A09339:1356
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.
It followeth, Creator of heaven & earth] We have spoken of the title of the first person, and of his attributes: now we come to speak of his effect, namely the creation: but before we come to it, we are to answer a certain objection which may be made. At the first it may seem strange to some, that the work of creation is ascribed to the first person in Trinity the father: whereas in the Scripture it is common to them all three equally. And first that the father is Creator, it was never doubted: as for the second person the Son, that he is Creator, it is evident: All things are made by it, 1that is, by the Son, who is the substantial word of the father, and without it was made nothing that was made. And again it is said, that God by his son made the world. 2As for the holy Ghost, the work of creation is also ascribed unto him: and therefore Moses saith,3 The spirit moved upon the waters: and Job sayeth, His spirit hath garnished the heavens. Howe then is this peculiar to the father, being common to all the three persons in trinity? I answer, The actions of God are twofold: either inward, or outward. The inward actions are those, which one person doth exercise towards another: as the father doth beget the son, and this is an inward action peculiar to the father: and all inward actions are proper to the persons from whom they are. So the Son doth receive the Godhead by communication from the Father: and the holy Ghost from them both: and these are inward actions peculiar to these persons. So likewise, for the father to send his son, it is an inward action proper to the father and cannot be communicated to the holy ghost: and the son to be sent by the father only is a thing proper to the Son, and not common to the father, or to the holy Ghost. Now outward actions are the actions of the persons in the Trinity to the creatures: as the work of creation, the work of preservation, and of redemption. These and all such actions are common to all the three persons: the father createth, the son createth, and the holy Ghost createth: and so we may say of the works of government, and of redemption, and of all outward actions of the persons to the creatures. But some again may say, how then can the work of creation, being an outward action of God to the creature, be peculiar to the first person the father?