A69028:2565
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.
Thus of what the Holy Ghost is in his nature; what he is by effect or operation follows: and so we are to consider of the benefits which the holy Spirit worketh, all which serve to prove, that we may & ought to put our trust upon him. Now these benefits are either common or proper. The common benefits are such as belong either to all creatures, or to all men: The proper benefits belong only to the godly & elect.
Thus of what the Holy Ghost is in his nature; what hee is by effect or opperation followes: and so we are to consider of the benefits which the holy Spirit worketh, all which serue to proue, that we may & ought to put our trust vpō him. Now these benefits are either common or proper. The commō benefits are such as belong either to all creatures, or to all men: The proper benefits belong only to the godly & elect.
The operation of the holy Spirit common to all creatures is the making of them at the first, and the special preparing and quickening of the first matter, that it might produce the several forms of things. Thus the Holy Ghost is likened to a Fowl that sits upon her eggs till the young ⟨p. 539⟩ones be hatched, Gen. 1. 2. So did the Holy Ghost sit upon the first Chaos, till it was made apt for the several forms of all things. And it was the Spirit of the Lord that garnished the heavens, Job 26. 13. and so it is the work of the holy Ghost to give life to all the creatures still in their several kinds, for the preservation of the sorts of things. Thus God sendeth his Spirit still, and they are created, Psal. 104. 30.
The operation of the holy Spirit common to all creatures is the making of them at the first, and the speciall preparing and quickning of the first matter, that it might produce the seuerall formes of things. Thus the Holy Ghost is likened to a Fowle that sits vpon her egges till the young