A69028:2373
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.
Hitherto of the three degrees of the exaltation of Christ: Some have thought that this Article contains a fourth degree of his glory: but I am rather of their minds that take it to be a declaration of the former, especially of his Session at the right hand of God, as showing one point of his greatness above men and Angels, that he is appointed Judge of all the world, and so of all men and Angels. Some divide these four Articles thus: One tells of what he did on earth, viz. Rose from the dead. The second tells how he went from the earth: the third tells of his estate in heaven: and the fourth of his return to the earth again.
HItherto of the three degrees of the exaltation of Christ: Some haue thought that this Article containes a fourth degree of his glory: but I am rather of their minds that take it to be a declaration of the former, especially of his Session at the right hand of God, as shewing one point of his greatnesse aboue men and Angels, that hee is appointed Iudge of all the world, and so of all men and Angels. Some diuide these foure Articles thus: One tells of what he did on earth, viz. Rose from the dead. The second tells how he went from the earth: the third tells of his estate in heauen: and the fourth of his returne to the earth againe.
There is great need of teaching and explicating of this Article, both because it is a thing so much urged in so many places both of the old and new Testament, and because it was made one of the most fundamental principles of the Apostles Catechism, Heb. 6. 2. Act. 10. 42. and especially because it is a doctrine of all others most effectual to awaken the carnal & secure hearts of men, Act. 24. 26. and if it may be to bring them to repentance, Act. 17. 31. and the more proper for us upon whom the ends of the world are come, not only because it is now at hand, but because men are in so high a degree forgetful of it, yea because there are so many scoffers against it, according as S. Peter foretold,