A09339:1869
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.
Fourthly the intercession of Christ made in heaven, breedeth and causeth in the hearts of men upon earth that believe another intercession of the spirit, as Paul saith,1 He giveth us his spirit, which helpeth our infirmities and maketh request for us with sighs which can not be expressed, but he which searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the meaning of the spirit, for he maketh request for the Saints according to the will of God. Now the spirit is said to make request, in that it stirs and moves every contrite heart to pray with sighs and groans unspeakable to God for things needful: and this grace is a fruit derived from the intercession of Christ in heaven by the operation of the spirit. For as the Sun though the body of it abide in the heavens, yet the beams of it descend to us that are on earth. So the intercession of Christ made in heaven is tied as it were to his person alone, yet the groans and desires of the touched heart, as the beams thereof are here on earth among the faithful. And therefore if we desire to know whether Christ make intercession for us or no, we need not to ascend up into the heavens to learn the truth: but we must descend into our own hearts and look whether Christ have given us his spirit, which makes us cry unto God & make request to him with groans & sighs that can not be expressed: and if we find this in our hearts, it is an evident and infallible sign that Christ continually makes intercession for us in heaven. He that would know whether the Sun shine in the firmament, must not clime up into the clouds to look, but search for the beams thereof upon the earth: which when he sees, he may conclude, that the sun shines in the firmament. And if we would know whether Christ in heaven makes intercession for us, let us ransack our own consciences, and there make search whether we feel the spirit of Christ crying in us, Abba, Father. As for those that never feel this work of Gods spirit in them, their case is miserable, whatsoever they be. For Christ as yet makes no intercession for them, considering these two always go together; his intercession in heaven, and the work of his spirit in the hearts of men, moving them to bewail their own sins with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed, and to cry and to pray unto God for grace:
Fourthly the intercession of Christ made in heauen, breedeth and causeth in the hearts of men vpon earth that beleeue another intercession of the spirit, as Paul saith,