A69028:871
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.
6. If God be our father, we must then patiently bear his corrections, seeing we endure correction at the hands of the fathers of our bodies, who many times correct us for their own pleasure, therefore much more should we submit our ⟨p. 136⟩selves to the father of spirits, who never corrects us but for our profit. And to desire to be without correction, is to be in the condition of bastards and not of sons: if we would have God to love us we must be willing to let him correct us, Heb. 12. 4. to the 10.
6. If God bee our father, wee must then patiently beare his corrections, seeing we indure correction at the hands of the fathers of our bodies, who many times correct vs for their owne pleasure, therefore much more should we submit our ⟨p. 136⟩selues to the father of spirits, who neuer corrects vs but for our profit. And to desire to be without correction, is to be in the condition of bastards and not of sonnes: if we would haue God to loue vs we must be willing to let him correct vs, Heb. 12. 4. to the 10.
7. If God be our father, then nothing should more grieve us, then that we have offended him by our sins, Jer. 31 18. Luke 15. 18.
7. If God be our father, then nothing should more grieue vs, then that wee haue offended him by our sinnes, Ier. 31 18. Luke 15. 18.
8. If God be our father, then we must sort our selves with his children, and avoid all needless societies, and unequal yoking with the wicked of this world, who are as like the devil as ever child was like his father, John 8. 2. Cor 6. 14 18.
8. If God be our father, then wee must sort our selues with his children, and auoid all needlesse societies, and vnequall yoaking with the wicked of this world, who are as like the diuell as euer childe was like his father, Iohn 8. 2. Cor 6. 14 18.
9. We should in all welldoing rest in his praise, as being our father that seeth in secret. A child seeks no more then to be accepted of his father, Mat. 6. 1. 4.
9. We should in all welldoing rest in his praise, as being our father that seeth in secret. A childe seekes no more then to be accepted of his father, Mat. 6. 1. 4.
10. We need not therefore the help of Saints or Angels to bring us to God. He is our father, we may go to him our selves, Isaiah 63. 16.
10. We need not therefore the helpe of Saints or Angels to bring vs to God. He is our father, wee may goe to him our selues, Esay 63. 16.
11. Therefore we should call no man father upon earth, having so great and gracious a father in heaven, Mat. 23. 9.
11. Therefore we should call no man father vpon earth, hauing so great and gratious a father in heauen, Mat. 23. 9.
12. Therefore also we should live in peace one with another, seeing we have all one heavenly father, Ephes. 4. 4▪ 6.
12. Therfore also we should liue in peace one with another, seeing we haue all one heauenly father, Ephes. 4. 4▪ 6.
Thus for instruction.
Secondly, many consolations arise from hence, if we believe that God is our father: for then,
Secondly, many consolations arise from hence, if we beleeue that God is our father: for then,
1. He will spare us as a father doth his son that serveth him, he will bear with our infirmities, Mal. 3. 17.
1. He will spare vs as a father doth his son that serueth him, he will beare with our infirmities, Mal. 3. 17.
2. Though he should correct us, yet he will not take his mercy from us. 2. Sam. 7. 14.
2. Though hee should correct vs, yet hee will not take his mercy from vs. 2. Sam. 7. 14.
3. We have right to Gods house: we may with great encouragement resort to all Gods ordinances, because it is our fathers house: and if hard times befall us in respect of the means of Religion, and that the enemies of the Church do invade the Sanctuary, we must then go to God and plead our right, seeing his house belongs to us and not to them: thus did the godly, Isaiah 63. 16. 18. 19.
3. We haue right to Gods house: we may with great incouragement resort to all Gods ordinances, because it is our fathers house: and if hard times befall vs in respect of the meanes of Religion, and that the enemies of the Church do inuade the Sanctuarie, we must then go to God and pleade our right, seeing his house belongs to vs and not to them: thus did the godly, Esay 63. 16. 18. 19.
4. We may cast all our care upon God for he careth for us, Jam. 4▪ 9. Pro. 14. 26.
4. Wee may cast all our care vpon God for hee careth for vs, Iam. 4▪ 9. Pro. 14. 26.
6. Our title to the creatures is restored which was lost in Adam.
But these consolations will appear to be much the greater, if we consider not only that God is a Father, but such a Father:
But these consolations will appeare to be much the greater, if we consider not onely that God is a Father, but such a Father:
