A69028:842
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.
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.
God is our Father four ways: first, by Creation, and so principally in respect of our souls, which he creates of nothing and infuseth into our bodies: and so he is called Father of Spirits, Heb. 12. 9. secondly, by Regeneration, because by his Almighty power he renews spiritual life into our souls that were dead in sin, 1. Pet. 1. 3. thirdly, by Adoption, when of his mere grace he acknowledgeth us for children, Gal. 4▪ 5. 6. fourthly, by Resurrection, because he gives a glorious being to our bodies that were rotted and dissolved in the earth: and so as he was said to beget Christ in the day that he raised him from the dead, Act. 13. so is he said to grant us the Adoption of sons, when he restores our bodies to life out of the grave, Rom. 8. 19. 21.
God is our Father foure waies: first, by Creation, and so principally in respect of our soules, which he creates of nothing and infuseth into our bodies: and so he is called Father of Spirits, Heb. 12. 9. secondly, by Regeneration, because by his Almighty power he renewes spirituall life into our soules that were dead in sin, 1. Pet. 1. 3. thirdly, by Adoption, when of his meere grace hee acknowledgeth vs for children, Gal. 4▪ 5. 6. fourthly, by Resurrection, because he giues a glorious being to our bodies that were rotted and dissolued in the earth: and so as hee was said to beget Christ in the day that he raised him from the dead, Act. 13. so is he said to grant vs the Adoption of sonnes, when he restores our bodies to life out of the graue, Rom. 8. 19. 21
And this term of Father is given to these works of God, not unfitly for the resemblance they have to the relation between a Father and Son in Nature: for,
And this terme of Father is giuen to these workes of God, not vnfitly for the resemblance they haue to the relation betweene a Father and Son in Nature: for,
1. God gives us a spiritual being, making us a soul or spiritual substance: for as we call them Fathers, because we have our bodies from them, so God is more fitly called a Father, because we have our spirits from him.
1. God giues vs a spirituall being, making vs a soule or spirituall substance: for as we call them Fathers, because we haue our bodies from them, so God is more fitly called a Father, because we haue our spirits from him.
2. God renews our natures, and begets them to be like his Nature: for being regenerated we partake of the divine nature, being made to live Gods nature in holiness and righteousness, and he may well be called a Father that begets that which is like to himself: besides, by Faith we put on Jesus Christ, Gal. 3. 26. 27.
2. God renewes our natures, and begets them to bee like his Nature: for being regenerated we partake of the diuine nature, being made to liue Gods nature in holines and righteousnes, and he may well be called a Father that begets that which is like to himselfe: besides, by Faith we put on Iesus Christ, Gal. 3. 26. 27.
3. God gives us the right and privilege of Sons, and therefore is fitly called our Father: for first he finds us food and raiment, Mat. 6. and teaching, Isaiah 54. 13. and attendance not only setting his Angels to look to us, Psal. 34. Heb. 1. but himself also carrying and bearing us in his arms when any thing aileth us, Isaiah 63. 9. & 46. 4.
3. God giues vs the right and priuiledge of Sons, and therefore is fitly called our Father: for first hee findes vs foode and rayment, Mat. 6. and teaching, Esay 54. 13. and attendance not onely setting his Angels to looke to vs, Psal. 34. Heb. 1. but himself also carrying and bearing vs in his armes when any thing ayleth vs, Esay 63. 9. & 46. 4.
Secondly, he lays up for us as Fathers do for their children, Psal. 89. 28. & 31. 19. and appoints us the inheritance of Sons to be enjoyed when we be of full years, Rom 8. 16.
Secondly, he layes vp for vs as Fathers do for their children, Psal. 89. 28. & 31. 19. and appoints vs the inheritance of Sons to be inioyed when we be of full yeeres, Rom 8. 16.
