A09339:1372
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.
The sixth shall be touching the time of the beginning of the world which is between five thousand and six thousand years ago. For Moses hath set down exactly the computation of time from the making of the world to his own days: and the Prophets after him have with like diligence set down the continuance of the same to the very birth of Christ. But for the exact account ⟨p. 223⟩of years Chronologers are not all of one mind. Some say there be 3929. from the creation to Christs birth, as Beroaldus: some 3952. as Hierome and Bede: some 3960. as Luther and •o. Lucidus: some 3963. as Melanchthon in his Chronicle and Functius: some 3970. as Bullinger and Tremellius: some towards 4000. as Buntingus. Now from the birth of Christ to this day are 1592. years, and adding these together, the whole time amounteth. And God would have the very time of the beginning of the world to be revealed, first that it might be known to the Church, when the covenant of grace was first given by God to man, and when it was afterward renewed, and how Christ came in the fullness of time, Gal. 4. secondly that we might know that the world was not made for the eternal and everliving God, but for man: thirdly that we might learn not to set our hearts on the world & on the things therein which have beginning and end, but seek for things eternal in heaven. And before the time which I have named began, there was nothing beside God, the world it self and all things else were uncreated. Some men use to object and say, what did God all that while before the world was? how did he employ himself? what was he idle? Ans. The Jews to this bad question make as bad an answer. For they say he was continually occupied in making many little worlds, which he continually destroyed as he made them, because none pleased him till he made this. But we must rather say, that some things are revealed which God did then, as that he decreed what should come to pass when the world was:1 & that then the blessed persons in Trinity did take eternal delight each in other. If any man will needs know more, let him hear what Moses saith,2 Secret things belong to the Lord our God, but things revealed to us and to our children for ever: and let them mark what one eluding the question, answered: