A09339:2932
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.
but a sister of ours (I mean the Church of Rome) passing in the ship with us (as it seemeth) who hath long taken upon her to rule the helm, dealeth too too unkindly with us: she unlooseth our anchors, and cutteth in pieces our gables, she telleth us that we may not presume to fasten our anchor on the rock: she will have us freely to rove in• the middle of the sea in the greatest fogs and the fearfullest tempests that be: if we shall follow her advise, we must needs look for a shipwreck: for the least flaw of wind shall overturn us, and our poor souls shall be plunged in the gulfs of hell.
but a sister of ours (I meane the Church of Rome) passing in the ship with vs (as it seemeth) who hath long taken vpon her to rule the helme, dealeth too too vnkindly with vs: she vnlooseth our anchors, and cutteth in pieces our gables, she telleth vs that we may not presume to fastē our anchor on the rock: she will haue vs freely to roue in• the middle of the sea in the greatest fogges and the fearefullest tempests that be: if we shall follow her aduise, we must needes looke for a shipwracke: for the least flaw of wind shall ouerturne vs, and our poore soules shall be plunged in the gulfes of hell.
Lastly, Justification by works causeth trouble and disquietness to the conscience. No mans conscience can be appeased, before Gods wrath be appeased, and Gods wrath can not be appeased by any works: for the best works the regenerate can do, are imperfect, and are stained with some blemish of corruption, as may1 appear both in the prophet Isaiah, & in Paul, both which had a great misliking of that good which they did, because it was mingled with sin. And again, every man is bound by duty to keep the whole law, so that if a man could keep it perfectly, he should do no more then he is by duty enjoined to do: and therefore he which looketh to merit eternal life at Gods hand by keeping the law, trusteth but to a broken staff, and is like the bankrupt, that will pay one debt by another: for by his sin, every man is indebted to the Lord, and is bound to answer to the Lord the full punishment of all his sins: this debt, the Papist saith, we may discharge by obedience to the law, that is by a new debt, which we are as well bound to pay to our God as the former.