A69028:2127
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.
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.