A69028:554
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.
Neither may they persist in their wilful pretending that God is merciful, and they can show it by divers Scriptures, that God hath bound himself to show wonderful mercy to sinners: for all that mercy belongs to the godly only: and besides, God hath expressly declared himself, that if any man hearing the curses of Gods Law, shall bless himself in his heart, God will not be merciful to that man, Deut. 29. 19.
Neither may they persist in their wilfull pretending that God is mercifull, and they can shew it by diuers Scriptures, that God hath bound himselfe to shew wonderfull mercy to sinners: for all that mercy belongs to the godly onely: and besides, God hath expreslely declared himselfe, that if any man hearing the curses of Gods Law, shall blesse himselfe in his heart, God will not be mercifull to that man, Deut. 29. 19.
Finally they may not be confirmed against the fear of Gods Justice, by the testimony of such Ministers as have publicly or privately, encouraged them by promising peace and mercy, and contradicting the Doctrine of other Ministers that have soundly urged the severity of Gods Justice: for God by the ⟨p. 108⟩Prophet, Ezekiel doth at large threaten that he will break down those walls of vain confidence which have bin built in the hearts of wicked men, he will find a time, when their daubing with untempered mortar shall be found by the sinner himself, to be utterly without any foundation of Truth, see the place at large, Ezek. 13. 13, 14, 15, &c.
Finally they may not be confirmed against the feare of Gods Iustice, by the testimonie of such Ministers as haue publikely or priuately, incouraged them by promising peace and mercy, and contradicting the Doctrine of other Ministers that haue soundly vrged the seuerity of Gods Iustice: for God by the