A69028:86
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
THE CREED. › Article 1 › I Believe.THE CREEDE. › Article 1 › I Beleeue.
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.
I Believe.
I Beleeue.
IN the Creed it self we must consider: first, matter of duty which is in the word Believe, which is the hand or clasp 1that takes hold of all and every of the Articles: secondly, matter of doctrine, which may be cast into two Heads, as it concerns God or the Church: for the Lord doth not vouchsafe to cumber Religion with the whole doctrine that might concern the estate of all men out of the Church: concerning God, the Articles look upon all three persons: and in the doctrine of the Father, amongst his attributes, singles out his Almightiness; and amongst his works, looks upon his making of Heaven and Earth. In Christ faith looks upon his Person and his Office. In his Person it acknowledgeth his divine Nature as Gods only Son; and his humane Nature in these two words (viz.) conception by the holy Ghost, and birth of a Virgin. His Office is considered according to his estate both of Humiliation and Exaltation. In his Humiliation is considered his sufferings: first, in body in that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was dead and buried; and then in soul, in that he descended into Hell: In his Exaltation, faith views his Resurrection, Ascension, and Session at the right hand of God, and ⟨p. 17⟩his coming to Judgement. Concerning the holy Ghost, the Church hath retained and maintained that truth in all ages without any great opposition, and therefore that Article is very barely set down: the greatest quarrels were raised either by Gentiles against the doctrine of God the Father; or by Heretics against the doctrine of Christ the Son; which made faith speak out more distinctly in the doctrine of these two persons. Thus of God.