A09339:1947
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 second gift is regeneration, whereby a man of a limb of the devil is made a member of Christ, and of a child of Satan (whom every one of us by nature do as lively resemble as any man doeth his own parent) is made the child of God.1 Except a man (saith our Saviour Christ) be borne again by water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. John Baptist in saying that Christ baptized with the holy Ghost and fire, compares the spirit of god to fire and water. To fire for two causes: I. as it is the nature of fire to warm the body that is benumbed and frozen with cold: so when a man is benumbed and frozen in sin, yea when he is even stark dead in sin, it is the property of the Holy Ghost to warm and quicken his heart, and to revive him. II. Fire doth purge and eat out the dross from the good metal: now there is no dross nor canker that hath so deeply eaten into any metal as sin into the nature of man, and therefore the Holy Ghost is as fire to purge and eat out the hidden corruptions of sin out of the rebellious heart of man. Again the holy Ghost is compared to clear water for two causes: I. man by nature is as dry wood without sap, and the property of the holy Ghost is as water to supple and to put sap of grace into the dead and rotten heart of man. II. the property of water is to cleanse and purify the filth of the body: even so the holy Ghost doth spiritually wash away our sins, which are the filth of our nature; and this is the second benefit of the Holy Ghost. By this we are ⟨p. 442⟩taught that he which would enter into the kingdom of God, and have the Holy Ghost to dwell in him, must labour to feel the work of regeneration by the same spirit: and if a man would know whether he have this work wrought in him or no, let him mark what Saint Paul saith, They that are of the spirit, savour the things that are of the spirit: but they that live after the flesh, savour the things of the flesh. 2If therefore a man have his heart continually affected with that which is truly good, either more or less; it is a certain token that his wicked nature is changed, and he regenerate: but contrariwise if his heart be always set on the pleasures of sin, and the things of this world, he may justly suspect himself that he is not regenerated. As for example: