A69028:5
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.
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL AND Religious Knight, Sir THOMAS POSTHVMVS HOBBY, and to the honourable and virtuous Lady, the Lady MARGARET his wife, A. B. wisheth the increase of grace here, and the fruition of glory hereafter.
TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL AND Religious Knight, Sir THOMAS POSTHVMVS HOBY, and to the honourable and vertuous Lady, the Lady MARGARET his wife, A. B. wisheth the increase of grace heere, and the fruition of glory hereafter.
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL,
RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL,
There are many ways to attain to seeming honour here upon earth; there is no way to attain to true honour, besides this of Piety and Virtue: Godliness brings the best gain, the greatest honour unto a Christian: others may be more rich, none are more honourable then they: others may be more esteemed of by the men of the world, none have more honour both with God and good men then they: as Solomon saith, The wise shall inherit glory, but fools, dishonour, though they 1be exalted: this is the inheritance of the godly, who is the only Wise man: So that I may now say with ⟨image 3⟩our Saviour, your Worships have both chosen the better part, which shall never be taken from you: I having ever observed it to have been your greatest ambitions, to be true Christians: which alone makes you more excellent then your neighbours: neither have you made choice of Religion as many Hypocrites and Time-servers do, making it a stalking horse, a footstool to the seat of preferment; making choice of Religion for nothing else but only for the advancing of themselves and compassing of their own private ends: no, your end and aim hath ever been in all your services and employments, both to advance the glory of God, as also to further the peace and welfare of this Church and Common-Wealth wherein we live, and whereof God hath made your Worship a worthy member. This emboldens me humbly to present this ensuing Treatise unto you both: which may be called the Rule of Faith, the Symbol or Badge, whereby a true Christian may be distinguished, and known from all Jews, Turks, Atheists, Papists, Heretics, counterfeiting Temporizers, and false Professors: the Doctrine of the Creed, containing in it the substance of Christian Religion, Taught by the Apostles, Embraced by the ancient Fathers, and Sealed by the blood of the Martyrs: The exposition of which Creed, so far