner of it: It was without question miraculous: for first it falling out at the time of the Passover, which was the fifteenth day of the Moon, the Moon was then at the full, whereas the Sun is never eclipsed in the course of Nature but in the new Moon: and besides Saint Luke seems to import that there was a darkness brought upon the whole earth, besides the darkening of the Sun, Luke 23. 44, 45. And whereas Saint Luke saith, it was over all the earth, Interpreters are divided in opinion about the meaning of all the earth. Some think it was but over all the land, viz. of Judea: other think it was over all the world. About this latter opinion, something seems to make for it, and something makes against it: for it seems to be the testimony of Dionysius the Areopagite, who is said to see it in Egypt; and of the Philosopher at Athens, that seeing it should say, Now either the world is perishing, or the God of Nature suffers: and of Orosius, that said it was at Rome, and joined with great trembling of the Earth; and of Eusebius, who saith it was in Bithynia. Against it seems to be manifest reason: for with the Antipodes it was at that hour midnight: and it could not be at the sixth hour in all places. It is very likely it was chiefly in Judea, but yet so as in the neighbouring Countries it might be observed, and a part of the darkness might extend thither.