A09339:1471
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 propagation of this sin, is the deriving of it from Adam to all his posterity, whereby it runneth as a leprosy over all mankind. But in what manner this propagation is made, it is hard to define. The common opinion of Divines is, that it may be done two ways. The first is this. God when he created Adam in the beginning, set down this appointment and order touching the estate of man, that whatsoever Adam received of God, he should re••ive it not only for himself, but for his posterity, and whatsoever grace of God he lost, he should loose not only to himself, but to all his posterity. And hereupon Adam when he sinned, he deprived first of all himself, and then secondly all his posterity of the image of God; because all mankind was in •is loins when he sinned Now then upon the former appointment, when the souls of men are created and placed in the body, God forsakes them, not in respect of the substance of the soul or the faculties, but only in respect of his own image whereof the souls are deprived; after which follows the defect or want of righteousness, which is original sin. And God in depriving man of that which Adam lost, is not therefore to be thought to be the author or maintainer of sin, but a just judge. For this deprivation of the image of God, so far forth as it is inflicted by him upon mankind,1 it must be conceived as a deserved punishment ⟨p. 256⟩for the sin of Adam and all men in him, which punishment they pulled upon themselves. The second way is, that the corruption of nature is derived from the parents in generation by the body; for as sweet oil poured into a fusty vessel, looseth his pureness and is infected by the vessel: so the soul created good, & put into the corrupt body, receives contagion thence. And this conjunction of the pure soul with the corrupt body, is not against the goodness of God; because it is a just punishment of the sin of all men in Adā. It may be this which hath bin said will not satisfy the minds of all: yet if any will be curious to search further into this point, let them know that there is an other matter which more concerns them to look unto. When a mans house is on fire, there is no time then to inquire how and which way and whence the fire came, but our duty is with all speed and expedition to use all good means to stay it.