A69028:758
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.
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.
Because these things about the Trinity are most wonderful, and above the reach of the creatures, we must seek testimonies to ground our consciences in the belief of them such as may be firm and evident: It is a difficult thing to bring the heart of men solidly to assent to such secrets as these, as are not only beyond the sight, but above the reason of men, and the mind may easily vanish into wild speculations, if we ⟨p. 116⟩be not well grounded with sure Evidence: nor can we have light from the book of Nature to inform us; for what any Heathen man hath spoken, of an Eternal mind, word and spirit, they spake by tradition from the Hebrews, and uttered it perhaps in a false and corrupt sense. Tis the book of Scripture must only inform our faith herein.
Because these things about the Trinity are most wonderfull, and aboue the reach of the creatures, we must seeke testimonies to ground our consciences in the beliefe of them such as may be firme and euident: It is a difficult thing to bring the heart of men solidly to assent to such secrets as these, as are not onely beyond the sight, but aboue the reason of men, and the minde may easily vanish into wilde speculations, if we ⟨p. 116⟩