A09339:1778
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.
Object. III. 1. Pet. 3.19. Christ was quickened in spirit, by the which spirit he went and preached to the spirits which are in prison. Answer. The place is not for this purpose. For by spirit is not meant the soul of Christ, but his godhead, which in the ministry of Noah preached repentance to the old world. And I think that Peter in this place alludes to another place in Genesis 6.3. where the Lord saith, My spirit shall not always strive with man, because he is but flesh. And if the spirit do signify the soul, then Christ was quickened either by his soul or in his soul. But neither is true. For the first, it can not be said, that Christ was quickened by his soul, because it did not join it self to the body: but the godhead joined them both. Neither was he quickened in soul: for his soul died not. It could not die the first death, which belongs to the body: and it did not die the second death, which is a total separation from God: only it suffered the sorrows of the second death, which is the apprehension of the wrath of God; as a man may feel the pangs of the first death, and yet not die the first death, but live. Again, it is to no end that Christs soul should go to hell to preach, considering that it was never heard of that one soul should preach to another, especially in hell, where all are condemned, and in conscience convicted of their just damnation, and where there is no hope of repentance or redemption. It will be answered, that this preaching is only real or experimental, because Christ shows himself there to convince the unbelief of his enemies: but this is flat against reason. For when a man is justly condemned by God, and therefore ⟨p. 375⟩sufficiently convicted:1 what need the judge himself come to the place of execution to convict him. And it is flat against the text. For the preaching that is spoken of here, is that which is performed by men in the ministry of the word, as Peter expounds himself, 1. Pet. 4.6. To this purpose was the Gospel also preached unto the dead, that they might be condemned according to men in the flesh, that they might live according to God in the spirit. Lastly, there is no reason why Christ should rather preach and show himself in hell, to them that were disobedient in the days of Noah, then to the rest of the damned.