A09339:1316
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.
Now follows the consolations and comforts which Gods Church and children reap hereby. He that believes in God, and takes God for his God, may assure himself of salvation, and of a happy deliverance in all dangers and necessities. When God threatened a plague upon Israel for their idolatry,1 good King Josiah humbled himself before the Lord his God:2 and he was safe all his days. And so King Hezekiah, when Sennacherib the King of Ashur offered to invade Judah, he trusted likewise in the Lord, and prayed unto him, and was delivered. Whereby we see, if a man puts his whole trust in God, he shall have security and quietness,3 as Jehoshaphat said to the men of Judah. And our Saviour Christ when he ⟨p. 201⟩was upon the cross, and felt the whole burden of the terrible wrath of God upon him, cried, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And it appeareth in the Epistle to the Hebrews,4 that Christ was heard in that he feared: whereby we are given to understand, that they shall never be utterly forsaken that take God for their God. And King David having experience of this,5 useth most excellent speeches for this end, to show that the ground of his comfort was, that God was his God. And it is said that Daniel had no manner of hurt in the Lyons den;6 because he trusted in the Lord his God. And contrariwise, such as distrust God are subject to all miseries and judgements.7 The Israelites in the wilderness believed not God, and trusted not in his help, therefore God was angry, and his fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath came upon Israel.
Nowe followes the consolations and comforts which Gods Church and children reape hereby. Hee that beleeues in God, and takes God for his God, may assure himselfe of saluation, and of a happie deliuerance in all daungers and necessities. When God threatned a plague vpon Israel for their idolatrie,