The rule of faith, or, An exposition of the Apostles Creed so handled as…

That we may understand this the better, we must know that Christs victory over his enemies had five degrees: First, it is the ordination of it, and so he conquered from eternity. Secondly, the prediction of it, and so his conquest was a ⟨p. 487⟩foot in all the ages of the old Testament, and began at the promise in Paradise after the fall, and was plainly renewed in that place of the Psalms quoted before. Thirdly, the operation of it in his own person, and so he conquered on the Cross, and triumphed in his Ascension. Fourthly, the application of it, and so he conquereth, and hath in all ages conquered in his Members, making them able to overcome Sin, and Satan, and the World: but this is but in part, and in the beginnings of it. Fifthly, the consummation and full accomplishment of the victory, and so the Devils, and the Grave, and Death, and Sin, and the World, shall be for ever vanquished at the last day, when Christ shall appear in glory, and we be made like unto him, in an everlasting freedom from all misery. The third benefit is the daily help we have from the intercession of Christ in heaven, that perfectly remembers us, and appears before God for us, to make our persons, and prayers, and works still accepted before God, as hath been showed before. The last benefit is the sending of the holy Ghost, to be with the Church to the end of the world, in a special manner to qualify us with all needful gifts, and to be our Comforter, as hath likewise been showed before.

That we may vnderstand this the better, wee must know that Christs victory ouer his enemies had fiue degrees: First, it is the ordination of it, and so he conquered from eternity. Secondly, the prediction of it, and so his conquest was a ⟨p. 487⟩foot in all the ages of the old Testament, and began at the promise in Paradise after the fall, and was plainly renewed in that place of the Psalmes quoted before. Thirdly, the operation of it in his owne person, and so he conquered on the Crosse, and triumphed in his Ascension. Fourthly, the application of it, and so he conquereth, and hath in all ages conquered in his Members, making them able to ouercome Sinne, and Sathan, and the World: but this is but in part, and in the beginnings of it. Fiftly, the consummation and full accomplishment of the victory, and so the Deuils, and the Graue, and Death, and Sinne, and the World, shall be for euer vanquished at the last day, when Christ shall appeare in glory, and wee be made like vnto him, in an euerlasting freedome from all misery. The third benefit is the daily helpe wee haue from the intercession of Christ in heauen, that perfectly remembers vs, and appeares before God for vs, to make our persons, and praiers, and workes still accepted before God, as hath beene shewed before. The last benefit is the sending of the holy Ghost, to be with the Church to the end of the world, in a speciall manner to qualifie vs with all needfull gifts, and to be our Comforter, as hath likewise beene shewed before.