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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.

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Quest. Some one will say; but how came the Creed then into the Church, who made it, or when was it made?

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Answ. I answer, that it seems clear that it came not in all at once, but that in the Apostles days it was much shorter: It is manifest, that our Lord and Saviour commanded to baptize men in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the holy Ghost. Whence came the custom of examining those that were baptized about their faith: Who in the first times answered briefly, and for the most part, but concerning the Trinity or concerning Christ, which was chiefly then in question: We may observe that Philip would not baptize the Eunuch, till he had confessed his faith, Acts the 8. which imports that it was the manner then to admit none of years to baptism, till they had professed their faith, and that some kind of short form was then in use: What the precise form was, cannot be certainly known: but it is likely, their confession went not further then the Trinity: Now these Articles concerning the Trinity, were enlarged for the prevention and repressing of sundry Heresies, as they did or were likely to spring up in the Church. But that the whole Creed as it is now, was not verbatim in the ¹first Ages, may appear in that the confession of faith in the days of Martialis, Ignatius, Irena, Tertullian, Origen, and those of their times did not proceed further then the Trinity: In the first book of Socrates his Eccless. Hist. Chap. 19. we find, The Creed thus recited.

Answ. I answer, that it seemes cleare that it came not in all at once, but that in the Apostles daies it was much shorter: It is manifest, that our Lord and Sauiour commanded to baptize men in the Name of the Father, of the Sonne, and of the holy Ghost. Whence came the custome of examining those that were baptized about their faith: Who in the first times answered briefly, and for the most part, but concerning the Trinity or concerning Christ, which was chiefly then in question: We may obserue that Philip would not baptize the Eunuch, till he had confessed his faith, Acts the 8. which imports that it was the manner then to admit none of yeeres to baptisme, till they had professed their faith, and that some kinde of short forme was then in vse: What the precise forme was, cannot bee certainely knowne: but it is likely, their confession went not further then the Trinity: Now these Articles concerning the Trinity, were inlarged for the preuention and repressing of sundrie Heresies, as they did or were likely to spring vp in the Church. But that the whole Creed as it is now, was not verbatim in the ¹first Ages, may appeare in that the confession of faith in the daies of Martialis, Ignatius, Irena, Tertullian, Origen, and those of their times did not proceede further then the Trinity: In the first book of Socrates his Eccless. Hist. Chap. 19. we finde, The Creed thus recited.

1The most of the Articles concerning Christ are to be found, Act 2. from v. 22. to v. 37

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We believe in one God the Father Almighty, and in the Lord Jesus Christ his Son, begotten of him before all worlds, true God, by whom all things were made which are in heaven, and which are in earth: Who descended, and was incarnate, and suffered ⟨p. 14⟩and rose again, and ascended into Heaven, and from thence shall come again to judge the quick and dead: and in the holy Ghost, in the Resurrection of the flesh, in the life of the world to come, in the Kingdom of Heaven, and one Catholic Church, reaching from one end of the earth to the other.

We beleeue in one God the Father Almighty, and in the Lord Iesus Christ his Sonne, begotten of him before all worldes, true God, by whom all things were made which are in heauen, and which are in earth: Who descended, and was incarnate, and suffered ⟨p. 14⟩and rose againe, and ascended into Heauen, and from thence shall come againe to iudge the quicke and dead: and in the holy Ghost, in the Resurrection of the flesh, in the life of the world to come, in the Kingdome of Heauen, and one Catholique Church, reaching from one end of the earth to the other.

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In Saint Ambrose his time, the baptised was asked three questions: as first, dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, and the baptized answered, I believe, and then he was dipped under the water: secondly, he was asked, doest thou believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and his Cross, and he answered I believe, and then was dipped again: thirdly, he was asked doest thou believe in the holy Ghost, and he answered, I do believe, and was the third time dipped. Ambrose lib. 2. de Sacram. cap. 7. so that 'tis probable, that the Creed was not fully finished in this form it now is, till about the fourth age after Christ: And thus of the Authors of the Creed.

In Saint Ambrose his time, the baptised was asked three questions: as first, dost thou beleeue in God the Father Almighty, and the baptized answered, I beleeue, and then hee was dipped vnder the water: secondly, hee was asked, doest thou beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ and his Crosse, and hee answered I beleeue, and then was dipped againe: thirdly, hee was asked doest thou beleeue in the holy Ghost, and he answered, I doe beleeue, and was the third time dipped. Ambrose lib. 2. de Sacram. cap. 7. so that 'tis probable, that the Creed was not fully finished in this forme it now is, till about the fourth age after Christ: And thus of the Authors of the Creed.

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To conclude therefore this point concerning the Authors of these Articles, the Creed is called the Apostles Creed in two respects: first, to distinguish it from all other Creeds. There have bin divers Creeds made in the several ages since Christ, some by particular writers, some by Councils: of particular writers, Athanasius Creed doth most excel, which is the Creed set down in the book of Common Prayer, next before the Litany: and of Councils these are the chief Creeds, the Nicene Creed, which you may find in the book of Common Prayer, also set down in the order of the Communion, as also the Creed of the Ephesian Synod, and the Creed of the Chalcedonian Synod, read Am. Pol. synt. Theol. lib. 2. cap. 2.

To conclude therefore this point concerning the Authors of these Articles, the Creed is called the Apostles Creed in two respects: first, to distinguish it from all other Creeds. There haue bin diuers Creeds made in the seuerall ages since Christ, some by particular writers, some by Councells: of particular writers, Athanasius Creed doth most excell, which is the Creed set downe in the booke of Common Prayer, next before the Letany: and of Councells these are the chiefe Creeds, the Nicen Creed, which you may finde in the booke of Common Prayer, also set downe in the order of the Communion, as also the Creed of the Ephesian Synod, and the Creed of the Calcedonian Synod, reade Am. Pol. synt. Theol. lib. 2. cap. 2.

