A09339:2883
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.
Timoth. Yet by your leave faith cannot make a man just before God without hope and charity: then they also with faith hath some stroke in justification.
Timoth. Yet by your leaue faith cannot make a man iust before God without hope and charitie: then they also with faith hath some stroke in iustification.
Euseb. I answer, though they be inseparable, yet I praise God I do conceive how these three have three separable and sundry offices. Faith, which only is an undoubted and sure affiance in Christ, and in the Father through him, certifieth the conscience that the sin is forgiven, and the damnation of the law taken away. And with such persuasions mollifieth the heart and maketh it love God again and his law. And as oft as we sin, faith only keepeth, that we forsake not our profession, and that love utterly quench not, and hope fail, and only maketh the peace again: for a true believer trusteth in Christ alone, and not in his own works, nor ought else for the remission of sins. The office of love is to pour out again the same goodness that it hath received of God upon her neighbour, to be to him as it feeleth Christ to be to it self. The office of love is only to have compassion, and to bear with her neighbour the burden of his infirmities. 1. Pet. 4. Love covereth the multitude of sins: that is to say, considereth the infirmities, and interpreteth all to the best, & taketh for no sin at all a thousand things, of which the least were enough (if a man loved not) to go to law for, and to trouble and disquiet an whole town, and sometime a whole realm too. The office of hope is to comfort in adversity, and to make patient that we faint not, nor fall down under the cross, or cast it off our backs. Thus these three inseparable have separable offices and effects, as heat, and dryness, being inseparable in the fire have yet their separable operations, for dryness only expelleth the moistness of all that is consumed by fire, and heat only destroyeth the coldness. And it is not all one to say, the dryness only, and the dryness that is alone, neither is it all one to say, faith only, and faith that is alone.