A69028:2491
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.
From the answer of the godly, we may gather something of defect, and something of praise. The defect seems to be, that they do not sufficiently inform themselves of the dearness of relation between them and Christ, and the great account that Christ makes of their works. As we must not be just over-much, to think better of our selves than there is cause, so we must not be wicked over-much, in denying Gods grace, or attributing more sin to our selves than is true. Their great praise imported in these words is, that they forget the good they have done, being more prone to see and acknowledge their unworthiness, whereas wicked men can remember the good they have done, but forget their sins.
From the answer of the godly, we may gather something of defect, and something of praise. The defect seemes to be, that they doe not sufficiently informe themselues of the dearenesse of relation betweene them and Christ, and the great account that Christ makes of their workes. As we must not be iust ouer-much, to think better of our selues than there is cause, so we must not be wicked ouer-much, in denying Gods grace, or attributing more sinne to our selues than is true. Their great praise imported in these words is, that they forget the good they haue done, being more prone to see and acknowledge their vnworthinesse, whereas wicked men can remember the good they haue done, but forget their sinnes.
From the Reply of Christ we may observe, the near conjunction between Christ and Christians: He reckons of them as of himself, and is affected with all that befalls them, as if it did befall himself: He is not ashamed to call them brethren; yea he reckons poor Christians as a part of himself, though they be despised in the world, yet he loves them, as he loves himself, they are precious in his eyes: calling them brethren, he vouchsafeth them incredible honour, which should greatly stir us up to charity; and if at ⟨p. 527⟩any time we are dull, set Christ before our eyes, and think what a Sacrilege it is to deny relief to Christ.