A69028:757
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.
Hitherto of the Nature of God, and of believing in God: The next thing Faith takes notice of, is the Relations in the God-head: and so God is the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost: for this term God is to be applied, not only to the Father (which is the next word) but to the Son and holy Ghost as followeth after in the Creed: and therefore we must read with a Comma after this word God, thus, I believe in God, the Father: to read without a Comma, that is Heretical, for if we read thus, I believe in God the Father, it would sound as if the Creed should say that the Father were God only, not leaving the term God to be carried to the Son and holy Ghost.
Hitherto of the Nature of God, and of beleeuing in God: The next thing Faith takes notice of, is the Relations in the God-head: and so God is the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost: for this terme God is to bee applied, not onely to the Father (which is the next word) but to the Sonne and holy Ghost as followeth after in the Creed: and therefore wee must reade with a Comma after this word God, thus, I beleeue in God, the Father: to reade without a Comma, that is Hereticall, for if we reade thus, I beleeue in God the Father, it would sound as if the Creed should say that the Father were God only, not leauing the terme God to be carried to the Son and holy Ghost.
Before then I come to speak of the Father, I must entreat of God as he is three Persons, both Father, Son, and holy Ghost: And this is one of the deepest and dreadfullest Mysteries in all Religion: where I must proceed in this order: first, to prove the Trinity by Scriptures: secondly, to explicate the doctrine: And thirdly, to answer certain objections might arise in mens minds about it.
Before then I come to speake of the Father, I must entreate of God as he is three Persons, both Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost: And this is one of the deepest and dreadfullest Mysteries in all Religion: where I must proceed in this order: first, to proue the Trinity by Scriptures: secondly, to explicate the doctrine: And thirdly, to answer certaine obiections might arise in mens mindes about it.