A69028:545
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.
Nor will their sins be forgotten, for they are written with a pen of Iron, and with a point of a Diamond yea, they are graven upon their own Hearts: and rather then God would ⟨p. 106⟩want witnesses, the heavens should declare their wickedness, and the earth should rise up against them, Jeremiah 17. 1. Job 20. 27.
Nor will their sinnes be forgotten, for they are written with a penne of Iron, and with a point of a Diamond yea, they are grauen vpon their owne Hearts: and rather then God would ⟨p. 106⟩want witnesses, the heauens should declare their wickednesse, and the earth should rise vp against them, Ieremie 17. 1. Iob 20. 27.
Nor can it ease them, that they see that godly men suffer the same afflictions that they do: they may not gather from thence that God is no more displeased with them, then he is with the most Religious: for there is a great deal of difference between the fire with which God melts his own servants as in a Furnace, and the fire of his enemies: for in the one God only intends to refine and purify his servants, in the other he intends to consume his enemies: he respects the strength of his servants, but respects the sin of his enemies, Isaiah 26. 11. Jer. 46. 28.
Nor can it ease them, that they see that godly men suffer the same afflictions that they doe: they may not gather from thence that God is no more displeased with them, then hee is with the most Religious: for there is a great deale of difference betweene the fire with which God melts his owne seruants as in a Furnace, and the fire of his enemies: for in the one God onely intends to refine and purifie his seruants, in the other hee intends to consume his enemies: hee respects the strength of his seruants, but respects the sinne of his enemies, Esay 26. 11.