A09339:1783
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.
For the son of God himself descended into hell, and death carried him captive, and triumphed over him in the grave: and therefore though God seem to be our utter enemy, yet we must not despair of his help.1 In divers Psalms we read how David was not only persecuted outwardly of his enemies, but even his soul and conscience were perplexed for his sins, so as his very bones were consumed within him, and his moisture was turned into the drought in summer.2 This caused Job to cry out that the arrows of God were within him, and the venom thereof did drink up his spirit, the terrors of God did fight against him, & the grief of his soul was as weighty as the sand of the sea, by reason whereof he saith, that the Lord did make him a mark and a but to shoot at: and therefore when God shall thus afflict us, either in body or in soul, or in both,3 we must not always think that it is the wrathful hand of the Lord that begins to bring us to utter condemnation for our sins, but rather his fatherly work to kill sin in us, and to make us grow in humility, that so we may become like unto Christ Jesus. Secondly, whereas Christ for our sakes was thus abased even unto the lowest degree of humiliation that can be, it is an example for us to imitate, as Christ himself prescribeth:4 Learn of me that I am meek and lowly. And that we may the better do this, we must learn to become nothing in our selves, that we may be all in all forth of our selves in Christ: we must loath and think as basely of our selves as possibly may be in regard of our sins. Christ Jesus upon the cross was content for our sakes, to become a worm and no man, as David saith,5 which did chiefly appear in this lowest degree of his humiliation, when as death did as it were tread on him in his den; and the same mind must likewise be in us which was in him. The liking that we have of our selves must be mere nothing, but all our love and liking must be forth of our selves in the death and blood of Christ.
For the sonne of God himselfe descended into hell, and death carried him captiue, and triumphed ouer him in the graue: and therefore though God seeme to be our vtter enemie, yet we must not despaire of his helpe.