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Now this Creed is called the Apostles Creed, to show that the Churches did hold it to be of greater authority then any other Creed, and that other Creeds are but as it were expositions of this Creed.

Now this Creed is called the Apostles Creed, to shew that the Churches did hold it to bee of greater authority then any other Creed, and that other Creeds are but as it were expositions of this Creed.

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Secondly, it is called the Apostles Creed, to give it authority above all humane writings, even those that have much or most excelled. The confession of National Churches have been worthily had in great request, so have the Creeds of the Councils, and so have the Apocrypha Scriptures: but yet none of these have attained to the honour of this Creed. The translation ⟨p. 15⟩of the Canonical Scriptures in respect of the words are humane, though in respect of the matter and order they are divine: and these of all humane writings are the best, yet not without the defects of the Translators, whereas the original in both Testaments is divine both for matter, order, and words also. Thus of the Authors. The kind of writing follows.

Secondly, it is called the Apostles Creed, to giue it authority aboue all humane writings, euen those that haue much or most excelled. The confession of Nationall Churches haue been worthily had in great request, so haue the Creeds of the Councells, and so haue the Apocripha Scriptures: but yet none of these haue attained to the honour of this Creed. The translation ⟨p. 15⟩of the Canonicall Scriptures in respect of the words are humane, though in respect of the matter and order they are diuine: and these of all humane writings are the best, yet not without the defects of the Translators, whereas the originall in both Testaments is diuine both for matter, order, and words also. Thus of the Authors. The kinde of writing followes.

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Creed]Symbolum is the word used in the most Christian Churches and is plainly agreeable to the original word, the Creed being first penned in the Greek tongue.

Creede]Symbolum is the word vsed in the most Christian Churches and is plainely agreeable to the originall word, the Creed being first penned in the Greeke tongue.

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If the word be derived of Sin and bolus, then it may signify two things: first, a morsel, or as much as a man may well swallow at once: and so the whole Scriptures containing but the divine furnishing of Gods Table as it were, the Creed contains each particular Christians morsel, so much as he may and must swallow, and receive down into his heart, without leaving any of these Articles out: secondly, a draught, even as much as a net can take at once. The sea is the Word, the fisherman is the Christian man, the Net is faith, the Creed is as much as the faith of the Christian can take at a draught out of the Sea of doctrine contained in the Scriptures. But it is more likely the word should be derived of Sin and [Greek or Hebrew], and then it may signify all or any of these five things:

If the word bee deriued of Syn and bolus, then it may signifie two things: first, a morsell, or as much as a man may well swallow at once: and so the whole Scriptures containing but the diuine furnishing of Gods Table as it were, the Creed containes each particular Christians morsell, so much as hee may and must swallow, and receiue downe into his heart, without leauing any of these Articles out: secondly, a draught, euen as much as a net can take at once. The sea is the Word, the fisherman is the Christian man, the Net is faith, the Creed is as much as the faith of the Christian can take at a draught out of the Sea of doctrine contained in the Scriptures. But it is more likely the word should be deriued of Syn and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and then it may signifie all or any of these fiue things:

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1. A Shot: it containing the reckoning which the Apostles made for the Churches, being deducted or cast in, out of the several writings of each of the Apostles.

1. A Shot: it containing the reckoning which the Apostles made for the Churches, being deducted or cast in, out of the seuerall writings of each of the Apostles.

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2. A Watchword, or any sign in the time of war, by which the Soldier might be distinguished from spies or strangers, and so might show to what captain or colours he belonged: so the Creed is the Military sign by which the true Christian is distinguished from all spiritual spies and foreigners: 'tis Gods Watchword.

2. A Watchword, or any signe in the time of warre, by which the Souldier might be distinguished from spies or strangers, and so might shew to what captaine or colours hee belonged: so the Creed is the Military signe by which the true Christian is distinguished from all spirituall spies and forreiners: 'tis Gods Watchword.

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3. The Motto or Poesy, or word given in mens Arms: so the Creed is the Christians Motto, his word which is set in his Arms, being made noble in blood by Christ, and so able to give the Arms of his spiritual house and kindred.

3. The Motto or Poesie, or word giuen in mens Armes: so the Creed is the Christians Motto, his word which is set in his Armes, being made noble in bloud by Christ, and so able to giue the Armes of his spirituall house and kindred.

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4. A token or Bill of Exchange, by which a man is enabled to trade or receive commodities: By the Creed the Christian may trade for any spiritual commodities.

4. A token or Bill of Exchange, by which a man is enabled to trade or receiue commodities: By the Creed the Christian may trade for any spirituall commodities.

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5. A Passport: Christians are strangers and Pilgrims, a great way from home, and the government of the Christian world, will not let a man pass without his authentic Passport: Now by his Creed the Christian man may pass and find entertainment in any part of the Christian world.

5. A Passeport: Christians are strangers and Pilgrims, a great way from home, and the gouernment of the Christian world, will not let a man passe without his authenticke Passeport: Now by his Creed the Christian man may passe and finde entertainement in any part of the Christian world.

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As for the name Creed, it is not easy to tell when it first came up in our Language, but it is certain it comes of the first word which is in Latin Credo, rendered I believe.

As for the name Creed, it is not easie to tell when it first came vp in our Language, but it is certaine it comes of the first word which is in Latine Credo, rendered I beleeue.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Quest. Some one will say; but how came the Creed then into the Church, who made it, or when was it made?