A69028:814
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
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.
4. We must take heed what we speak of the Trinity in Unity; for we may fall upon such forms of speech, as may be extremely erroneous and dangerous: and for the help of the ignorant, I will note divers of the speeches which are dangerous and unsound: as that there are three Gods, three Eternals, three Almighties, &c. or that the Essence is distinguished into the Father, Son, and holy Ghost; that God is threefold, or that there is a triplicity in God; that God doth beget another God; that the Father is another thing from the Son; that the Son and holy Ghost have a beginning of their Essence; that the Person was begotten or did proceed from the Essence: by discerning where the error lies in these sentences we may try our skill in the former doctrine of the Trinity.
4. We must take heede what wee speake of the Trinity in Vnity; for we may fall vpon such formes of speech, as may be extreamely erronious and dangerous: and for the helpe of the ignorant, I will note diuers of the speeches which are dangerous and vnsound: as that there are three Gods, three Eternalls, three Almighties, &c. or that the Essence is distinguished into the Father, Son, and holy Ghost; that God is threefold, or that there is a triplicity in God; that God doth beget another God; that the Father is another thing from the Son; that the Sonne and holy Ghost haue a beginning of their Essence; that the Person was begotten or did proceede from the Essence: by discerning where the errour lies in these sentences wee may try our skill in the former doctrine of the Trinitie.
5. The Doctrine of the Trinity should be wonderful comfortable unto the true Christian, because as the Apostle John shows there are three in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, which will avouch the happiness of the true believer: and his comfort may be increased, if he consider what was before taught, that all three Persons do join in the work of his Redemption, 1. John 5. 9.
5. The Doctrine of the Trinity should be wonderfull comfortable vnto the true Christian, because as the Apostle Iohn shewes there are three in Heauen, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, which will auouch the happinesse of the true beleeuer: and his comfort may be increased, if he consider what was before taught, that all three Persons doe ioyne in the work of his Redemption,