A69028:2165
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
THE CREED. › Article 4 › Buried.THE CREEDE. › Article 4 › Buried.
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 for the third point, they were disciples of Christ, but yet it was secretly for fear of the Jews. Whence we may observe the great wonder of Gods power in these men. When Christ was in prosperity, they were afraid to be seen to follow him, or to profess respect to him: Now that Christ is in extreme disgrace, and the enemies of Christ fleshed in cruelty and malice, now these fearful men prove valiant, and whatsoever comes of it, Christ shall be honoured, even, the dead body of Christ shall not be forsaken by them, Which is the more wonderful, because the best disciples of Christ were so overcome with fear, that they had all forsaken Christ. Which may serve for great use to all of ⟨p. 438⟩us. They that stand should take heed lest they fall. Those that now go for strong Christians, if evil days come, may prove faint-hearted, and by their fearfulness dishonour the Religion they profess. And on the other side, weak Christians should not be dismayed, God is able to make them to stand, Rom. 14. 4. Such as in days of prosperity were afraid of the reproach of men, may prove so full of courage in the evil day, as not to fear though the foundations of the earth be moved.
Now for the third point, they were disciples of Christ, but yet it was secretly for feare of the Iewes. Whence we may obserue the great wonder of Gods power in these men. When Christ was in prosperitie, they were afraid to be seene to follow him, or to professe respect to him: Now that Christ is in extreme disgrace, and the enemies of Christ fleshed in cruelty and malice, now these fearfull men proue valiant, and whatsoeuer comes of it, Christ shall be honoured, euen, the dead bodie of Christ shall not be forsaken by them, Which is the more wonderfull, because the best disciples of Christ were so ouercome with feare, that they had all forsaken Christ. Which may serue for great vse to all of ⟨p. 438⟩vs. They that stand should take heed lest they fall. Those that now go for strong Christians, if euill daies come, may proue faint-hearted, and by their fearefulnesse dishonour the Religion they professe. And on the other side, weake Christians should not be dismayed, God is able to make them to stand, Rom. 14. 4