A69028:849
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.
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,
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.
Before I pass from this point one thing must be added, and that is, that howsoever God be the Father of all men in respect ⟨p. 134⟩of the Creation of their souls, yet Faith looks upon him as a Father in Christ, and so by Adoption and regeneration, and therefore we must diligently examine our selves whether we be sons and daughters to God by grace in Christ or no: for all such as are by grace truly the Children of God have in themselves such signs as these.
Before I passe from this point one thing must be added, and that is, that howsoeuer God be the Father of all men in respect ⟨p. 134⟩of the Creation of their soules, yet Faith lookes vpon him as a Father in Christ, and so by Adoption and regeneration, and therefore wee must diligently examine our selues whether we be sons and daughters to God by grace in Christ or no: for all such as are by grace truely the Children of God haue in themselues such signes as these.
1. They were borne by promise: the preaching of the Gospel did mightily work upon them to the renewing of their natures, and infusing spiritual life into their souls, Gal. 4. 29. Rom. 9. 8.
1. They were borne by promise: the preaching of the Gospell did mightily work vpon them to the renewing of their natures, and infusing spirituall life into their soules, Gal. 4. 29. Rom. 9. 8.
2. They are all believers; they come to Christ for happiness and rely upon him, and so have power to be the Sons of God John 1. 12.
2. They are all beleeuers; they come to Christ for happinesse and rely vpon him, and so haue power to be the Sons of God Iohn 1. 12.
3. They lay hold upon Gods covenant, and consecrate themselves to his service, and love his name, and to be his servants, and in particular are careful to keep his Sabbaths, Isaiah 56. 4. 5. 7.
3. They lay hold vpon Gods couenant, and consecrate themselues to his seruice, and loue his name, and to be his seruants, and in particular are carefull to keepe his Sabboths, Esay 56. 4. 5. 7.
4. They are children that will not lie: they are no Hypocrites, they desire to be as good as they seem to be, they abhor counterfeiting and dissimulation, their spirits are without guile, Isaiah 63. 8.
4. They are children that will not lie: they are noe Hypocrites, they desire to be as good as they seeme to bee, they abhorre counterfeiting and dissimulation, their spirits are without guile, Esay 63. 8.
5. They are led by the spirit and mortify the deeds of the flesh, Rom. 8. 13. 14.
5. They are led by the spirit and mortifie the deeds of the flesh, Rom. 8. 13. 14.
6. They cry Abba Father: they have the spirit of prayer, they can call upon God in secret, with affection and confidence, esteeming nothing more then the Love and favour of God: And thus how God is a Father and to whom. The Uses follow and so.
6. They cry Abba Father: they haue the spirit of prayer, they can call vpon God in secret, with affection and confidence, esteeming nothing more then the Loue and fauour of God: And thus how God is a Father and to whom. The Vses follow and so.
