A09339:1490
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 means of salvation by Christ are two: his merit, and his efficacy. His merit, in that by his obedience to the law and by his passion, he made a satisfaction for our sins, freed us from death, and reconciled us unto God. Some may object, that the obedience and the passion of Christ being long ago ended, can not be able to save us now: because that which he did 1500. years ago may seem to be vanished and come to nothing at this day. Ans. If Christs obedience be considered as an action, and his passion as a bare suffering, they are both ended long ago: yet the value and price of them before God is everlasting: as in Adams fall the action of eating the forbidden fruit is ended, but the guilt of his transgression goes over all mankind, and continues still even to this hour, and shall do to the end of the world in those which shall be borne hereafter. The efficacy of Christ is, in that he gives his spirit to mortify the corruption ⟨p. 264⟩of our natures, that we may die unto sin and live to righteousness, and have true comfort in terrors of conscience and in the pangs of death.
The meanes of saluation by Christ are two: his merit, and his efficacie. His merit, in that by his obedience to the law and by his passion, he made a satisfaction for our sinnes, freed vs from death, and reconciled vs vnto God. Some may obiect, that the obedience and the passion of Christ beeing long agoe ended, can not be able to saue vs now: because that which he did 1500. yeares agoe may seeme to be vanished and come to nothing at this day. Ans. If Christs obedience be considered as an action, and his passion as a bare suffering, they are both ended long agoe: yet the value and price of thē before God is euerlasting: as in Adams fall the action of eating the forbidden fruit is ended, but the guilt of his transgression goes ouer all mankind, and continues still euen to this houre, and shall doe to the end of the world in those which shall be borne hereafter. The efficacie of Christ is, in that he giues his spirit to mortifie the corruption ⟨p. 264⟩of our natures, that we may die vnto sinne and liue to righteousnesse, and haue true comfort in terrours of conscience and in the pangs of death.