A69028:2130
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.
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.
Thus of the Testimony Divine.
Thus of the Testimony Diuine.
The Humane Testimony, was the Testimony of the Roman Centurion, and the Soldiers with him, who feared and glorified God, and said, Of a truth this was the Son of God: and the multitude that came to the execution, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts and returned, Matth. 27. 54. Mark. 15. 19. Luke 23. 47, 48. And this Testimony shows,
The Humane Testimony, was the Testimony of the Roman Centurion, and the Souldiers with him, who feared and glorified God, and said, Of a truth this was the Sonne of God: and the multitude that came to the execution, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts and returned, Matth. 27. 54. Mark. 15. 19. Luke 23. 47, 48. And this Testimonie shewes,
1. The marvellous senselessness of the Priests and learned men, and great men of the Jews: that these men that were Pagans, and these poor Plebeians, should be so affected with fear and wonder, and give such an honourable testimony to the innocency and Divinity of Christ, when these great Pillars of the Church are so obstinately averse, and hostily minded, it shows that they were prodigiously sinful and hard hearted; and withal it shows what a plague a hard heart is, whereso ever it is found, though in learned or great men. Though God shake the earth, tear the Rocks, open the graves, and though he make strangers to confess his glory, yet they are the same men still.
1. The maruellous senselesnesse of the Priests and learned men, and great men of the Iewes: that these men that were Pagans, and these poore Plebeians, should be so affected with feare and wonder, and giue such an honourable testimony to the innocencie and Diuinity of Christ, when these great Pillars of the Church are so obstinately auerse, and hostily minded, it shewes that they were prodigiously sinfull and hard hearted; and withall it shewes what a plague a hard heart is, whereso euer it is found, though in learned or great men. Though God shake the earth, teare the Rockes, open the graues, and though he make strangers to confesse his glory, yet they are the same men still.
2. That it is easy with Christ to defend his own credit and cause even in the hardest times: though Judas betray him, Peter deny him, and the rest of the Disciples fly from him, yet he can make a Centurion, a Soldier, a Pagan, to do the work his Disciples should have done. He can glorify himself by the mouth of Babes and Sucklings, if need be, Psal. 8. 2.
2. That it is easie with Christ to defend his owne credit and cause euen in the hardest times: though Iudas betray him, Peter deny him, and the rest of the Disciples flie from him, yet he can make a Centurion, a Souldier, a Pagan, to doe the worke his Disciples should haue done. Hee can glorifie himselfe by the mouth of Babes and Sucklings, if need be, Psal. 8. 2.
ACT. 13. 29. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and put him in a sepulchre.
ACT. 13. 29. And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they tooke him downe from the tree, and put him in a sepulchre.
That Christ was buried, is manifest by the Story of the Evangelists, and is a part of the Creed, not doubted of by any amongst us. Concerning his burial I propound these things to be considered.
THat Christ was buried, is manifest by the Storie of the Euangelists, and is a part of the Creed, not doubted of by any amongst vs. Concerning his buriall I propound these things to be considered.
