A69028:2032
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. It is a sign of true grace, to have from the heart an honourable opinion of Gods servants, though they be extremely disgraced, and slandered, and reviled; as in the Thief here, to believe Christ did nothing amiss, though almost all the world accused him, and put him to death as a malefactor.
1. It is a signe of true grace, to haue from the heart an honourable opinion of Gods seruants, though they be extremely disgraced, and slandered, and reuiled; as in the Theefe here, to beleeue Christ did nothing amisse, though almost all the world accused him, and put him to death as a malefactor.
2. That in Religion it is not enough to be free from gross sins, but we must be free from the sins of indiscretion and rashness: Nor is it enough to do good duties, but we must do all things wisely, and in their place: so the word in the original imports.
2. That in Religion it is not enough to be free from grosse sinnes, but we must be free from the sinnes of indiscretion and rashnesse: Nor is it enough to doe good duties, but we must doe all things wisely, and in their place: so the word in the originall imports.
About his prayer we are to observe, both what he said, and what our Saviour answered. His words were these, Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, vers. 42. ⟨p. 409⟩In which words of his prayer, I note, the wonder of his faith, the truth of his devotion, and the humility of his Petition. His faith was to be wondered at, both for the things believed, and the circumstances of believing. For the things believed, he here saith four great things of Christ: First, that he was Lord and King. Secondly, that his Kingdom was spiritual, and not of this world. Thirdly, that in that very abasement he was possessed of a Kingdom; he saith not, When thou shalt come to reign, but, when thou comest reigning. Fourthly, that he had power to let in all penitent sinners into that Kingdom. The circumstances make it more wonderful; that he should confess all this, and yet have no Preacher to instruct him, and Christ himself so much abased, and being a man that had not seen his former Miracles, that he should say thus, at this time, when the cutting of the sick was ceased, and the giving sight to the blind, and the raising of the dead; and that he should thus acknowledge these glories in Christ, when the great Rabbis, the Priests and Scribes blasphemed him, and could not acknowledge him for the Messiah. The truth of his devotion appears in this, that he asks not temporal but eternal life: He is more careful to pray for the salvation of his soul, than for the deliverance of his body. The humility of his petition appears in this, that he asks not for a great place in heaven, or to sit at his right hand, or his left (as the sons of Zebedee did) nor to be preferred before others, nor at all to prescribe unto Christ, but only desires to be remembered of him, for any place in heaven.