A09339:1932
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.
Fifthly, the last judgement must stir us up to a reverend fear of God, & cause us to glorify him: as the Angel saith in the Revelation,1 Fear God and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgement is come. And doubtless if any thing in the world will move a man to fear the Lord, it is this, to remember the fearful and terrible day of judgement.
Fifthly, the last iudgement must stirre vs vp to a reuerend feare of God, & cause vs to glorifie him: as the Angel saith in the Reuelation,1 Feare God and giue glorie to him: for the houre of his iudgement is come. And doubtlesse if any thing in the world will mooue a man to feare the Lord, it is this, to remember the fearefull and terrible daie of iudgement.
Now having spoken hitherto of the first person the father, and also of the son, it followeth in the next place to speak of the third person in these words, I believe in the holy Ghost. In which we may consider two things, the title of the person, and the action of faith, repeated from the beginning. The title is, Holy Ghost, or spirit. It may here be demanded, how this title can be fit to express the third person, which seems to be common to the rest: for the father is holy, and the son is holy: again, the father is a spirit, and the son ⟨p. 436⟩is a spirit. Ans. Indeed the father and the son are as well to be termed holy in respect of their natures, the third person: for all three subsisting in one and the same godhead, are consequently holy by one and the fame holiness: but the third person is called holy, because beside the holiness of nature, his office is to sanctify the Church of God. Now if it be said that sanctification is a work of the whole Trinity, the answer is, that although it be so, yet the work of sanctification agrees to the Holy Ghost in special manner. The father sanctifieth by the son and by the holy Ghost: the son sanctifieth from the father and by the Holy Ghost: the holy Ghost sanctifieth from the father and from the son by himself immediately: and in this respect is the third person termed holy. Again the third person is termed a Spirit, not only because his nature is spiritual (for in that respect the father is a spirit and the son is a spirit;) but because he is spired or breathed from the father and from the son, in that he proceeds from them both. Thus we see there is a special cause why the third person is called the Holy Ghost.