A Golden Chain

He is ascended up to heaven to lead captive and to vanquish the devil and all his angels, under whom thou liest bound, and that not only in himself, but in his members. Now then if thou wilt become a true member of Christ, he will free thee from this bondage. Therefore take heed how thou continuest longer in thy old sins, and in thy gross ignorance: & seeing Christ hath made a way to liberty, let us seek to come out of this spiritual bondage: he is ascended for this end and purpose to free us from it; therefore if we refuse this benefit, our state will be the more damnable. A man lies bound hand and foot in a dark dungeon, and the keeper comes and sets open the prison door, and takes off his bolts, and bids him come out; if he refuse and say that he is well: may it not be thought that he is a mad man, and will any be sorry for his case? No surely. Well, this is the state of all impenitent sinners. They lie fast fettered and bound under the power of sin and Satan, and Christ it is who is ascended into heaven to unloose them of this bondage: he hath set open the prison door, and hath unlocked our fetters: if we refuse to come out, and lie still in our sins, there remaineth nothing for us but everlasting thraldom. Let us therefore in the fear of God, if we have a care of our own souls, receive and embrace this benefit which redounds unto us by Christs ascension.

He is ascended vp to heauen to lead captiue and to vanquish the deuil and all his angels, vnder whome thou liest bound, and that not onely in himselfe, but in his members. Now then if thou wilt become a true member of Christ, he will free thee from this bondage. Therefore take heede how thou continuest longer in thy old sinnes, and in thy grosse ignorance: & seeing Christ hath made a way to libertie, let vs seeke to come out of this spirituall bondage: he is ascended for this end and purpose to free vs frō it; therfore if we refuse this benefit, our state will be the more damnable. A man lies bound hand and foote in a darke dungeon, and the keeper comes and sets open the prison dore, and takes off his bolts, and bids him come out; if he refuse and say that he is well: may it not be thought that he is a madde man, and will any be sorie for his case? No surely. Well, this is the state of all impenitent sinners. They lie fast fettered and bound vnder the power of sinne and Satan, and Christ it is who is ascended into heauen to vnloose them of this bondage: he hath set open the prison dore, and hath vnlocked our fetters: if we refuse to come out, and lie still in our sinnes, there remaineth nothing for vs but euerlasting thraldome. Let vs therefore in the feare of God, if we haue a care of our owne soules, receiue and imbrace this benefit which redoundes vnto vs by Christs ascension.