A69028:879
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.
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:
1. He is a father in heaven, not an earthly father.
1. He is a father in heauen, not an earthly father.
2. He is a father almighty, he can do more for us then all the fathers in the world.
2. He is a father almighty, he can doe more for vs then all the fathers in the world.
3. He is an everlasting father, Isaiah 9. 6. our natural fathers dye, but our spiritual father lives for ever; and makes us live for ever too: for natural fathers can give but a temporal being to their children, but God gives us an eternal being; and therefore are we called the children of the Resurrection, because our very bodies must not perish, but be made to live for ever also. The son he always abides in the house, Luke 20. 36. John 8. 35. Rom. 8. 19. 21.
3. He is an euerlasting father, Esay 9. 6. our naturall fathers dye, but our spirituall father liues for euer; and makes vs liue for euer too: for naturall fathers can giue but a temporall being to their children, but God giues vs an eternall being; and therefore are we called the children of the Resurrection, because our very bodies must not perish, but be made to liue for euer also. The sonne he alwaies abides in the house, Luke 20. 36. Iohn 8. 35. Rom. 8. 19. 21.
4. That he is such a father as makes his sons all heirs, Rom. 8. 16. all are as if they were first borne, Jer. 31. 9.
4. That he is such a father as makes his sons all heires, Rom. 8. 16. all are as if they were first borne, Ier. 31. 9.
5. That he is such a father, as gives the highest kind of inheritance; therefore they are all heirs of a kingdom, Luk. 12. 32. Mat. 13. 43. And such a kingdom as is immortal and undefiled, and lieth in heaven, 1 Pet. 1. 3. 4. in regard whereof they have fellowship with his natural son Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 9. Rom. 8. 16. 17.
5. That he is such a father, as giues the highest kinde of inheritance; therefore they are all heires of a kingdome, Luk. 12. 32. Mat. 13. 43. And such a kingdome as is immortall and vndefiled, and lieth in heauen, 1 Pet. 1. 3. 4. in regard whereof they haue fellowship with his naturall son Iesus Christ, 1 Cor. 1. 9. Rom. 8. 16. 17.
In respect of all which, we have not only good hope, but everlasting consolation: and the more, if we consider, that we hold all this by no Natural propagation, but by the mere grace and mercy of God our father, being in our selves the children of corruption, Job 17. 14. and of wrath, Eph. 2. 3. And therefore unto all the former Instructions, from hence this must be added, that we take heed of that vile ingratitude and impatience at any time, to repent us of our repentance, or to think the case of wicked men better then the case of godly men, for so we shall sin fearfully against God our father, and against our own right, and against the whole generation ⟨p. 138⟩of his children, Psal. 73. 15. Our life, and the glory of it, may by affliction be hid in God: and it doth not fully appear what we shall be, but it is enough for us that we are the sons of God; for when Christ appears in glory, then shall we appear also as he is, above the glory of all the Potentates and Kings of the earth, 1 John 3. 2 Col. 3. 3. 4.
In respect of all which, we haue not onely good hope, but euerlasting consolation: and the more, if we consider, that we hold all this by no Naturall propagation, but by the meere grace and mercy of God our father, being in our selues the children of corruption, Iob 17. 14. and of wrath, Eph. 2. 3. And therefore vnto all the former Instructions, from hence this must be added, that we take heede of that vile ingratitude and impatiency at any time, to repent vs of our repentance, or to thinke the case of wicked men better then the case of godly men, for so we shall sinne fearefully against God our father, and against our owne right, and against the whole generation ⟨p. 138⟩
