A09339:1732
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.
Now follow the uses which are to be made of the sacrifice of Christ. The prophet Haggai saith,1 that the second temple built by Zerubbabel was nothing in beauty unto the first which was built by Solomon: and the reason is plain, for (as the Jews write) it wanted five things which the first temple had: I. the appearing of the presence of god at the mercy seat between the two Cherubims. II. the Urim and Thummim on the breast-plate of the high priest. III. the inspiration of the holy Ghost upon extraordinary Prophets. IIII. the Ark of the Covenant: for that was lost in the captivity. V. fire from heaven to burn the sacrifices. Yet for all this, the Prophet afterward saith,2 The glory of the last House, shall be greater then the first. Now it may be demanded, how both these sayings can stand together. Ans. We are to know, that the second Temple was standing in the time when Christ was crucified for our •innes; and it was the sacrifice of Christ which gave glory and dignity to the second temple, though otherwise for building and outward ornaments it was far inferior to the first. And by this we are taught, that if we would bring glory unto our own selves, unto our houses and kindred, either before God or before men, we must labour to be partakers of the sacrifice of Christ, and the sprinkling of his blood to purge our hearts. This is the thing that brings renown both to place and person, how base soever we be in the eyes of the world. Secondly, all oblations and meat offerings were sprinkled with salt, and every sacrifice of propitiation which was to be burned to ashes,3 was first salted: and hereby two things were signified. The first, that every one of us in our selves are loathsome or vile in the sight of God;4 like unto stinking carrion or raw-flesh kept long unpowdered. A dead and rotten carcass is loathsome unto us; but we in our selves are a thousand times more loathsome unto God. The second, that we are as it were salted and made savoury and acceptable to God by the virtue of the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. Our duty then is to labour that we may feel in our selves the biting and sharpness of the oblation of Christ, to wast and consume the superfluities of sin and the corruptions of our natures.