A69028:296
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
THE CREED. › Article 1 › I Believe in God.THE CREEDE. › Article 1 › I Beleeue in God.
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.
Now that knowledge that is to be had of God, may be gathered three ways: by Negation, Eminency, or Causation: By Negation, when we deny unto God whatsoever is of imperfection in the Creature: and so we deny death, measure, Mutation, &c. and say that God is Immortal immense immutable, &c. By eminency when we give unto God in the highest degree, what we find to be good in the creature, and so we say, he is most holy, most wise, most just, &c. By Causation we ⟨p. 51⟩may find out God by reasoning from the things he hath done.
Now that knowledge that is to be had of God, may be gathered three waies: by Negation, Eminencie, or Causation: By Negation, when wee denie vnto God whatsoeuer is of imperfection in the Creature: and so wee denie death, measure, Mutation, &c. and say that God is Immortall immense immutable, &c. By eminencie when we giue vnto God in the highest degree, what we finde to bee good in the creature, and so wee say, he is most holy, most wise, most iust, &c. By Causation we ⟨p. 51⟩may finde out God by reasoning from the things hee hath done.
The last thing to be considered of, is the Rules to be observed by us for the attaining of the knowledge of God: for All means will be ineffectual to us, if we be not rightly prepared and disposed: we need a Religious mind in all knowledges that concern our happiness, but especially when any thing is spoken or thought concerning God: because all words are insufficient to tell us easily and fully what God is: Commandment 3.
The last thing to be considered of, is the Rules to be obserued by vs for the attaining of the knowledge of God: for All meanes will be ineffectuall to vs, if we be not rightly prepared and disposed: we neede a Religious minde in all knowledges that concerne our happinesse, but especially when any thing is spoken or thought concerning God: because all words are insufficient to tell vs easily and fully what God is: Commandement 3.