A09339:2068
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 third question is, what is the manner of this conjunction. Answ. We must not think that Christ and his Church are joined by imagination, as the mind of man and the thing whereof he thinks: or by consent of heart as one friend is joined with another, and as the Jews converted were all of one heart and soul: or by any abode in one place, or by touching, as sea and land are both joined together and make one globe:1 or by any composition or commixtion of substances, as when many ingredients are put together, to make one medicine. But this conjunction is altogether spiritual as the former Giving was; and incomprehensible to mans reason: and therefore we must rather labour to feel it by experience in the heart, then to conceive it in the brain. Yet nevertheless it shall not be amiss to consider a resemblance of it in this comparison. Suppose a man having the parts of his body disjoined ⟨p. 485⟩far asunder, his head lying in Italy, one arm in Germany, the other in Spain, and his legs with us in England: suppose further all these parts or quarters have all one soul, extending it self unto them all, and quickening each of them severally as though they were nearly joined together: and though the parts be severed many hundred miles asunder, yet the distance of place doth not hinder the conjunction, considering one and the same soul doth enlarge it self and give life unto them all. In the same manner the head of the Mystical body Christ our Saviour is now in heaven, and some of his members in heaven with him, and some in earth: and of these, some in England, some in Germany, some in Italy, some in Spain, distant many thousand miles asunder: and the spirit of God is as it were the soul of this body which giveth spiritual life to all the members: distance of place doth not hinder this conjunction, because the holy Ghost which linketh all the parts together is infinite.
The third question is, what is the manner of this coniunction. Answ. Wee must not thinke that Christ and his Church are ioyned by imagination, as the minde of man and the thing whereof he thinkes: or by consent of heart as one friende is ioyned with another, and as the Iewes conuerted were all of one heart and soule: or by any abode in one place, or by touching, as sea and lande are both ioyned togither and make one globe:1