A09339:2009
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 outward token of adoption is New-obedience, whereby a man endeavours to obey Gods commandments in his life and conversation: as Saint John saith,1 Hereby we are sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Now this obedience must not be judged by the rigour of the moral law, for then it should be no token of grace, but rather a means of damnation: but it must be esteemed & considered as it is in the acceptation of God,2 who spares them that fear him as a father spares an obedient son, esteeming things done not by the effect and absolute doing of them, but by the affection of the doer. And yet least any man should here be deceived, we must know that the obedience, which is an infallible mark of the child of God, must be thus qualified. First of all it must not be done unto some few of Gods commandments, but unto them all without exception. Herod heard John Baptist willingly, and did many things: and Judas had excellent things in him, as appears by this, that he was content to leave all and to follow Christ, and he preached the Gospel of the kingdom in Jury as well as the rest: yet alas, all this was nothing: for the one could not abide to become obedient to the seventh commandment in leaving his brother Philips wife; and the other would not leave his covetousness, to die for it. Upright and sincere obedience doth enlarge it self to all the commandments, as David saith,3 I shall not be confounded, when I have respect to all thy commandments. And Saint James saith,4 he which faileth in one law is guilty of all: that is, the obedience to many commandments is indeed before God no obedience, but a slat sin if a man wittingly and willingly carry a purpose to omit any one duty of the law. He that repents of one sin truly, doth repent of all: and he that lives but in one known sin without repentance, though he pretend never •o ⟨p. 466⟩much reformation of life, indeed repents of no sin. Secondly this obedience must extend it self to the whole course of a mans life after his conversion and repentance. We must not judge of a man by an action or two, but by the tenor of his life. Such as the course of a mans life is, such is the man: