A69028:716
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.
First, that it is Spiritual: some essences have being only and not life; as the Heavens, Earth, Seas, &c. and amongst these we must not look for God. Some essences have life, but it is only bodily life; as trees, beasts fowls: and among these gods Essence is not. Some things have a mixed life, partly bodily, and partly spiritual: and such is the essence of all men, who consist and live both in body and soul: but to find out God, we must look for him only amongst minds. There are essences that are only mental and immaterial, but yet compounded though not of parts, yet of power and act, as the Angels: For, they are never in act that which they are in power, they are in possibility still for divers things may befall their Natures, and their possibilities are finite too, God is then higher then these.
First, that it is Spirituall: some essences haue being only and not life; as the Heauens, Earth, Seas, &c. and amongst these wee must not looke for God. Some essences haue life, but it is onely bodily life; as trees, beasts foules: and among these gods Essence is not. Some things haue a mixt life, partly bodily, and partly spirituall: and such is the essence of all men, who consist and liue both in body and soule: but to find out God, we must looke for him only amongst minds. There are essences that are onely mentall and immateriall, but yet compounded though not of parts, yet of power and act, as the Angells: For, they are neuer in act that which they are in power, they are in possibility still for diuers things may befall their Natures, and their possibilities are finite too, God is then higher then these.
God then is a mind or Spirit above all Spirits humane or Angelical, unto which essence of his if we add the former attributes, we do fully difference him from all Creatures. Thus God is an eternal mind, infinite, immutable in life, knowledge, holiness and glory.
God then is a minde or Spirit aboue all Spirits humane or Angelicall, vnto which essence of his if we adde the former attributes, we doe fullie difference him from all Creatures. Thus God is an eternall minde, infinite, immutable in life, knowledge, holinesse and glory.