A09339:2152
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 point is, in what thing this communion consisteth? Ans. Saint Paul openeth this point to the very full, when he saith, that after Christ hath subdued all things unto him,1 then God shall be all in all, that is, God himself immediately shall be all good things that heart can wish to all the elect. But some men may say, What? is not God all in all unto us even in this life? for whatsoever good things we have, they are all from him. Ans. It is true indeed God is all in all even in this life: but how? not immediately but by outward• means; and that also in small measure. For he conveys his goodness and mercy ⟨p. 517⟩unto us so long as we live on earth, partly by his creatures and partly by his word and Sacraments: but after this life is ended, all helps and outward means shall cease: Christ shall give up his kingdom, and as he is Mediator shall cease to put in execution the office of a priest, a prophet, or a king: all authority and power shall be abolished: and therefore all callings in the three main estates of the Church, the Common-wealth, the family shall have an end; there shall be no more magistrate and subject, Pastor and people, master and servant, father and son, husband and wife: there shall be no more use of meat, drink, clothing, respiration, physic, sleep: and yet for all this, the condition of men shall be many thousand fold more blessed then ever it was. For the Godhead in the Trinity immediately without all means shall be all things to all the chosen people of God in the kingdom of heaven, world without end. This may seem strange to mans reason, but it is the very •lat trueth of the word of God. S. John in the description of the heavenly Jerusalem, saith that there shall be no temple in it. Why, how then shall God be worshipped? mark what followeth,2 the Lord God almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Whereby is signified, that although now we use the preaching of the word, and the administration of the Sacraments, as means of our fellowship with God: yet when this life is ended, they must all cease, God and Christ being in stead of all these means unto us. And he adds further, The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it. What then will some say,