A09339:2034
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.
They that practise it, do profess themselves to tell of things to come almost whatsoever, and this they do by casting of figures: and the special point of their art is to judge of mens nativities. For if they may know but the time of a mans birth, they take upon them to tell the whole course of his life from year to year, from week to week, and from day to day, from the day of his birth to the hour of his death: yea that which is more, they profess themselves to tell all things that shall befall men either in body, goods, or good name, and what kind of death they shall die. But that this their practise is not of God, but indeed unlawful, it may appear by this, because it stands not with the doctrine of Gods predestination. Two twins begotten of the same parents, and borne both at one and the same time, by the judgement of Astrologians must have both the same life and the same death, and be every way alike both in goods and good name: yet we see the contrary to be true in Jacob and Esau, who were borne both of the same parents at one time. For Jacob took Esau by the heel, so as there could not be much difference between them in time: yet for all this Esau was a fierce man and wild, given to hunting; but Jacob was mild of nature, and lived at home: the one had favour at Gods hand and was in the covenant, but God kept back that mercy from the other. Again, in a pitched field are slain a thousand men at one and the same time: now if we consider the time of their births it may be, they were borne at a thousand sundry times, and therefore under so many divers positions of the heavens and so by the judgement of all Astrologers should have all divers and sundry lives and ends: but we see according to the determination of the counsel of God, they have all one and the same end: and therefore this must admonish all those that are brought up in schools of learning, to have care to spend th••r times in better studies: and it teacheth those that are fallen into any manne• of distress, not to have recourse unto these fond figure-casters. For their astrological judgements are ⟨p. 475⟩false and foolish, as we may see by the two former examples. Thirdly, the knowledge of God is one of the most special points in Christian religion: & therefore the Lord saith,1 Let him that rejoice, rejoice in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me.