A69028:836
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.
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.
2. Since God is the father of Jesus Christ we should be instructed:
2. Since God is the father of Iesus Christ wee should bee instructed:
1. To acknowledge this Mystery, and though we have cause to be abased for the defect of our understanding herein, in that we cannot tell the fathers name, nor what is the name of his Son, Pro. 30▪ 4. yet we should confidently believe, as the very foundation of our Religion, that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God: upon the Rock of this confession is the Church built, Mat. 16. 16, &c. It is a glory Christ stands upon to be acknowledged in the glory of the only begotten Son of God, Joh. 1. 14. If we acknowledge the Son, we have the father, or else not, 1. Joh. 2. 23. Yea, this is an honour God stands upon to be glorified with one heart and one mouth of all his servants, even as the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom. 15. 6.
1. To acknowledge this Mystery, and though wee haue cause to be abased for the defect of our vnderstanding heerein, in that we cannot tell the fathers name, nor what is the name of his Son, Pro. 30▪ 4. yet we should confidently beleeue, as the very foundation of our Religion, that Iesus Christ is the Son of the liuing God: vpon the Rock of this confession is the Church built, Mat. 16. 16, &c. It is a glory Christ stands vpon to be acknowledged in the glory of the onely begotten Son of God, Ioh. 1. 14
2. To be fully established in the persuasion of the sufficiency and efficacy of the obedience and passion of Jesus Christ for us: we may confidently call him the Lord our righteousness seeing God is called his father: for his obedience, is more then the obedience of a man, yea, of more value then the obedience of worlds of men; and besides he is all in all with God the father who so loves him, he can deny him nothing, &c.
2. To be fully established in the perswasion of the sufficiency and efficacie of the obedience and passion of Iesus Christ for vs: we may confidently call him the Lord our righteousnes seeing God is called his father: for his obedience, is more then the obedience of a man, yea, of more value then the obedience of worlds of men; and besides hee is all in all with God the father who so loues him, hee can denie him nothing, &c.
3. To rely upon him for instruction. The father loves him and shows him all things that he doth or intends to do, and in 1him are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge, & therefore we should hear him always, in any thing he will reveal to us: yea, God the father chargeth us with this duty, as the very use he would have us make of the knowledge of his eternal generation, as appears by the voice from heaven mentioned, Mat 17. 5. While he yet spake, behold a bright ⟨p. 132⟩cloud shadowed them, and behold there came a voice out of the cloud saying, This is that my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear him.
3. To rely vpon him for instruction. The father loues him and shewes him all things that he doth or intends to doe, and in 1him are all treasures of wisedome and knowledge, & therefore we should heare him alwaies, in any thing hee will reueale to vs: yea, God the father chargeth vs with this duty, as the very vse he would haue vs make of the knowledge of his eternal generation, as appeares by the voice from heauen mentioned, Mat 17. 5. While he yet spake, behold a bright ⟨p. 132⟩cloud shadowed them, and behold there came a voice out of the cloud saying, This is that my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased, heare him.
But especially this doctrine serves for consolation, and so is frequently urged in Scripture: for if God be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ then these comforts will manifestly follow to the believing Christian.
But especially this doctrine serues for consolation, and so is frequently vrged in Scripture: for if God be the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ then these comforts will manifestly follow to the beleeuing Christian.
1. That God is well pleased with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins, Mat. 3. 17.
1. That God is well pleased with the sacrifice of Iesus Christ for our sinnes, Mat. 3. 17.
2. That Christ is able to raise up the dead hearts of men with spiritual life, for as the Father hath life in himself, so he hath given to the Son to have life in himself, Joh. 5. 26.
2. That Christ is able to raise vp the dead hearts of men with spirituall life, for as the Father hath life in himselfe, so hee hath giuen to the Son to haue life in himselfe, Ioh. 5. 26.
3. That in Christ we may have supply for all our wants, we may receive of his fullness all sorts of graces needful for us as is from this doctrine gathered, John 1. 14. 18.
3. That in Christ we may haue supply for all our wants, wee may receiue of his fulnes all sorts of graces needfull for vs as is from this doctrine gathered, Iohn 1. 14. 18.
4. That Christ is able to give us eternal life, and will perform even that great gift at the time appointed to all that believe, John 3. 16. & 17. 2. no believer shall perish.
4. That Christ is able to giue vs eternall life, and will performe euen that great gift at the time appointed to all that beleeue, Iohn 3. 16. & 17. 2. no beleeuer shall perish.
5. That whatsoever he asks the Father for us, he shall have it, yea, that our prayers prescribed by him shall be heard.
5. That whatsoeuer he askes the Father for vs, hee shall haue it, yea, that our prayers prescribed by him shall be heard.
6. That nothing that is good for us shall be withheld from us: for if God hath given us his Son, how shall he not with him give us all things also, Rom. 8. 32.
6. That nothing that is good for vs shall bee withheld from vs: for if God hath giuen vs his Son, how shall he not with him giue vs all things also, Rom. 8. 32.
7. That God bears a great affection even to us: for Christ hath besought the Father that he would love us with the Love he loved him, and that the warmth and comfort of that love may be ever with us, John 17. 24. 25.
7. That God beares a great affection euen to vs: for Christ hath besought the Father that he would loue vs with the Loue he loued him, and that the warmth and comfort of that loue may be euer with vs, Iohn 17. 24. 25.
Lastly, if God be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, then vain are all the consultations and rebellious projects of wicked men against Christ and the means of his kingdom: then also woe will be unto them, for God will make Christs enemies his footstool: he will bruise them with an iron rod and break them like a Potters vessel: for unto the Son hath the Father given the ends of the earth, and whatsoever rebels against him shall not prosper: as from this doctrine is inferred, Psal. 2. & 110. 1.
Lastly, if God be the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, then vaine are all the consultations and rebellious proiects of wicked men against Christ and the meanes of his kingdom: then also woe will bee vnto them, for God will make Christs enemies his footstoole: hee will bruise them with an iron rod and breake them like a Potters vessell: for vnto the Son hath the Father giuen the ends of the earth, and whatsoeuer rebels against him shall not prosper: as from this doctrine is inferred, Psal. 2. & 110. 1.
Thus God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, Faith looks upon God as our Father especially in Christ, ⟨p. 133⟩2. Cor. 1. 2. Gal. 1. 4. 2. Thes. 1. 1. 2. 1. Thes. •. 11. 13.
Thus God is the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. Secondly, Faith lookes vpon God as our Father especially in Christ, ⟨p. 133⟩2. Cor. 1. 2. Gal. 1. 4. 2. Thes. 1. 1. 2. 1. Thes. •. 11. 13.
