A09339:1069
A Golden Chain
A golden chain: or The description of theology containing the order of the causes of salvation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seen in the table annexed. Hereunto is adjoined the order which M. Theodore Beza used in comforting afflicted consciences.A golden chaine: or The description of theologie containing the order of the causes of saluation and damnation, according to Gods word. A view whereof is to be seene in the table annexed. Hereunto is adioyned the order which M. Theodore Beza vsed in comforting afflicted consciences.
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1600Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1600
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.
The Confutation.
We do contrarily hold, that the material cause of mans justification is, the obedience of Christ in suffering, & fulfilling the law for us: but as for the formal cause that must needs be Imputation, the which is an action of God the Father accepting the obedience of Christ for us, as if it were our own. Reasons. I. Look by what we are absolved from all our sins, and by which we obtain eternal life, by that alone are we justified: But by Christs perfect obedience imputed unto us, we are absolved from all our sins, and through it we are accepted of God to eternal life; the which we cannot do by inherent holiness. Therefore by Christs perfect obedience imputed unto us, are we alone justified. This will appear to be true in the exercises of invocation on ⟨p. 157⟩Gods name, and also of repentance. For in tentation, and conflicts with sin and Satan, faith doth not reason thus: Now I have charity and inherent grace, and for these God will accept of me: But faith doth more rightly behold the son of God, as he was made a sacrifice for us, and sitteth at the right hand of his Father, there making intercession for us: to him, I say, doth faith fly, and is assured that for this his son, God will forgive us all our sins, and will also be reconciled unto us, yea, and account us just in his sight, not by any quality inherent in us, but rather by the merit of Jesus Christ. Rom. 5.19. II. As Christ is made a sinner, so by proportion such as believe are made just: But Christ was by imputation only made and accounted a sinner for us. 2. Cor. 5. 21. For he became a surety for us, and a sacrifice for our sins, upon which all both the guiltiness of Gods wrath, and punishment for us was to be laid. Hence is it that he is said to become ([Greek or Hebrew]) a curse for us: Therefore we again are made just only by imputation. III. The contrary to condemnation is remission of sins, and justification is the opposite of condemnation.