A09339:1435
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 God governeth all good things two ways. First by sustaining & preserving them that they decay not: secondly by moving them that they may attain to the particular ends for which they were severally ordained. For the qualities and virtues which were placed in the Sun, Moon, stars, trees, plants, seeds, &c. would lie dead in them and be unprofitable, unless they were not only preserved, but also stirred up and quickened by the power of God so oft as he employs them to any use.
Now God gouerneth all good things two waies. First by sustaining & preseruing them that they decay not: secondly by moouing them that they may attaine to the particular endes for which they were seuerally ordained. For the qualities and vertues which were placed in the Sunne, Moone, starres, trees, plants, seedes, &c. would lie dead in them and be vnprofitable, vnlesse they were not onely preserued, but also stirred vp and quickened by the power of God so oft as he imploies them to any vse.
Evil is the destruction of nature: and it is taken for sin, or for the punishment of sin. Now sin is governed of God by two actions: the first is an operative permission. I so call it, because God partly permitteth sin, and partly worketh in it. For sin as it is commonly taken hath two parts; the subject or matter, and the form of sin: the subject of sin is a certain quality or action; the form is the anomie or transgression of Gods law. The first is good in it self, and every quality or action so far forth as it is a quality or action is existing in nature, and hath God to be the author of it. Therefore sin though it be sufficiently evil to eternal damnation yet can it not be said to be absolutely evil as God is absolutely good, because the subject of it is good, & therefore it hath in it respects & regards of goodness. In respect of the second, that is, the breach of the law it self, God neither willeth, nor appointeth, nor commandeth, nor causeth, nor helpeth sin; but forbiddeth, condemneth, and punisheth it: yet so, as withal he willingly permitteth it to be done by others, as men and wicked angels, they being the sole authors and causes of it. And this permission by God is upon a good end: because thereby he•