A09339:1515
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 time of this generation hath neither beginning, middle, or end: and therefore it is eternal before all worlds: and it is a thing to be wondered at, that the father begetting and the son begotten are coeternal, and therefore equal in time.1 Wisdom in the Proverbs (which with one consent of all Divines is said to be Christ) affirmeth that she was before the world was created, that is, from eternity: for before the world was made there was nothing but eternity. But it may be alleged to the contrary, that the saying of the father, This day have I begotten thee, 2is expounded by Paul of the time of Christs resurrection. Ans. We must distinguish between generation it self, and the manifestation of it: and of the second must the place be understood, which was indeed accomplished at the time of Christs resurrection in which he was mightily declared to be the son of God,3 and though this be so, yet the generation it self may be eternal. If any man allege further that the person which begetteth must needs go before the person begotten, the answer is, that there is a double priority; one of order, the other of time: now in the generation of creatures there is priority both of order and time; but in the generation of the second person in trinity there is priority of order alone: the father being first, the son second, without priority of time: because they both in that respect are equal, and neither is before or after other: because the being or subsisting of the persons is not measured by time.
The time of this generation hath neither beginning, middle, or ende: and therefore it is eternall before all worlds: and it is a thing to be wondered at, that the father begetting and the sonne begotten are coeternall, and therefore equall in time.1 Wisdome in the Prouerbs (which with one consent of all Diuines is said to be Christ) affirmeth that she was before the world was created, that is, from eternitie: for before the world was made there was nothing but eternitie. But it may be alleadged to the contrarie, that the saying of the father, This day haue I begotten thee, 2