A09339:1834
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.
Thus much of the place of his ascending. The third thing to be considered, is the manner of Christs ascension; and it containeth three points. The first, that Christ being now to ascend, lifts up his hands and blessed his disciples.1 In the Scripture are mentioned divers kinds of blessings. The first when one man prayeth to God for a blessing upon an other: and this blessing do Kings and princes bestow upon their subjects, and parents on their children: and for this cause children are well taught to ask their fathers and mothers blessing, that they may pray to God to bless them. There is an other kind of blessing, when a man doth not only pray for a blessing, but also pronounceth ⟨p. 397⟩it. This did the priests in the old Testament: and thus Melchizedek when he met Abraham blessed him, saying,2 Blessed art thou Abraham of God, the most high possessor of heaven & earth. And this was the ordinary duty of the priests, prescribed by God himself: & therefore the very form of words which they used is set down after this manner,3 The Lord bless thee, and keep thee, the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, &c. The third kind of blessing is, when a man doth not only pray to God, & pronounce blessing, but by the spirit of prophecy doth foretell a particular blessing upon any. Thus Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, particularly foretelling both their estates.4 And Jacob blessed the twelve Patriarchs by the same spirit, foretelling them what should befall them many hundred years after. Now our Saviour Christ did not bless his disciples any of these three ways: and therefore there remaineth a fourth kind of blessing which he used, & that was after this manner: Christ in blessing his disciples did not only pronounce or foretell a blessing that should come to his disciples, but did confer & give the same unto them. For he is the fountain and author of all blessings. And therefore Paul saith,5 that God the father hath blessed us in all spiritual blessings in Christ. Hence we learn, first that all those which deny themselves & fly to Christ, and put their affiance in him, shall be freed from the curse of the law, & from the wrath of God, due unto them for their sins, whatsoever they are. Secondly, that the curses of men must not discourage us from doing well. For though men curse, yet Christ blesseth: