A09339:1606
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 fourth point, what was the particular cause of his prayer. Ans. His agony in which his soul was heavy unto death; not because he feared bodily death, but because the malediction of the law, even the very heat of the fury and indignation of God was poured forth upon him, wherewith he was affected and troubled, as if it had been defiled with the sins of the whole world. And this appears, first by the words whereby the Evangelists express the agony of Christ,1 which signify exceeding great sorrow and grief: secondly, by his doleful complaint to his Disciples in the garden, My soul is heavy unto the death: thirdly, by his fervent prayer thrice repeated, full of doleful passions: fourthly, by the coming of an Angel to comfort him: fifthly, by his bloody sweat, the like whereof was never heard. And herein lies the difference between Christs agony, and the death of Martyrs: he put on the guilt of all our sins, they in death are freed from the same: he was left to himself void of comfort, they in the middest of their afflictions feel the unspeakable comfort of the holy Ghost: and therefore we need not marvel why Christ should pray against death, which nevertheless his members have received and borne most joyfully. Again, this most bitter agony of Christ is the ground of all our rejoicing, and the cause why Paul bids all the faithful in the person of the Philippians, to rejoice always in the Lord, and again to rejoice. And here we are further taught, that when we are plunged into a sea of most grievous afflictions, and overwhelmed with the gulfs of most dreadful temptations, even then, then I say, we should not be discouraged, but lift up our hearts by fervent prayer to God. Thus did Christ when in the garden he was about to drink the cup of the wrath of God, and to suck up the very dregs of it:2 and David saith, that out of the deeps he called of the name ⟨p. 303⟩of the Lord and was heard.
The fourth point, what was the particular cause of his prayer. Ans. His agonie in which his soule was heauie vnto death; not because he feared bodily death, but because the malediction of the law, euen the very heate of the furie and indignation of God was poured forth vpon him, wherewith he was affected and troubled, as if it had beene defiled with the sinnes of the whol world. And this appeares, first by the words whereby the Euangelists expresse the agonie of Christ,