A09339:1771
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 use and profit which may be made of Christs burial is twofold: I. It serveth to work in us the burial of all our sins.1 Know ye not (saith Paul) that all who have been baptized into Christ; have been baptized into his death, & are buried with him by baptism into his death? If any shall demand how any man is buried into the death of Christ, the answer is this: Every Christian man and woman are by faith mystically united unto Christ, and made all members of one body, whereof Christ is the head. Now therefore as Christ by the power of his godhead when he was dead and buried, did overcome the grave & the power of death in his own person: so by the very same power by means of his spiritual conjunction doth he work in all his members ⟨p. 372⟩a spiritual death and burial of sin and natural corruption.2 When the Israelites were in burying of a man, for fear of the soldiers of the Moabites, they cast him for hast into the sepulchre of Elisha. Now the dead man, so soon as he was down, and had touched the body of Elisha, he revived and stood upon his feet: so let a man that is dead in sin be cast into the grave of Christ, that is, let him by faith but touch Christ dead and buried; it will come to pass by the virtue of Christs death and burial that he shall be raised from death and bondage of sin to become a new man.
The vse and profit which may be made of Christs buriall is twofolde: I. It serueth to worke in vs the buriall of all our sinnes.1 Knowe ye not (saith Paul) that all who haue beene baptized into Christ; haue beene baptized into his death, & are buried with him by baptisme into his death? If any shall demaund howe any man is buried into the death of Christ, the answere is this: Euery Christian man and woman are by faith mystically vnited vnto Christ, and made all members of one bodie, whereof Christ is the head. Nowe therefore as Christ by the power of his godhead when hee was dead and buried, did ouercome the graue & the power of death in his own person: so by the very same power by meanes of his spirituall coniunction doth he worke in all his members ⟨p. 372⟩