A69028:2110
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.
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.
4. In respect of the Sacrifices, which shadowed out his death, which were slain from the beginning of the world. Christ was slain typically in those Sacrifices, Adam or Abel offered to God.
4. In respect of the Sacrifices, which shadowed out his death, which were slaine from the beginning of the world. Christ was slaine typically in those Sacrifices, Adam or Abel offered to God.
5. In respect of his servants that were martyred. So Christ was slain when Abel was slain.
5. In respect of his seruants that were martyred. So Christ was slaine when Abel was slaine.
6. In respect of the faith of the godly: for it is the property of faith to make things to come to be present, as giving a substance or person to things hoped for, and a present demonstration of things which yet are not seen, Heb. 11. 1.
6. In respect of the faith of the godly: for it is the propertie of faith to make things to come to be present, as giuing a substance or person to things hoped for, and a present demonstrarion of things which yet are not seene, Heb. 11. 1.
7. In respect of sin, which was the cause of his death, which was committed by the Elect, and was the cause of his death. Their sin was his death, when they began to sin, death was in the pot for Christ, and so their sin was remitted them, only for the respect of that satisfaction was to be made in the sacrifice of Christ, Rom. 3. 21. to 27.
7. In respect of sinne, which was the cause of his death, which was committed by the Elect, and was the cause of his death. Their sinne was his death, when they began to sinne, death was in the pot for Christ, and so their sinne was remitted them, only for the respect of that satisfaction was to be made in the sacrifice of Christ, Rom. 3. 21. to 27.
The Use we may make of the time of Christs death, may be
The Vse wee may make of the time of Christs death, may be
1. To leave the times and seasons to God, and not to exact an account of him why he doth not do the things concern the Church in the time we desire or look after. Though the death of Christ was deferred almost 4000. years, yet we see God saith it was the due time; though perhaps a full demonstration of the reason of it do not appear to us. God is so wise and good, as we must believe that is the best time for every work which he chooseth: and therefore we should give God the glory of the time of every work of his whether concerning the Church in general, or our selves in particular: as believing that God hath done in the very day, that which was fittest ⟨p. 428⟩for the day: and so also in the things we desire, either of deliverance or blessings, we should wait till the time appointed come, and believe that all shall be done, when it is most seasonable.
1. To leaue the times and seasons to God, and not to exact an account of him why he doth not doe the things concerne the Church in the time we desire or looke after. Though the death of Christ was deferred almost 4000. yeares, yet we see God saith it was the due time; though perhaps a full demonstration of the reason of it doe not appeare to vs. God is so wise and good, as we must beleeue that is the best time for euery worke which he chuseth: and therefore we should giue God the glory of the time of euery worke of his whether concerning the Church in generall, or our selues in particular: as beleeuing that God hath done in the very day, that which was fittest ⟨p. 428⟩for the day: and so also in the things we desire, either of deliuerance or blessings, we should wait till the time appointed come, and beleeue that all shall be done, when it is most seasonable.
2. We should hence be much established about the time of our own death; God hath set the hour, and till that hour come, no disease, nor enemies shall ever be able to take away our life, and therefore we should follow our work with diligence and a holy security, and leave it to God to take us from our work, when he sees it to be the fittest time.
2. We should hence be much established about the time of our owne death; God hath set the houre, and till that houre come, no disease, nor enemies shall euer be able to take away our life, and therefore wee should follow our worke with diligence and a holy securitie, and leaue it to God to take vs from our worke, when he sees it to be the fittest time.
Thus of the time when he died.
The consequences of his death follow: and they must be considered negatively, or affirmatively.
The consequences of his death follow: and they must be considered negatiuely, or affirmatiuely.
Negatively: It is observed by the Evangelists, That not a bone of Christ was broken: which is worthy to be noted: First, because the Jews had made a request to Pilate, that the legs of those which were crucified might be broken to hasten their death, that they might not hang on their Crosses on the day of the great Sabbath, John 19. 31, 32. But notwithstanding they were prevented, for Christ was dead before they came back, to show that he died when himself would, & not when they would, & to let them have cause to guess thereby that he was more than a bare man. Secondly, because of the excellent signification of this thing: for it is said, the Scripture had said, that not a bone of him should be broken, John 19. 36. Now the Scripture had only said so of the Paschal Lamb, that not a bone thereof should be broken, Exod. 12. 46. which manifestly shows that Christ was the true Passover, the true Paschal Lamb which was sacrificed for us, 1 Cor. 5. 6. and withal it signifies that the mystical body of Christ shall be preserved. The Church may have many enemies, but yet a bone thereof shall not be broken. The flesh of the Church may be wounded, but not a bone of the Church shall be broken.
Negatiuely: It is obserued by the Euangelists, That not a bone of Christ was broken: which is worthy to be noted: First, because the Iewes had made a request to Pilate, that the leggs of those which were crucified might be broken to hasten their death, that they might not hang on their Crosses on the day of the great Sabbath, Iohn 19. 31, 32. But notwithstanding they were preuented, for Christ was dead before they came backe, to shew that he died when himselfe would, & not when they would, & to let them haue cause to guesse thereby that he was more than a bare man. Secondly, because of the excellent signification of this thing: for it is said, the Scripture had said, that not a bone of him should be broken, Iohn 19. 36. Now the Scripture had only said so of the Paschall Lambe, that not a bone thereof should be broken,
Affirmatively, the consequents of his death, both the piercing of his side with a Spear, and the testimony given of his glory in his death.
