A69028:2616
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.
1. Now that they are near the kingdom of God by these effects of the Holy Ghost in them, they should be careful to go on, and never rest till they attain to sound conversion and true saving grace; and that they will do, if they humble themselves before God for every known sin, especially those sins that have been most loved of them, or most rooted in nature: and secondly, if they will be at the pains to use all good means to get the particular assurance of Gods love to them, for these two things were never found in any of those that so fall away.
1. Now that they are neere the kingdome of God by these effects of the Holy Ghost in them, they should be carefull to goe on, and neuer rest till they attaine to sound conuersion and true sauing grace; and that they will doe, if they humble themselues before God for euery knowne sinne, especially those sins that haue beene most loued of them, or most rooted in nature: and secondly, if they will be at the paines to vse all good meanes to get the particular assurance of Gods loue to them, for these two things were neuer found in any of those that so fall away.
2. My next counsel is, that they take heed of those special sins that were in such as at length grew faulty in this unpardonable sin; that when they feel any of them in themselves, they make haste to get out, lest they prove forerunners of the sin against the Holy Ghost, such as were in the Pharisees and others; these or the like, the forsaking of that means by which that enlightening was wrought, as the Pharisees did the ministry of John Baptist. Secondly, the constant affectation of the praise of men, more ••an the praise of God. Thirdly, habitual alienation of […] heart from God and goodness. Fourthly, wilful evil practises without temptations. Fifthly, constant envy at the gifts and praises of the godly. Sixthly, wilful misinterpretation of all that godly men do, even their best works; especially if they be gone so far as to ⟨p. 550⟩feel themselves to be tempted to fall into a course of open opposing and persecuting of good men and good causes, if it be possible let them break off, and by speedy repentance prevent the horrible mischiefs they may fall into, lest from these oppositions, and the custom in them, they fall into malice, and despiting of the work of grace.