A69028:541
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.
2. Look upon godly men, that otherwise are Gods people, yet when God is angry with them, for a season for their sins, in what grievous case have they bin in: David said his meat was ashes, and he mingled his tears with his drink because of the indignation of the Lord, Psal. 9. 10. and if judgement begin at the house of God, & be so sharp, where shall the sinners and wicked appear, when the righteous do not escape? 1. Pet. 4. 18. read but the Book of Lamentations, and you shall find that the Church had searched all the world over to find out fearful and grievous things, to shadow out their sorrows and distresses.
2. Looke vpon godly men, that otherwise are Gods people, yet when God is angry with them, for a season for their sins, in what grieuous case haue they bin in: Dauid said his meate was ashes, and hee mingled his teares with his drinke because of the indignation of the Lord, Psal. 9. 10. and if iudgement begin at the house of God, & be so sharpe, where shall the sinners and wicked appeare, when the righteous doe not escape? 1. Pet. 4. 18. reade but the Booke of Lamentations, and you shall finde that the Church had searched all the world ouer to finde out fearefull and grieuous things, to shadow out their sorrowes and distresses.
3. Especially what heart of man can look upon Jesus Christ the Son of Gods Love, and consider his grievous Agonies when he felt the wrath of God: He was but a surety for sin, had never done any thing to offend his Father, and yet when he feels Gods wrath it makes him sweat for pain, yea he sweats blood: Oh can it be that men should be so overcome with spiritual dotage, as to think Gods Justice may be more easy towards them, that are the parties offending, then it was towards Jesus Christ?