A69028:822
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.
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.
As God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, these things would be proved and opened.
As God is the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, these things would be proued and opened.
1. That God doth beget a Sonne. 2. That JESUS CHRIST is that Sonne. 3. The manner of this Generation.
1. That God doth beget a Sonne. 2. That IESVS CHRIST is that Sonne. 3. The manner of this Generation.
For the first, that God hath begotten a Son, is a Mystery beyond the reach and comprehending of all men and Angels, yet is it a truth in many Scriptures charged upon us to believe, as namely, Psal. 2. 7. John 1. 14. John 3. 16. 1. Joh. 3. 8. & 5. 13. Mat. 28. 19.
For the first, that God hath begotten a Sonne, is a Mysterie beyond the reach and comprehending of all men and Angels, yet is it a truth in many Scriptures charged vpon vs to beleeue, as namely, Psal. 2. 7. Iohn 1. 14. Iohn 3. 16. 1. Ioh. 3. 8. & 5. 13. Mat. 28. 19.
For the second, that the Lord JESUS CHRIST is that Son of God is apparent by Scripture too, Rom. 15. 6. Col. 1. 3. Ephes. 1. 3. Mat. 16. 16. Mat. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 1. 19. 1. Joh. 1. 4. & 4. 15. &. 5. 20. 2. Joh. 3.
For the second, that the Lord IESVS CHRIST is that Sonne of God is apparant by Scripture too, Rom. 15. 6. Col. 1. 3. Ephes. 1. 3. Mat. 16. 16. Mat. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 1. 19. 1. Ioh. 1. 4. & 4. 15. &. 5. 20.
For the third, how the Father did beget the Son, is unknown unto us, It is a secret cannot be revealed to us especially in this mortality, Pro. 30. 4. only by way of Negation, the Scripture entreating of it shows us that God doth not beget his Son as men beget theirs: for,
For the third, how the Father did beget the Sonne, is vnknowne vnto vs, It is a secret cannot be reuealed to vs especially in this mortality, Pro. 30. 4. onely by way of Negation, the Scripture intreating of it shewes vs that God doth not beget his Sonne as men beget theirs: for,
1. Men beget without themselves, so as the Son is divided from the Father: but so doth not GOD the Father beget Christ his Son, he is distinguished from the Father but not divided, the Father begets in himself.
1. Men beget without themselues, so as the Sonne is diuided from the Father: but so doth not GOD the Father beget Christ his Sonne, hee is distinguished from the Father but not diuided, the Father begets in himselfe.
2. The substance of the Son amongst us, may be like the Father, but it is not the Fathers substance. But in the Trinity the Father and the Son are of the same substance, consubstantial.
2. The substance of the Son amongst vs, may bee like the Father, but it is not the Fathers substance. But in the Trinity the Father and the Sonne are of the same substance, consubstantiall.
3. In corporal Generation, the Father derives unto the Son but a part of his substance, but GOD the Father ⟨p. 130⟩communicates his whole substance to his Sonne.
3. In corporall Generation, the Father deriues vnto the Sonne but a part of his substance, but GOD the Father ⟨p. 130⟩communicates his whole substance to his Sonne.
4. The creature begets a Son that is mortal, but God begets a Son that is immortal.
4. The creature begets a Son that is mortall, but God begets a Son that is immortall.
5. The creature begets in time, but God begets in eternity, which hath three differences in it: for first, the time may be named when the creature did beget, the Creator begets before all time, Pro. 8. 22, &c. 30. secondly, the creature ceaseth begetting, but God the Father begets his Son eternally, he always begets, Psal. 2. 7. thirdly, the substance of the Father was before the substance of the Son but not so in this eternal generation; Christ is of the Father, but not after the father.
5. The creature begets in time, but God begets in eternity, which hath three differences in it: for first, the time may be named when the creature did beget, the Creator begets before all time, Pro. 8. 22, &c. 30. secondly, the creature ceaseth begetting, but God the Father begets his Son eternally, he alwaies begets, Psal. 2. 7. thirdly, the substance of the Father was before the substance of the Sonne but not so in this eternall generation; Christ is of the Father, but not after the father.
6. Among the creatures the Son is subject to the father, but in this eternal and divine generation the Son is equal to the father: Subjection is due to God the father from all creatures, but not from the Son, or holy Ghost, Phil. 2. 6.
6. Among the creatures the Son is subiect to the father, but in this eternall and diuine generation the Sonne is equall to the father: Subiection is due to God the father from all creatures, but not from the Sonne, or holy Ghost, Phil. 2. 6.
7. Among the creatures, the father and Son are two things in number, but in this divine generation it is not so; for the Father and Son, and so the holy Ghost are but one God, 1. John 5. 7.
7. Among the creatures, the father and Sonne are two things in number, but in this diuine generation it is not so; for the Father and Sonne, and so the holy Ghost are but one God, 1. Iohn 5. 7.
The Use may be either for information, or instruction, or consolation, or terror: first, since GOD is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by such an unconceivable generation, we may thence learn:
The Vse may bee either for information, or instruction, or consolation, or terror: first, since GOD is the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ by such an vnconceiueable generation, wee may thence learne:
1. The glory of our Saviours condition: He was before the world was, he was with the father, brought up with him, as his eternal delight, more deer to the father then any created nature can conceive of, the Son of his Love, never father loved his son, so as God the father loves Christ, yea, he was God with the father Consubstantial, Coequal, Coeternal, Pro. 8. 22. &c. 30. John 17. 25. Philippians 2. 6 Rom. 9. 5.
1. The glory of our Sauiours condition: He was before the world was, he was with the father, brought vp with him, as his eternall delight, more deere to the father then any created nature can conceiue of, the Sonne of his Loue, neuer father loued his son, so as God the father loues Christ, yea, hee was God with the father Consubstantiall, Coequall, Coeternall, Pro. 8. 22. &c. 30. Iohn 17. 25. Philippians 2. 6 Rom. 9. 5.
2. The Original of all father-hood: The father of Jesus Christ was the first father ever was, yea, the Creed gives the Title of father to God only, as if there were no father but he: and so Christ saith, Mat. 23. 9. call no man father on earth, for one is your father, which is God: and indeed ⟨p. 131⟩properly none is a father but God: other fathers that are called so have the name only, because there is in them a kind of Image or similitude of God the father, and yet they beget so imperfectly in comparison of God the father, that they resemble him, rather in that general that they do beget, then in the manner of begetting.
2. The Originall of all father-hood: The father of Iesus Christ was the first father euer was, yea, the Creed giues the Title of father to God onely, as if there were no father but he: and so Christ saith, Mat. 23. 9. call no man father on earth, for one is your father, which is God: and indeed ⟨p. 131⟩properly none is a father but God: other fathers that are called so haue the name only, because there is in them a kind of Image or similitude of God the father, and yet they beget so imperfectly in comparison of God the father, that they resemble him, rather in that generall that they doe beget, then in the manner of begetting.
Thus for Information.
