A69028:2247
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 5 › TenetTHE CREEDE. › Article 5 › Tenet
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.
2. He appeared (in the affirmative) unto his own, even to witnesses God had chosen of purpose, Act. 10. 41. And it is a charitable tradition of some of the Ancients, that all those that saw Christ after his resurrection were godly persons indeed, as well as disciples in outward profession: and thus he appeared the very day of his resurrection five several times.
2. He appeared (in the affirmatiue) vnto his owne, euen to witnesses God had chosen of purpose, Act. 10. 41. And it is a charitable tradition of some of the Ancients, that all those that saw Christ after his resurrection were godly persons indeed, as well as disciples in outward profession: and thus he appeared the very day of his resurrection fiue seuerall times.
1. To Mary Magdalen alone, out of whom he had cast seven devils, Mark. 16. 9. Joh. 20. to show that he was a redeemer of that sex as well as of men: and that he came to save sinners, and deliver them from the tyranny of the devil, and to remove all suspicion of fraud or violence, that it might not be thought that he was lifted out of the grave by the power of men. In this apparition our Saviour would not let Mary touch him, but useth these words, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, but go to •ay brethren, &c. And this is the more strange, because he offereth himself to Thomas to touch him, Joh. 20. 17. 27. For answer of this doubt, I conceive our Saviour did not simply forbid her to touch him, but in respect of the haste of the message to the disciples: he would have her leave that ceremony, and speedily go to tell his brethren. Yea he rather encourageth her to it at another time, for in saying, I am not yet ascended, he seemeth to mean, that she might have time enough to entertain his bodily presence, he should not yet go away from them: but yet withal he intimates that after his ascension she might embrace him without stint or restraint, after that way of touching of him which was more profitable for her than this way was, viz. she might doc it by faith in a spiritual manner.