A09339:2042
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.
This platform howsoever it may seem plausible to reason, yet indeed it is nothing else but a Devise of mans brain: as will appear by sundry defects & errors that be in it. For first whereas it is avouched that Adams fall came by the bare prescience of God,1 without any decree or will of his, it is a flat untruth. The putting of Christ to death was as great a sin as the fall of Adam; nay in some respects greater. Now that came to pass not only by the foreknowledge of God, but also by his determinate counsel. And therefore as the Church of Jerusalem saith, Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel gathered themselves together to do whatsoever thine hand and thy counsel had determined before to be done: 2so may we say, that Adam in his fall did nothing but that which the hand of God and his counsel had determined before to be done. And considering the will of God extends it self to the least things that are, even to sparrows; whereof none do light upon the ground without our heavenly father, how can a man in reason imagine that the fall of one of the most principal creatures that are, shall fall out altogether without the will and decree of God. And there can be nothing more absurd then to sever the foreknowledge of God from his counsel or decree. For by this means, things shall come to pass God anilling, or not knowing, or not regarding them. Now if any thing come to pass God nilling it, then that is done which God would not have done; and to say so, is to bereave him of his omnipotency. And if we shall say that things fall out, God not knowing of them; we make him to be imprudent, and deny his omniscience: lastly, if we shall say that a thing is done, God not regarding it; we bring in an idol of our own brains, and stablish the idle-god of the Epicures. But it is objected to the contrary, that if God any way decreed and willed the fall of Adam, then he was the author of sin: which once to say, is blasphemy. Ans. The argument follows not.4 There be three actions in the will of God; one whereby he doth absolutely will any thing and delight in it: and of all such things God himself is the author. The second is,