A69028:2494
A69028:2494
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.
In the Reprobation of the wicked I note divers things, as
In the Reprobation of the wicked I note diuers things, as
1. In that speaking of the Judge his title of King is left out, which was mentioned, vers. 34, 40. I gather that wicked men, even at the Tribunal, when they shall see Christ in his greatest glory, yet they cannot truly love him, or •steeme of his glory: The natural hatred of Christ will continue upon them even at that day.
1. In that speaking of the Iudge his title of King is left out, which was mentioned, vers. 34, 40. I gather that wicked men, euen at the Tribunall, when they shall see Christ in his greatest glory, yet they cannot truly loue him, or •steeme of his glory: The naturall hatred of Christ will continue vpon them euen at that day.
2. In that he saith, Depart ye from me, it shows that it is a grievous misery to be thrust out from Christ: it were an everlasting fearful punishment, if wicked men did suffer no more, but the absence of Christ for ever; to live without that Sun of Righteousness, is worse than to live without the shining of the Sun in the firmament: and herein note the justice of Christ, in that wicked men could not abide the company of Christ, and true Christians in this world, they shall now be paid in the same kind, they shall never more enjoy the presence of Christ or any one true Christian. Woe to Hypocrites at that day, though now they seem to be joined to Christ, yet let them think what it will be, when they shall be made to depart.
2. In that he saith, Depart yee from me, it shewes that it is a grieuous misery to be thrust out from Christ: it were an euerlasting fearfull punishment, if wicked men did suffer no more, but the absence of Christ for euer; to liue without that Sunne of Righteousnesse, is worse than to liue without the shining of the Sunne in the firmament: and herein note the iustice of Christ, in that wicked men could not abide the company of Christ, and true Christians in this world, they shall now be paid in the same kinde, they shall neuer more enioy the presence of Christ or any one true Christian. Woe to Hypocrites at that day, though now they seeme to be ioyned to Christ, yet let them thinke what it will be, when they shall be made to depart.
3. In that he calls them Cursed, it shows that every wicked man is a cursed creature; and withal, that to be under Gods curse is the quintessence of misery. And therefore godly men have little cause to envy the prosperity of any wicked man, nor wicked man to be so drunken with the ⟨p. 528⟩estimation of the fading glory of earthly possessions.
3. In that he calls them Cursed, it shewes that euery wicked man is a cursed creature; and withall, that to be vnder Gods curse is the quintessence of misery. And therefore godly men haue little cause to enuy the prosperitie of any wicked man, nor wicked man to be so drunken with the ⟨p. 528⟩estimation of the fading glory of earthly possessions.
4. In that he saith, Into everlasting fire, it notes the unspeakable horror of the pain of wicked men in Hell. If a man knew he must lie in a burning fire but one day, oh how would he be dismayed? Oh what senselessness hath bewitched ungodly men, that are not frighted with everlasting burnings? They are wonderfully blinded, that strive to believe, that there is only Poena Damni, not Poena Sensus, in Hell: That there is no pain in Hell, but only loss of good things, as the presence of God and Christ, &c.
4. In that he saith, Into euerlasting fire, it notes the vnspeakable horror of the paine of wicked men in Hell. If a man knew he must lie in a burning fire but one day, oh how would he be dismayed? Oh what senselesnesse hath bewitched vngodly men, that are not frighted with euerlasting burnings? They are wonderfully blinded, that striue to beleeue, that there is only Poena Damni, not Poena Sensus, in Hell: That there is no paine in Hell, but only losse of good things, as the presence of God and Christ, &c.
5. In that he saith, Prepared for the Devil and his Angels, we observe,
5. In that he saith, Prepared for the Deuill and his Angels, we obserue,
1. That God never purposed to show mercy to the Devils.
1. That God neuer purposed to shew mercy to the Deuills.
2. That there is one Devil is chief, and hath power over the rest.
2. That there is one Deuill is chiefe, and hath power ouer the rest.
3. That from the beginning God intended to show mercy unto mankind, though not unto devils.
3. That from the beginning God intended to shew mercie vnto mankind, though not vnto deuils.
4. That the eternal companions of wicked men shall be devils: such as love wicked company in this life, may here see what companions they shall have in Hell.
4. That the eternall companions of wicked men shall be deuils: such as loue wicked company in this life, may here see what companions they shall haue in Hell.
From the description of the cause of the Reprobation, we may note,
1. That it is not enough to refrain from evil, but we must do good. Not bearing of fruit will be a cause of cutting down the Tree.
1. That it is not enough to refraine from euill, but we must doe good. Not bearing of fruit will be a cause of cutting downe the Tree.
2. All Religion is pretended in vain, by such as are able, and do not show mercy to the poor. It is a sin that Christ shall find only in the wicked.
2. All Religion is pretended in vaine, by such as are able, and doe not shew mercy to the poore. It is a sinne that Christ shall finde only in the wicked.
From the Apology of the wicked, we learn
From the Apologie of the wicked, we learne
1. That men may be very innocent in some things in their own sight, and yet be very guilty in the sight of God. They did think verily they never saw Christ naked, &c. and yet in his members they did.
1. That men may be very innocent in some things in their owne sight, and yet be very guiltie in the sight of God. They did thinke verily they neuer saw Christ naked, &c. and yet in his members they did.
2. That it is the property of the wicked to remember the good they do, and forget the evil: they can remember their prophesying, working of miracles, and eating and drinking with Christ, Matth. 7. 22. but forget all their ⟨p. 529⟩sins of unmercifulness, and the like: No ma rule if they justify themselves before men, that shall dare to do it before Christ himself.
2. That it is the propertie of the wicked to remember the good they doe, and forget the euill: they can remember their prophecying, working of miracles, and eating and drinking with Christ, Matth. 7. 22. but forget all their ⟨p. 529⟩sinnes of vnmercifulnesse, and the like: No ma ruell if they iustifie themselues before men, that shall dare to doe it before Christ himselfe.