A09339:3164
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.
Desertion in punishment is, when God deferreth either to mitigate or to remove the cross and chastisement which he hath laid upon his children. This befell Christ on the cross,f My God (saith he) my God, why hast thou forsaken me? This was the complaint of Gideon, Did not the Lord bring us out of Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. Judg. 6. 13.g Master Robert Glover Martyr at Coventry, after he was condemned by the Bishop, and was now at the point to be delivered out of the world, it so happened, that two or three days before his death, his heart being lumpish and desolate of all spiritual consolation, felt in himself no aptness nor willingness, but rather a heaviness and dullness of spirit, full of much discomfort to bear the bitter cross of martyrdom ready now to be laid upon him: whereupon he fearing in himself, least the Lord had withdrawn his wonted favour from him, made his moan to one Augustine his friend, ⟨p. 682⟩signifying unto him how earnestly he had prayed day & night unto the Lord, and yet could receive no motion nor sense of any comfort from him, unto whom the said Augustine answered again, willing him patiently to wait the Lords pleasure, and howsoever his present feeling was, yet seeing his cause was just and true, he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same, & to play the man, nothing doubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, & satisfy his desire with plenty of consolation, &c. The next day when the time came of the martyrdom, as he was going to the place, and was now come to the sight of the stake, although all the night before praying for strength and courage, he could feel none, suddenly he was so replenished with the holy Ghost, that he cried out clapping with his hands to Augustine, & saying with these words; Augustine, he is come, he is come, &c. and that with such joy and alacrity, as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life, then as one passing out of the world by any pains of death.
Desertion in punishment is, when God deferreth either to mittigate or to remooue the crosse and chastisement which hee hath laid vpon his children. This befell Christ on the crosse,