A69028:2381
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.
4. It is a general and universal judgement, 2 Cor. 5. 10. all must appear both quick and dead, as will be more distinctly showed afterwards. God hath his particular judgement upon man in this world, both in life, judging both the righteous and the wicked every day, Psal. 7. 12. and in death, when he passeth a particular sentence upon every man: but this is judgement of all men together.
4. It is a generall and vniuersall iudgement, 2 Cor. 5. 10. all must appeare both quicke and dead, as will be more distinctly shewed afterwards. God hath his particular iudgement vpon man in this world, both in life, iudging both the righteous and the wicked euery day, Psal. 7. 12. and in death, when he passeth a particular sentence vpon euery man: but this is iudgement of all men together.
5. It is an open and manifest judgement, where all things shall be brought to light, even the secret and hidden things of all men, even the hidden things of darkness. God hath his secret judgements upon wicked men in this world, when he consumes them like a moth, Isaiah 51. 8. and plagues them in their souls or bodies, or states, in the things the world observes not. But at this day of judgement all shall be done and opened before all men and Angels. Which serves for exceeding terror to impenitent sinners. Is it such a shame to do penance before one particular congregation for one fault, when the punishment is inflicted for their amendment, and it may be men will pray for them & forgive them? What will the horror be then, when they must be shamed before all men and Angels for all their sins, and this judgement must be for their confusion, and no eye shall pity them. And so it serves for the singular comfort of the godly: if it be a comfort to be praised, and cleared of aspersions before a great assembly on earth, as say it were at the meeting of Parliament, and done by the mouth of a King, with the applause of all the hearers: What shall their everlasting comfort be, when at that day by the voice of Christ himself, they shall be praised for all the good they have done, and cleared from all aspersions, censures, suspicions and wrong judgements on earth, before all the world of men and Angels?