A69028:2123
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.
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.
Secondly, the chief thing intended by this suffering, was the discovery of a dreadful mystery concerning the virtue of the death of Christ: for this is he that came by water and blood even Jesus Christ, that brings with him for our salvation, both the water of Sanctification to wash us from the stain of our sins, and the blood of expiation to make full atonement before God for the guilt of our sins: Not by water only, but by blood also. Moses when he delivered the people of Israel in that bodily deliverance, came by water, when he went through the Red-sea; but he brought no blood for atonement. John Baptist when he brought tidings of Spiritual deliverance, he came by water, washing men to signify repentance: but there was no blood that he could exhibit, and his water was but Symbolical, and significative. But Christ came by water and blood, which he not only poured out on the Cross, but hath left in the hearts of all believers as witnesses, not only to him, but to them also, 1 Joh. 5. 7, 8. For as there be Three in heaven that bear witness of Christ, and the happiness of Christians in him, viz. the Father, who testified by voice from heaven, Mat. 3. and the Word, who testified both by doctrine and miracles; and the Holy Ghost, who testified as at other times, so on the day of Pentecost, Act. 2. So there be Three on earth that testify, viz. the Spirit of Adoption, that witnesseth to our spirits, and the water of Mortification, which washeth away and destroyeth ⟨p. 431⟩the stain and power of sin, and the blood of Justification; for a believer relying upon the blood of Christ, as the pacification for his sins, is effectually delivered from the guilt of them. Now there would be no water to wash him from his sins, nor blood to make atonement, if Christ had not shed both water and blood upon the Cross. Now all this is testified by the Spirit also in the Gospel, and by water in Baptism, and by blood in the Lords Supper: and these also receive all their life and force from the water and blood that came out of the side of Christ on the Cross.
Now the use that we should make of this dreadful Mystery, should be to fly unto this part of the Passion of Christ, for our comfort, against the power and guilt of our sins, as believing that out of the side of Christ at this time, did run that Fountain that was opened unto the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness, Zach. 12. 1. Though our sins were never so many and loathsome, yet in this Fountain they may be clean washed away: but then withal we must strive to get this Fountain within us, (this miraculous Fountain, I say, that runs water and blood) and to show that we have indeed a part in the death of Christ, by the sound fruits of mortification, and by the solid tranquility of our conscience, believing the expiation made in the blood of Christ for us, as verily as if that blood had been really sprinkled upon our hearts.
Now the vse that we should make of this dreadfull Mystery, should be to flie vnto this part of the Passion of Christ, for our comfort, against the power and guilt of our sinnes, as beleeuing that out of the side of Christ at this time, did runne that Fountain that was opened vnto the house of Dauid, and to the inhabitants of Ierusalem, for sinne and for vncleannesse, Zach. 12. 1. Though our sinnes were neuer so many and loathsome, yet in this Fountaine they may be cleane washed away: but then withall wee must striue to get this Fountaine within vs, (this miraculous Fountaine, I say, that runnes water and bloud) and to shew that we haue indeed a part in the death of Christ, by the sound fruits of mortification, and by the solide tran quilitie of our conscience, beleeuing the expiation made in the bloud of Christ for vs, as verily as if that bloud had beene really sprinkled vpon our hearts.
Some Divines do observe another mystery in this water and blood running out of the side of Christ; for they observe, that as out of the side of the first Adam came the woman that deceived all the world; so out of the side of Christ came redemption and oblation from that deceiving.
Some Diuines doe obserue another mystery in this water and bloud running out of the side of Christ; for they obserue, that as out of the side of the first Adam came the woman that deceiued all the world; so out of the side of Christ came redemption and oblation from that deceiuing.
Thus of the piercing of Christs side after his death.
The testimony given of his glory in his death, was partly divine and partly humane.
The testimonie giuen of his glory in his death, was partly diuine and partly humane.
The divine testimonies were three, the Earthquake, the rending of the Rocks, and the opening of the Graves, Matth. 27. 51, 52.
The diuine testimonies were three, the Earthquake, the rending of the Rockes, and the opening of the Graues, Matth. 27. 51, 52.
The trembling of the earth may signify divers things, as ⟨p. 432⟩First, the immediate presence of the Divine Nature: for as the earth trembled when Christ came to give the Law on Sinai, Psal. 67. 8, 9. and as both heaven and earth shall melt, and be in a manner consumed when Christ comes to Judgement, 2 Pet. 3. 10. So now that Christ is making atonement for the sins of the Elect, and going out of the world, he makes the earth do him homage, and acknowledge his Divinity at that time, when he seemed so despised amongst men.
The trembling of the earth may signifie diuers things, as ⟨p. 432⟩First, the immediate presence of the Diuine Nature: for as the earth trembled when Christ came to giue the Law on Sinai, Psal. 67. 8, 9. and as both heauen and earth shall melt, and be in a manner consumed when Christ comes to Iudgement, 2 Pet. 3. 10. So now that Christ is making atonement for the sinnes of the Elect, and going out of the world, hee makes the earth doe him homage, and acknowledge his Diuinitie at that time, when he seemed so despised amongst men.
Secondly, the horrible indignity of the fact of the Jews in killing Christ: the senseless creatures tremble, when the Lord of life dies, and the Creator is slain by the creature; which also upbraids the stupidity of men, that cannot be moved with such an object, especially the horrible wickedness of the chief Priests and Rulers, and people of the Jews, that are not stirred with remorse for so grievous a sin.
Secondly, the horrible indignitie of the fact of the Iewes in killing Christ: the senselesse creatures tremble, when the Lord of life dies, and the Creator is slaine by the creature; which also vpbraids the stupiditie of men, that cannot be moued with such an obiect, especially the horrible wickednesse of the chiefe Priests and Rulers, and people of the Iewes, that are not stirred with remorse for so grieuous a sinne.
Thirdly, this shaking of the earth is thought to signify and foretell the shaking of the world, by the Gospel afterwards, so as all the world should be moved at the sound of the voice of Christ in the Gospel, Heb. 12. 26, 27.
Thirdly, this shaking of the earth is thought to signifie and foretell the shaking of the world, by the Gospell afterwards, so as all the world should be moued at the sound of the voice of Christ in the Gospell, Heb. 12. 26, 27.
The rending of the Rocks
The rending of the Rockes
1. Did upbraid the Jews for the hardness of their hearts, that were worse than the very Rocks: The Rocks cleave at the death of Christ, and yet their hearts are unmoved.
1. Did vpbraid the Iewes for the hardnesse of their hearts, that were worse than the very Rockes: The Rockes cleaue at the death of Christ, and yet their hearts are vnmoued.
2. It might signify the same with the Earthquake, viz. that the virtue of Christs death carried by the Gospel into the world, would be of force to tear and rent the hearts of wicked men, though they were as hard as Rocks.
2. It might signifie the same with the Earthquake, viz. that the vertue of Christs death carried by the Gospell into the world, would bee of force to teare and rent the hearts of wicked men, though they were as hard as Rockes.
The opening of the graves signified, that Christs death had vanquished Death, and that it should not have power to hold the body of the Saints in the grave long; and withal, it told the Jews aforehand, that it would be in vain for them to roll great stones upon Christs grave, for he would rise again, do they what they could. It is said that the dead bodies arose after the Resurrection of Christ, which hath ⟨p. 433⟩made some Divines think, that the graves were not opened till after the Resurrection, though Saint Matthew reckons this thing together with the rest of the Miracles that concerned Christs death.
The opening of the graues signified, that Christs death had vanquished Death, and that it should not haue power to hold the body of the Saints in the graue long; and withall, it told the Iewes aforehand, that it would be in vaine for them to roule great stones vpon Christs graue, for he would rise againe, doe they what they could. It is said that the dead bodies arose after the Resurrection of Christ, which hath ⟨p. 433⟩made some Diuines thinke, that the graues were not opened till after the Resurrection, though Saint Matthew reckons this thing together with the rest of the Miracles that concerned Christs death.
Secondly, the chiefe thing intended by this suffering, was the discouery of a dreadfull mysterie concerning the vertue of the death of Christ: for this is he that came by water and bloud euen Iesus Christ, that brings with him for our saluauation, both the water of Sanctification to wash vs from the staine of our sinnes, and the bloud of expiation to make full atonement before God for the guilt of our sinnes: Not by water only, but by bloud also. Moses when he deliuered the people of Israel in that bodily deliuerance, came by water, when he went thorow the Red-sea; but he brought no bloud for atonement. Iohn Baptist when he brought tidings of Spirituall deliuerance, he came by water, washing men to signifie repentance: but there was no bloud that he could exhibite, and his water was but Symbolicall, and significatiue. But Christ came by water and bloud, which hee not onely powred out on the Crosse, but hath left in the hearts of all beleeuers as witnesses, not only to him, but to them also, 1 Ioh. 5. 7, 8. For as there be Three in heauen that beare witnesse of Christ, and the happinesse of Christians in him, viz. the Father, who testified by voice from heauen, Mat. 3. and the Word, who testified both by doctrine and miracles; and the Holy Ghost, who testified as at other times, so on the day of Pentecost, Act. 2. So there be Three on earth that testifie, viz. the Spirit of Adoption, that witnesseth to our spirits, and the water of Mortification, which washeth away and destroyeth ⟨p. 431⟩the staine and power of sinne, and the bloud of Iustification; for a beleeuer relying vpon the bloud of Christ, as the pacification for his sinnes, is effectually deliuered from the guilt of them. Now there would be no water to wash him from his sinnes, nor bloud to make atonement, if Christ had not shed both water and bloud vpon the Crosse. Now all this is testified by the Spirit also in the Gospell, and by water in Baptisme, and by bloud in the Lords Supper: and these also receiue all their life and force from the water and bloud that came out of the side of Christ on the Crosse.
