A69028:625
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.
The Incommunicable Attributes follow, and these are in God, as they say in Schools, à Priori, the other à Posteriori: only I have handled the former first, as most easy for us to understand, but lest the terms of communicable Attributes should trouble the ignorant Reader, he must consider that when we say these Attributes are communicable, we do not mean, that they are communicable in respect of essence, but in respect of Act, effect, or Use.
The Incommunicable Attributes follow, and these are in God, as they say in Schooles, à Priori, the other à Posteriori: onely I haue handled the former first, as most easie for vs to vnderstand, but lest the tearmes of communicable Attributes should trouble the ignorant Reader, hee must consider that when we say these Attributes are communicable, wee doe not meane, that they are communicable in respect of essence, but in respect of Act, effect, or Vse.
As for instance, the goodness of God is not communicated to good Angels or men, but the effect of it, which makes them good. If God should communicate nothing, there would be nothing at all: and if he should communicate his own essentials, he should make as many Gods as he produced things. In short, these Attributes are affirmed of God in the Abstract, ⟨p. 97⟩but of men or Angels in the Concrete, God is Goodness, Wisdom, Justice. Men are only good, wise, Just.
As for instance, the goodnesse of God is not communicated to good Angels or men, but the effect of it, which makes them good. If God should communicate nothing, there would be nothing at all: and if he should communicate his owne essentialls, hee should make as many Gods as hee produced things. In short, these Attributes are affirmed of God in the Abstract, ⟨p. 97⟩but of men or Angels in the Concret, God is Goodnes, Wisedome, Iustice. Men are onely good, wise, Iust.