A09339:1827
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 whoredoms & fornications, the cruelty and oppression of this age, cry to heaven for vengeance. By these & such like sins the world crucifies Christ again. For look as Pilats soldiers with the wicked Jews took Christ and stripped him of his garments, buffeted him, and slue him; so ungodly men by their wicked behaviour strip him of all honour, and slay him again. If an infidel should come among us, & yield himself to be of our religion, after he had seen the behaviour of men, he would peradventure leave all religion: for he might say, surely it seems this God whom these men worship, is not the true God, but a God of licentious liberty. And that which is more, whereas at all times we ought to show our selves new creatures, and to walk worthy of our Saviour and redeemer, and therefore also ought to rise out of our sins, and to live in righteousness and true holiness, yet we for the most part go on still forward in sin, and every day go deeper then other to hell-ward. This hath been heretofore the common practise, but let us now learn after the example of Christ, being quickened and revived by his grace, to endeavour our selves especially to come out of the grave of sin, and learn to make conscience of every bad action. True it is, a Christian man may use the creatures of God for his delight, in a moderate and godly manner, but Christ never gave liberty to any to live licentiously:1 for he that is free is yet servant unto Christ, as Paul saith: and therefore we must not enterprise any thing but that which may be a work of some good duty unto God; to which end the Apostle saith,2 Awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life. If this will not move us, yet let the judgements of God draw us hereunto,3 Blessed is he (saith the holy Ghost) that hath part in the first resurrection: for on such the second death hath no power: where mention is made of a double death: the first is the separation of soul and body, the second is the eternal condemnation of soul and body in hell fire. Would we now escape the second death after this life? we must then labour in this life to be partakers of the first resurrection, and that on this manner: Look what sins we have lived in heretofore, we must endeavour to come out of them all, and lead a better life according to all the commandments of God.