A09339:1823
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.
1Now this well of the water of life is very deep and we have nothing to draw with, therefore we must have our pipes and conduits to convey the same unto us, which are the word of God preached, and the administration of the sacraments. Christ saith, The dead shall hear the voice of the son of God, and they that hear it shall live; where by the dead is meant, not the dead in the grave,2 but those that are dead in sin. And again Christ saith, the words which I speak are spirit and life, 3because the word of God is the pipe whereby he conveyeth into our dead hearts spirit and life. As Christ when he raised up dead men did only speak the word and they were made alive: and at the day of judgement by his very voice, when the trump shall blow, all that are dead shall rise again. So it is in the first resurrection: they that are dead in their sins, at his voice uttered in the ministry of the word shall rise again. To go further, Christ raised three from the dead. Jairus daughter newly dead: the widows son dead and wound up and lying on the hearse: Lazarus dead and buried and stinking in the grave; and all this he did by his very voice: so also by the preaching of his word, he raiseth all sorts of sinners, even such as have lien long in their sins as rotting and stinking carrion. The sacraments also are the pipes and conduits whereby God conveyeth grace into the heart, if they be rightly used, that is, if they be received in unfeigned repentance for all our sins, and with a true & lively faith in Christ for the pardon of the same sins.4 And so, I take it, they are compared to flagons of wine, which revive the Church being sick and fallen into a swoon. As for the measure of life derived from Christ, it is but small in this life and given by little and little, as Ose saith,5 The Lord hath spoiled us, and he will heal us, he hath wounded us, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us, and in the third he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. The prophet Ezekiel in a vision is carried into the midst of a field full of dead bones, and he is caused to prophecy over them, and say,