A09339:2944
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.
It is natural to a man to serve God in certain ceremonies, without the power of godliness: and this service is prescribed by the religion of the Church ⟨p. 649⟩of Rome,1 which standeth only in outward and corporal ceremonies, as the outward succession of Bishops, garments, vestures, gestures, colours, choice of meat, difference of days, times, and places, hearing, seeing, saying, touching, tasting, numbering of beads, gilding and worshipping of images, building Monasteries, rising at midnight, silence in cloisters, abstaining from flesh and white meat. Fasting in Lent, keeping Ember days, hearing Mass and divine service, seeing and adoring the body in form of bread, receiving holy water and holy bread, creeping to the cross, carrying Palms, taking ashes, bearing Candles, Pilgrimages going, censing, kneeling, knocking, altars, superaltars, candlesticks, pardons: In orders, crossing, anointing, shaving, forswearing marriage: In baptism, salting, crossing, spatling, exorcising, washing of hands: At Easter, confession, penance, dirge, satisfaction, and in receiving with beards new shaven, to imagine a body where they see none: and though he were there present to be seen, yet the outward seeing and touching of him, of it self without faith conduceth no more then it did the Jews. At Rogation days to carry banners, to follow the Cross, to walk about the fields: After Pentecost to go about with Corpus Christi plaie. At Hallowmass to watch in the Church, to say Dirge or commendation, and to ring for all souls, to pay tithes truly, to give to the hie Altar. And if a man will be a priest, to say Mass and Matins, to serve the Saint of that day, and to lift well over the head. In sickness to be aneled, to take his rites, after his death to have funeral and Obits said for him, and to be rung for at his Funeral, months mind, and year mind. This is the sum of the catholic religion, standing in bodily actions, not in any motions or work of the holy Ghost, working in the heart.
It is naturall to a man to serue God in certaine ceremonies, without the power of godlines: and this seruice is prescribed by the religion of the Church ⟨p. 649⟩of Rome,1