A69028:985
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
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.
1. It should wonderfully abase us, to think how we have neglected the knowledge, and care and desire after this glorious place: It should make us hate our selves for our senselessness and madness, that prefer an earthly mud-wall cottage, before such a princely or rather divine Palace; that are in love with this earthly place, that is full of sin, sorrow, disgrace, darkness, and death, and yet have no heart after a place so wonderfully free from all evil, and so replenished with all good? Oh wretches that we are that labour & care day and night to repair these glassy or mud-walled Tabernacles of our bodies, and have no more mind to provide for that matchless triumphing place of spirits.
1. It should wonderfully abase vs, to thinke how wee haue neglected the knowledge, and care and desire after this glorious place: It should make vs hate our selues for our senselessnes and madnesse, that preferre an earthly mudde-wall cottage, before such a princely or rather diuine Pallace; that are in loue with this earthly place, that is full of sinne, sorrow, disgrace, darkenesse, and death, and yet haue no heart after a place so wonderfully free from all euill, and so replenished with all good? Oh wretches that wee are that labour & care day and night to repaire these glassie or mud-walled Tabernacles of our bodies, and haue no more minde to prouide for that matchlesse triumphing place of spirits.
2. It should wonderfully fire our hearts to the love of God, that hath provided for us such a place of glorious inheritance, of his mercy, love, and grace, so happy, so lasting, so amiable; yea, what thanks can we ever give him for the very comfort with which he hath refreshed us, in telling us of Heaven, that were such, as in our selves had bin so far from having it, as we had never known of it by the light of Nature.
2. It should wonderfully fire our hearts to the loue of God, that hath prouided for vs such a place of glorious inheritance, of his mercy, loue, and grace, so happy, so lasting, so amiable; yea, what thankes can wee euer giue him for the very comfort with which he hath refreshed vs, in telling vs of Heauen, that were such, as in our selues had bin so farre from hauing it, as we had neuer knowne of it by the light of Nature.