A09339:1298
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
AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREED. I believe in God. &c.AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREED. I beleeue in God. &c.
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.
But if faith fail either in the true knowledge, or in the apprehension of Gods mercies, how can a man be saved by it? Ans. We must know that this weak faith will as truly apprehend Gods merciful promises for the pardon of sin, as strong faith, though not so soundly. Even as a man with a palsy hand can stretch it out as well to receive a gift at the hand of a king, as he that is more sound, though it be not so firmly and steadfastly. And Christ saith, that he will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax.
But if faith faile either in the true knowledge, or in the apprehension of Gods mercies, how can a man be saued by it? Ans. We must know that this weake faith will as truly apprehend Gods mercifull promises for the pardon of sinne, as strong faith, though not so soundly. Euen as a man with a palsie hand can stretch it out as well to receiue a gift at the hand of a king, as he that is more sound, though it be not so firmely and steadfastly. And Christ saith, that he will not breake the bruised reede, nor quench the smoking flaxe.
The Church of Rome bears men in hand, that they are good Catholics, if they believe as the Church believes; though in the mean season they can not tell what the Church believes. And some Papists commend this faith by the example of an old devout father, who being tempted of the devil, and asked how he believed; answered that he believed as the Church believed: being again asked how the Church believed, he answered, as I believe: whereupon the devil (as they say) was fain to depart. Well, this fond and ridiculous kind of faith we renounce, as being a means to nuzzle men in blindness, superstition, and perpetual ignorance: yet withal we do not deny but that there is an implicit or infolded faith; which is, when a man as yet having but some little portion of knowledge in the doctrine of the Gospel, doth truly perform obedience according to the measure thereof; and withal hath care to get more knowledge, and shows good affection to all good means whereby it may be increased. In this respect a certain ruler, who by a miracle wrought upon his child,1 was moved to acknowledge Christ for the Messiah, and further to submit himself to his doctrine, is commended for a believer: and so are in the like case, the Samaritans.