A09339:1718
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.
Thus much for Christs death: now follow those things which befell Christ when he was newly dead; and they are two especially. The first, that his legs were not broken as the legs of the two thieves were. Of the first, S. John rendereth a reason, namely, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which ⟨p. 348⟩saith,1 not a bone of him shall be broken: which words were spoken by Moses of the paschal lamb, and are here applied to Christ, as being typically figured thereby. And hence we observe these two things. First, that Christ crucified is the true paschal lamb, as S. Paul saith, Christ our passover is sacrificed: and S. John saith,2 Behold the lamb of God, distinguishing him thereby from the typical lamb. In this that Christ crucified is the true paschal lamb, the child of God hath wonderful matter of comfort. The Israelites did eat the passover in Egypt,3 & sprinkled the blood of the lamb on the posts of their doors, that when the angel of God came to destroy the first borne both of man and beast, and saw the blood upon their houses might pass over them, that the plague should not be upon them to destruction. So likewise if thou dost feed on the lamb of God, and by a lively faith sprinkle the door of thine heart with his blood, the judgements of God in this life, and the terrible curse of death, with the fearful sentence of condemnation at the day of judgement, and all punishments due unto thy sins shall pass over thee, and not so much as touch thee. And whereas the legs of our Saviour Christ were not broken by the soldiers, who sought by all means possible to work against him all the mischief they could: we may note, that the enemies of Christ and his Church, let them intend to show never so much malice against him, they can not go beyond that liberty which God giveth them, they can do no more for their lives then that which God willeth. The Medes and Persians are called the Lords sanctified ones: Cyrus is called the man of Gods counsel, 4because whatsoever they intended against the people of God, yet in all their proceedings they did nothing but that which God had determined before to be done.