A09339:2604
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
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.
XVIII.
The reprobate may go further in the profession of religion• and may seem for a time to be planted in the Church: for he doth believe the promises of God made in Christ Jesus, yet so that he cannot apply them to himself. In §1this thing the elect and the reprobate differ. The reprobated generally in a confused manner believeth that Christ is a Saviour of some men: & he neither can nor desireth to come to the particular applying of Christ. The elect believeth, that Christ is a Saviour of him particularly. The reprobates faith may perish in this life, but the faith of the elect cannot. The reprobate may be persuaded §2of the mercy and goodness of God towards him for the present time in §3the which he feeleth it: the elect is not only persuaded of the mercies he presently enjoyeth, but also he is persuaded of his eternal election before the foundation of the world, and of his everlasting life, which yet he doth not enjoy: Yea eif God would confound him, and he saw nothing but present death, and hell fire: yet such is his nature that still he would believe; for faith and hope are ⟨p. 578⟩not grounded upon sense and feeling; but are the evidence of those thing• which were never yet seen or felt. The life of the faithful is hid in Christ, as the sap in the root of the tree: their life is not in sense & feeling, but in hoping and believing: which oftentimes are contrary to mans sense and feeling.