Affirmatiuely, the consequents of his death, bot the piercing of his side with a Speare, and the testimonie giuen of his glory in his death.
The side of Christ after he was dead was pierced with a Spear by one of the Soldiers, and forthwith came out water and blood, John 19. 34. and this was a business of so high a nature, that the Evangelist saith thus upon it, He that saw it bare record, and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that he might believe.
The side of Christ after he was dead was pierced with a Speare by one of the Souldiers, and forthwith came out water and bloud, Iohn 19. 34. and this was a businesse of so high a nature, that the Euangelist saith thus vpon it, He that saw it bare record, and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that he might beleeue.
Now the side of Christ was pierced, First, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which said, They shall look upon him whom they have pierced, Joh. 19. 37. Zach. 12. 10. Secondly, that great mystery of the original of the Church is here imported: As Eve was formed out of the side of Adam when he was asleep, so the Church was to be formed out of that which flowed from the side of Christ when he was dead. God opened the side of Adam when he would make the woman; and so God opened the side of Christ the second Adam, when he was to make the Christian Church. Now that place of the Prophet shows what use we should make of this part of the Passion of Christ, namely, to take occasion from thence to bewail our sins, that were the cause of his death, and to acknowledge that we were the men that are spiritually guilty of that cruelty showed unto Christ. And because our hearts by nature are barren and unapt to this godly sorrow, we must pray God to pour out upon us of his Spirit, as it is a Spirit of compassion to melt our hearts, and a Spirit of deprecation, to make us able by prayer to sue for pardon of our sins, and to beseech God to accept of the propitiation made in Christs blood, that so his wrath may not fall upon us for our sins.
Now the side of Christ was pierced, First, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which said, They shall looke vpon him whom they haue pierced, Ioh. 19. 37. Zach. 12. 10. Secondly, that great mysterie of the originall of the Church is here imported: As Eue was formed out of the side of Adam when hee was asleepe, so the Church was to bee formed out of that which flowed from the side of Christ when he was dead. God opened the side of Adam when he would make the woman; and so God opened the side of Christ the second Adam, when he was to make the Christian Church. Now that place of the Prophet shewes what vse wee should make of this part of the Passion of Christ, namely, to take occasion from thence to bewaile our sinnes, that were the cause of his death, and to acknowledge that we were the men that are spiritually guilty of that cruelty shewed vnto Christ. And because our hearts by nature are barren and vnapt to this godly sorrow, we must pray God to powre out vpon vs of his Spirit, as it is a Spirit of compassion to melt our hearts, and a Spirit of deprecation, to make vs able by prayer to sue for pardon of our sins, and to beseech God to accept of the propitiation made in Christs bloud, that so his wrath may not fall vpon vs for our sinnes.
Now the water and blood that came out of the side of Christ, was both miraculous (as is thought) and wonderfully mystical. That it was miraculous is gathered from that extraordinary notice S. John takes of it, John 19. 34. and 1 John 5. 6. wherein the miracle should lye is not easy to tell. There is a skin that encloseth the heart, called Pericardium, which holdeth water in it, that cooleth the heart of man, which is so essential to life, that if it be consumed it is impossible the creature should live. Now I take it that ⟨p. 430⟩the wonder lies in this, that whereas in death (especially such a painful death as Christs was) that water is consumed and dried up with the extreme heat of the heart striving for life, yet in Christ who died not only willingly, but also before the time he needed to die with the pain, the water was still in that bag or skin, and therefore when the spear pierced the heart both water and blood came forth.
Now the water and bloud that came out of the side of Christ, was both miraculous (as is thought) and wonderfully mysticall. That it was miraculous is gathered from that extraordinary notice S. Iohn takes of it, Iohn 19. 34. and 1 Iohn 5. 6. wherin the miracle should lye is not easie to tell. There is a skin that incloseth the heart, called Pericardium, which holdeth water in it, that cooleth the heart of man, which is so essentiall to life, that if it be consumed it is impossible the creature should liue. Now I take it that ⟨p. 430⟩the wonder lyes in this, that whereas in death (especially such a painefull death as Christs was) that water is consumed and dried vp with the extreame heat of the heart striuing for life, yet in Christ who died not only willingly, but also before the time he needed to die with the paine, the water was still in that bag or skin, and therefore when the speare pierced the heart both water and bloud came forth.
Now for the Reasons why this fell out, divers are assigned.
Now for the Reasons why this fell out, diuers are assigned.
For first hereby the truth of Christs death is infallibly proved: For no creature can live, if the heart and that Pericardium be pierced. And it concerns our salvation that Christ should die indeed, and not in appearance.
For first hereby the truth of Christs death is infallibly proued: For no creature can liue, if the heart and that Pericardium be pierced. And it concernes our saluation that Christ should die indeed, and not in appearance.
